Rendered & Speculated: Volkswagen Golf R20T

Volkswagen Golf R20T Artists Rendering / Copyright by beyond-form.com

By Thami Masemola
February 10, 2009 8:55 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, German, Rumours, Volkswagen

A report from AutoExpress suggests that the Volkswagen brand has finally succumbed to pressures by canning the 3.2-litre naturally aspirated V6 in favour of its trusted 2.0-litre turbo. This move applies to the range-topping Golf which is not the GTI but the R32. What's more is that the name R32 will disappear along with the engine to which it referred. Instead the car will likely be called the R20T and its chief rivals will be the Ford Focus RS, VW Group cousin the Audi S3 and the Subaru Impreza STI.

By tweaking the 2.0-litre's ECU about 270bhp (201kW) can be extracted, which is similar to the Audi S3's power output of 265bhp from the same engine. A high-performance Scirocco R20T is also expected to use the same engine. The car will not only have more power than the current V6's 250bhp (186kW) but also weigh less as a result of the smaller engine. Thus improved performance overall and fewer C02 emissions can be expected. Whether a 4WD system or FWD will be used remains to be seen. However two gearboxes will be mated to whichever system is chosen, these being the 6-speed manual and DSG.

Styling is likely to be similar to that of the GTI and include LED daytime running lights, a sportier front bumper, flared wheel arches, and an underbody diffuser. The twin pipes located at the rear bumper centre remain in place but because the V6 is no more a similar sound will be engineered.

Suggestions are that the Golf R20T as rendered on this page will debut in public at the Nürburgring 24-hour race this May. It would sell for around £25,000 for the three-door when it goes on sale in the UK in early 2010.

Source: autoexpress.co.uk

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Tags: Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Golf R32, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Volkswagen Golf R20T, Audi S3, Ford Focus RS

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Comments

BMWPrince

February 10, 2009 9:06 PM

What is up with cars and the line of LEDs. It is now becoming extremely tasteless! Rolls Royce was the first to come with the classy crystal blue cluster of rectangular LED for their headlights, then came Audi with their line of white LED and even a stupid yellow line on the A4 to try to gain brand identity.Now we have it on Merc, VW, Porsche, Ford, Kia and all others. It is becoming an overkill. BMW's corona rings are still ever so original in warm romantic candle light colour - makes you fall in love with you look at its "eyes". Contrast that with the cold sharp line of LEDs from Audi, Porsche, VW, Merc, etc. Anyway, that's just my opnion.

Forgot to add my opnion on this car: very nice sporty looking. Good performance potential as well. Looking forward!

Edited by user on February 10, 2009 at 9:44 PM

Geefiasco

February 10, 2009 11:37 PM

Totally agree with you.

BMW are the leaders when it comes to class and style It's a shame these other mediocre companies duplicate more or less everything BMW do. Disgraceful and tasteless!

Uptohere

February 11, 2009 12:40 AM

Corona rings are tired. LED's are more 21st century, don't you think?

motorjedi

February 11, 2009 7:08 AM

Doesn't the new 7 Series have corona rings made of LEDs?

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 11:03 AM

uptohere, it's like comparing candle light to office florescent lights. Nothing will ever come close to the magic of candle light - I think

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 11:04 AM

7 does not have LEd for its corona rings. only indicators are LED.

gorgonzola

February 10, 2009 9:28 PM

well put.

Michael

February 10, 2009 9:29 PM

We already know your opinion. You are a BMW fan. So we expect some more posts about BMW from you, although this topic is about VW...

moodyaaa

February 10, 2009 9:36 PM

Nice Looking In general !!

jerome88

February 10, 2009 10:32 PM

i liked the led on the v8 vantage

trinity

February 10, 2009 10:34 PM

this is never gonna compete with the STI, but it looks sweet anyways, even though i would rather have that engine in a scirocco

ShinyG

February 10, 2009 11:09 PM

I hope it will be 4wd to be a proper descendant of the R32. If not, VW will try to market it as having a revolutionary FWD system that makes it drive just as a good as a RWD! Where have I heard such nonsense before? Why, it's Ford and their green-meanie, the Focus RS. I don't mind the lighter turbocharged engine though, as it means lower weight.

Edited by user on February 10, 2009 at 11:10 PM

sub39h

February 10, 2009 11:23 PM

why not make an R36 using the engine from the Passat? it's hard to compare them directly but it'll probably be more fuel efficient with less emissions, and still churn out 300bhp

dom6698

February 11, 2009 3:45 AM

I'd have thought it would be obvious why not. This car needs to have some element of fuel economy. If an S3 can produce 265PS and 350NM vs an A3 3.2 V6 with 250PS and 320NM, the S3 taking 8.5l/100km and 198g/km vs the A3 V6 which uses 9.4l/100km and 224g/km of co2, then apply the logic that the 2.0 TFSI uses 7.1l/100km and produces 164g/km. The Passat R36 3.6 V6 FSI with 300PS and 350NM of torque takes 10.5l/100km and 249g/km co2. Since the S3 was introduced the TSI engine has succeeded the TFSI with gains in fuel economy of 6.9% and reductions in co2 by 10.3%.

Using these figures I would project a Golf 3.6 V6 FSI would produce 220g/km co2 and use 9.4l/100km. A Golf TSI 270PS may use around 8l/100km and 180g/km of co2.

Case made.

Blake_10

February 10, 2009 11:56 PM

Audi is way better than BMW in design, but why did they put the Audi R8 V10 rims on a VW golf :S

michelin901

February 11, 2009 6:25 AM

thats just your opinion. i think all audis except the a8 are boring. the rear of the new a4 is hideous. it looks like it was spanked o something. in fact i like the vw's more. the golf gti and r32 being my faves. and abt leds i always thought they were cheap looking and its normal for other brands to rip em off. merc brought out side mirror mounted indicators and every car maker xcept atleast BMW, have copied em. but who cares. anyway looking forward to a good looking r20.

motorjedi

February 11, 2009 7:10 AM

Because it's an artist's rendering, not the final car.

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 11:06 AM

I think BMW design is miles ahead of Audi! And the R8 is not a good looking car in its class

wills2007

February 11, 2009 12:26 AM

I drive a new Audi with LEDs, regardless of whether they are LEDs or not they're actually DRLs, or 'Daytime Running Lights' as Audi market them, designed to help other road users see you. Although even I'm unconvinced of how many accidents a couple of twinkly lights will prevent...

sub39h

February 11, 2009 2:53 AM

for starters, "daytime running lights" are mandatory on all cars in scandinavia. second off, look at their crash statistics before and after they were implemented before you write them off :p

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 11:09 AM

the point is that if you have lights on, you are more visible and that reduces the chances of having accidents. You cannot, however, say that accident rates dropped after introduction of day lights without statistical testing

Uptohere

February 11, 2009 12:39 AM

This will be a little terror. I unknowingly came across this article in what I initially thought was a BMW forum. I'll laugh my ____ off the day I see led's on a BMW.

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 11:13 AM

BMW was the inventor of using LED in car lights. first LED that appeaered on a car was the tail light of the BMW E46 M3. As for front light - BMW's Rolls Royce Phantom. I am very sure that if BMW decides to use LED for its other models, or when they are forced to by law, that it would not be a tasteless line of LED, but something in the shape of its corona rings, which is still original. What do you think?

122

February 11, 2009 1:22 PM

"What is up with cars and the line of LEDs. It is now becoming extremely tasteless!"

Yawung

February 11, 2009 2:43 PM

haha well quoted 122. Gee "BMW prince", i wonder what type of car he likes.

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 9:33 PM

a car that is original, true to the brand, sporty, powerful, stylish with character and soul from a company that's rich in heritage, tradition and independent.... yes, you guessed right - The unique BMW 1 Series Coupe!

Uptohere

February 11, 2009 11:14 PM

What do I think BMWPrince? Most people have come to associate led's as drl's with Audi and that on most of their models, not all, they have executed and incorporated them very well. In fact, they appear to have chosen to do more with this lighting technology than most manufacturers. Frankly, I just chuckle when you call something "tasteless" because it's Audi, then tasteful when it's BMW. But I guess that's how you roll. LED's allow for exciting design in future and they're here to stay in some shape or form.

Joe_Limon

February 11, 2009 1:47 AM

pfft this design is soo old. Toyota Sera/Nissan silvia?

The_woo_factor

February 11, 2009 2:50 PM

LEDs only look good on Audis. VW please make your own designs. As with all the comments about BMW looking good? Some even DARED to say BMWs look better than Audis? I am sorry....but BMW' stylind is controversial at best, not pretty. On the other hand, Audis are about style and beauty, quality and class. No competition. Any comments about the BMW headlights looking like candlelights..... well anyone can tell you having candlelights as headlights is effective at all. LEDS shouts LOOK AT ME!!!! and GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!! More road presence...more outstanding...

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 9:37 PM

The function of these day time running lights are not night lights, they are just navigation lights for better visibility, also to enhance the brand identy. Unfortunately, like I said before, BMW was the first to put it in production cars, it doesn't belong to Audi. The funny thing is that Audi is using it as a brand identity and we are now seeing it on Merc, Porsche, VW and evene the latest Seat, Skoda, Kia and Mazda. Well, there goes your identity Audi!

kevoluetion

February 12, 2009 8:59 AM

BMW prince, I can tell you like candle light dinners You don't sound very manly to me. LEDs are the technology to go, not "candle light"....Who cares who came out with LEDs first? Your point? Means nothing to me. Its who uses the technology most efficiently. You dont hear ppl say "wow look at those tail lights!"

BMWPrince

February 12, 2009 9:52 AM

You are right I love candle light dinners! It's always got a very unique atmosphere. Are you trying to say that most men don't like candle light dinners? You're going to get lots of opposition...not everything that's romantic is girly! There's always more to an action: it's not just a meal to fill you, it's how you enjoy the meal, it's not just a car to get you from A to B, it's how you get there, it's not about being born, live and die - it's how you've lived.

As for tail-lights, I do admire a few: the running light tubes of BMW's taillights have great visual effects at night (Audi A3 also "adopted" that innovation from BMW now). I also like the tail lights of the Astons, Audi A7 Concept. But in the premium market, the most dissapointing taillights are Audi A4, pre-facelift BMW 3 Series and Audi A5

Uptohere

February 13, 2009 12:09 AM

Anyone seen the full on LED low beam/high beam lighting package on the R8? Fav Audi tailight design = A6 Avant. New Q5's look interesting.

The_woo_factor

February 11, 2009 2:51 PM

i mean not effective at all...

Blake_10

February 11, 2009 5:40 PM

BMW has some big hugly Cars, some of then remind a pig because of its nose... xD

BMWPrince

February 11, 2009 9:38 PM

that is true - especially the new 7 Series.... what were thy thinking with those pig nostrils? Messed up the complete design.

Anthropos

February 11, 2009 6:25 PM

Man! I'm gonna have to start sending some emails to WCF, cause from a photo chopper's point of view I can do a better job that that. For example the wheels look flat, a usual noob mistake...

khlbt

February 12, 2009 5:14 AM

All german cars are great regardless of make, at the end of the day, it comes down to one's opinion...if you don't like it don't buy it, simple as that. That's my opinion anyway. Nevertheless, the R20T is still a nice looking piece of german machinery although it's a rendered image...still i do hope they do consider making it AWD like the current R32 which is a great drive as always...i say lets just sit back and see what will come out of it all :)

Edited by user on February 12, 2009 at 5:16 AM

humanomaly

March 6, 2009 10:35 AM

Who cares about the christmas string of lights, how about some basic fog lights, just go to the parts bin for the GTi, and use those, and don't give me any story about how the lights on the last 2008 R32 were supposed to do the job, they don't, plus visibility is hampered because my left (driver side/USA) visibility is hampered on cold nights because the drivers side vent and the vents for the defroster in front of driver only put out AC'ed air, the other side works....gotta bring it in and they're gonna give me the guilt trip about how I must have done something to it.....that's VW service....

buzzie

April 15, 2009 4:22 AM

man i love this R20's LEDs ... so cool; and for dissenters out there, wait till you see this LCD blowing through on a slight cloudy day... it's breathtakingly beautiful!

buzzie

April 15, 2009 4:30 AM

To VW: Please bring R20 to the US with 4-dr/AWD; it will certainly provide the added utility and a sure-fire selling point in the US.

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