Volkswagen pulled a fast one on the U.S. when it parked the Golf R SportWagen at the L.A. Auto Show for a limited time last fall, with the vehicle providing all the go-fast parts of the Golf R hatchback, but with the added versatility of a wagon. We remained hopeful that the wagon would find its way to our shores, but as of now, VW doesn’t seem to have any plans to bring it to North America. Sigh. Volkswagen has, however, begun to roll out the Golf R Variant (it is actually called the Variant in Europe) across Europe.
The Volkswagen Golf R Variant arrives with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, standard all-wheel drive, and six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The combination allows the Golf R Variant to achieve 0-62 mph in just 5.1 seconds, making it truly a step above the Golf GTI.
The dynamic driving potential of the Golf R Variant is also reflected in its very expressive styling. At the rear, the car’s sportiness is accentuated by an R-Design bumper, a diffuser coated in high-gloss black hue, and four chrome-plated tailpipes as part of the exhaust system. Up front, the Golf R Variant can also be made out by its R-specific bumper with especially large air inlets and an independent radiator grille. A very handsome package indeed. Additional equipment for the Volkswagen Golf R Variant includes bi-xenon headlights and daytime running lights.
Inside, things are spruced up accordingly for the hot wagon. Sport seats are embroidered with the ‘R’ badge on the backrests, and blue ambient lighting illuminates the cabin after dusk. Carbon-fiber touches are found throughout the cabin, and Volkswagen even offers an optional “Carbon Style” nappa leather package for those looking for more carbon-inspired design.
As previously noted, the Volkswagen Golf R Variant has gone on sale at the time of this writing, and starts at €42,925, which at the current time converts to being just shy of $47,000 USD. Now, we kindly ask that VeeDub appease our wishes, and send it stateside, even if it’s in limited quantities. Until then, we’ll make do with the Golf AllTrack.
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