Volkswagen Golf R forgoes the five-cylinder engine option.
VW Golf R and the Audi Five-Cylinder Engine: Separating Fact from Rumor
There's been a buzz around the potential of the new VW Golf R featuring the Audi five-cylinder engine, but it seems that much of this excitement might be premature.
Contrary to rumors, Volkswagen has not made a final decision regarding the use of the Audi five-cylinder engine in the next VW Golf R. The company has explicitly denied reports about equipping the 2027 Golf R with the iconic engine. Instead, current tests for the Golf R are focused on the Euro-7 standards, without the Audi five-cylinder motor.
The Audi five-cylinder engine has been updated to meet the Euro-7 standard, but it was not the focus of the recent test drives. The tests were about evaluating thermal management and emission standards for upcoming regulations. Interestingly, the test vehicle was largely empty and equipped with the wheel arch ventilation of the Golf GTI.
In the past, three Golf test vehicles were reportedly equipped with the five-cylinder engine, but no decision has been made yet on whether it will be installed in the Golf R. The current Golf R, the Golf R 333, is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine from the EA888 series, delivering 333 PS and a maximum of 400 Nm.
The rumors about the Audi five-cylinder engine in the Golf R suggest that Volkswagen is considering making the Golf R more powerful. However, insiders confirm that VW would have liked to have the Audi five-cylinder engine for the Golf R. Engineers involved in previous tests spoke enthusiastically about the potential of the Audi five-cylinder engine in the Golf R.
The Audi five-cylinder engine is currently used in models such as the RS 3. The rumors about the new VW Golf R 2027 being equipped with Audi RS3's five-cylinder engine started after fans spotted a test vehicle driven by VW test and development driver Benny Leuchter.
It's important to note that the tests with the aggregates are exclusively for the Euro-7 standard, and the Audi engine is not planned for these tests. So, while the prospect of a Golf R with the Audi five-cylinder engine is an exciting one, it remains just that – a prospect. Only time will tell if Volkswagen decides to take this exciting step.
