Volkswagen R has finally revealed the Golf R 333 Limited Edition for Europe, a very yellow take on the 20 Years Edition that costs a whopping €76,410 (A$125,580).
As the name suggests, the special edition Golf R will be limited to 333 units and is distinguished from other variants of the brand’s all-wheel drive hot hatch via its eye-catching Lime Yellow Metallic paint and black exterior accents.
It’s also powered by the uprated 245kW/420Nm version of the brand’s 2.0 TSI four-cylinder petrol engine like the Golf R 20 Years, up 10kW on the standard model in Europe and 20Nm up on Australian versions of the Golf R Hatch which do without a petrol particulate filter (PPF).
Beyond the bright yellow paintwork and uprated engine tune, the Golf R 333 Limited Edition gets a numbered build plaque on the dashboard, an Akrapovic R Performance exhaust with titanium rear silencers, 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels shod in semi-slick tyres, and a top speed increased to 270km/h.
Volkswagen quotes a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds.
Inside there’s Nappa leather upholstery and real carbon-fibre inlays like the 20 Years Edition, as well as a nine-speaker harman/kardon premium audio system.
“It is the first Volkswagen R model with a strict limitation to 333 units and with a sequentially numbered badge in the interior,” said Hakim Halimi, head of product marketing at Volkswagen R.
It appears the VW Golf R 333 Limited Edition will only be available in Europe, with orders in Germany to open from June 2, and production scheduled for September ahead of first deliveries from October.
Speaking with CarExpert, a spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia said “we are focusing on launching the new Golf R 20 Years Edition in Australia, and procuring more allocation of the standard Golf R variants”.
Volkswagen R says its hot hatch staple has reached “cult status”, with 250,000 vehicles ordered since the first R32 was launched in 2002.
Meanwhile, the Golf R 20 Years will arrive in Australia in strictly limited numbers later this year, with orders to open on July 13.
Just 50 units will be imported – 32 Lapiz Blue and 18 Pure White examples – and distributed via the brand’s national dealer network, priced from $77,490 plus on-road costs or $10,500 more than the standard Golf R Hatch.
Like the 333 Limited Edition, the Golf R 20 Years scores the 245kW/420Nm engine tune with turbocharger pre-loading, the Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, as well as carbon-fibre interior trim inlays.
Volkswagen Australia says that to the end of the first quarter of this year, some 19,833 units across the Golf R32 and R generations across hatchback and wagon body styles have been delivered in Australia over 20 years, with the 20,000 milestone expected later this year.
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