VW plotting more R models

Volkswagen’s head of powertrain development, Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, has told media outlets including motoring.com.au that owing to the success of the Golf R, a wider selection of R performance models is under consideration.

Dr Nuesser said it is theoretically possible to apply the ‘R’ treatment to every model in the range, but that customer demand and commercial viability were of equal importance in considering the move.

“We have had a lot of success with the R models, because the R models are very emotional,” Dr Nuesser said.

“The typical R models — from the technology side, the engine side — are at the highest level we can achieve, and as we showed with Golf R 400.”

Customer response to show cars and production models alike has driven Volkswagen to look beyond its usual R offerings, but Dr Nuessen spoke specifically only of the Polo, Golf and Passat at this time.

“We get a lot of positive resonance out of the market and, perhaps soon, we will see other R models. But it’s always a question [as to] if the market is able to use the car, if they find them attractive. But yes, in principle it’s always possible to do it.”

When quizzed on specific models, Dr Nuesser was just as enthusiastic, expressing possibilities for the enhancement of models including Polo and Passat, and even an R wagon — perhaps as a successor to the charismatic Passat R36.

“In the future, you may also see a wagon. It’s possible. It’s also possible for Polo, Passat — it’s possible for everywhere. It’s only a question of power and price range,” he said.

Six-cylinder engines and all-wheel drive were also under consideration for future R variants, though just where these would end up was unclear. Dr Nuesser said longitudinally mounted six-cylinder engines were again in the company’s gun sights, and that the turbocharging of these units was also a possibility.

“We also have six-cylinder engines which fit longitudinally across the car and these can always be turbocharged, which means there is no limit [to what we can offer]. The question is do we need a six-cylinder?” he asked rhetorically.

“It’s a question of power and torque. With too much you can’t get the traction, which is why we have 4MOTION in the toolkit, the platform system, and in each car this is possible.”

That pondering seemed to suggest that all-wheel drive Polo R and Passat R models were being considered by Volkswagen, though Dr Nuessen was quick to stress that commercial viability would, as always, be the deciding factor.

“We have had the biggest success with the current Golf R than we ever have had,” he enthused.

“We are selling so many and the customer feedback is so positive, it gives us now the idea to think about other R models. It’s only a question of whether the market is willing to take the car and, from our side, whether it’s commercially attractive to make it.”

Volkswagen has previewed a potential Polo R production model with a number of concepts in the past, and the limited-edition Polo R WRC sold overseas (pictured).

Beyond the Golf R, Volkswagen Group Australia will release its second current R model — the facelifted Scirocco R coupe — here in November, following new R-Line versions of its Golf Wagon and Tiguan this month.