Volkswagen to Celebrate 25 Years of the Golf R by Giving It the Audi RS3’s Badass Engine
After equipping the Golf with four- and six-cylinder powertrains, the thrilling turbocharged I-5 is reportedly on the way.
Billy RehbockWriterAug 28, 2025
28 2026 Volkswagen Golf R black front view
The Volkswagen Golf R stands above all other Golf variants in terms of performance and prestige. First introduced as the Golf R32 with a 3.2-liter narrow-angle VR6 engine and standard all-wheel drive, an R-badged Golf has served as the top-shelf model in the U.S. since the 2004 model year. To the jealousy of American VW enthusiasts at the time, the R32 arrived in Europe earlier, in 2002 for the 2003 model year.
In the intervening decades, the mega hatchback evolved to possess a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 as it changed with the times, but it never lost its propensity for quick launches and entertaining driving dynamics. What Volkswagen has neglected to do, despite enthusiasts’ pleas, is offer a version of the Golf R with the punchy turbocharged I-5 that’s available in the 2025 Audi RS3.
2025 audi rs3 sedan kemoragrey 06
That’s about to change as VW plans to debut a 25th anniversary version of the Golf R equipped with the EA855 engine used in the RS3 and the Cupra Formentor VZ5. Outfitted with this 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, the hotted-up Golf R could produce as much as 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. That’s a big jump from the existing Mk8.5 Golf R’s output of 328 hp and 310 lb-ft.
The existing RS3 should launch from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.6 seconds, so expect VW’s extra-hot hatch to do just about the same. We expect the five-cylinder Golf R to share many of the Audi sedan’s upgrades, as well. Those performance enhancements should include a rear torque splitter, brake-torque-vectoring system, and semi-active suspension tuned for the RS3’s ability to carry higher speeds through corners.
32 2025 Volkswagen Golf R black first drive
Expect the Golf R’s brakes to be beefed up and complemented by new wheels celebrating the top-level hatchback’s heritage. VW is also likely to outfit its uber Golf R with a spicier exhaust like the RS Sport Exhaust offered by Audi. As with the Golf R and Audi RS3, a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will likely be the only gearbox on offer.
Both the Golf R and Audi RS3 were refreshed recently. Based on our early impressions, each is a bundle of fun, suggesting this latest addition to the Golf’s lineage could be one of the greatest yet. But here’s the potential disappointment: While we hope the 25th anniversary version of the Golf R comes to our shores, a VW representative declined to comment on the matter when we contacted the company to inquire.
Reports indicate sales will begin in the U.K. in 2027, 25 years after the first Golf R32 was available globally in 2002. Should VW bring the five-cylinder Golf R to the U.S., expect its pricing to just undercut the Audi RS3’s, which begins just shy of $70,000. Volkswagen is off to a good start sharing some of its European-only content with its American fans, as seen with the Golf R’s Euro Style package, so here’s hoping we also get the hottest Golf to date on our shores.
Billy Rehbock
Billy Rehbock’s passion for cars started with his dad’s Volkswagen Jetta GLX, his mom’s Cabriolet, and his own Hot Wheels collection. A USC graduate with a Master of Science in journalism, he’s an associate editor for the MotorTrend Buyer’s Guide and covers everything from sports cars to SUVs.
