Volkswagen Golf R hatch buyers have to wait for more power

The hot Volkswagen Golf R‘s power boost has been delayed.

Volkswagen Australia previously confirmed the Golf R range would receive the uprated engine from the Golf R 20 Years special edition this year, however this has now been pushed until 2024.

“If that does happen we’re looking more towards facelift now which occurs next year,” said Volkswagen Australia general manager communications Paul Pottinger.

The Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years special edition is set to go on sale locally on July 13 with only 50 examples being made available.

Golf R 20 Years

This special edition Golf R model introduces a more powerful tune of the regular R’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that ups outputs to 245kW and 420Nm.

Compared to the current Australian-spec Golf R hatch, this is an increase of 10kW and 20Nm, though the current Australian-spec Golf R wagon already packs the full 420Nm.

Earlier in the year Volkswagen confirmed orders for the Golf R hatch and wagon were “paused due to previously announced component shortages”.

Orders for the regular Golf R hatch or wagon haven’t reopened yet, with Mr Pottinger hoping but not guaranteeing orders will reopen in the third or fourth quarter of 2023.

Golf R

Beyond this, Mr Pottinger said the company is looking at what the uprated engine means for the entire mid-life updated Golf range.

“It could be significant in view of remarks that were made recently about a number of aspects of the car,” said Mr Pottinger.

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer recently told Autocar haptic steering wheel switchgear and touch-capacitive climate control sliders “definitely did a lot of damage” to Volkswagen’s standing among loyal customers.

“We had frustrated customers who shouldn’t be frustrated,” said Mr Schäfer.

Spied facelifted Golf prototype

“So we’ve spent a lot of time now – working through really systematically – on what all the functions are that a customer usually touches when using a vehicle.

The CEO confirmed late last year he has been working to drop or modify a range of controversial features, announcing the sliders would become illuminated and steering wheels would return to traditional buttons.

The upcoming next-generation Tiguan’s interior is a proof of concept of what Volkswagen interiors will look like moving forward.

The mid-life updated Golf will reportedly also receive an interior rethink. A spied prototype was captured last year seemingly with these interior changes.

MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf