VW: 2015 Volkswagen Golf R Starts at $36,595

2015 volkswagen golf r

VW has cooked up some hot hatches over the past few decades, but the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R takes the cake as the fastest, most powerful production Golf ever sold by U.S. dealerships. The tale of the tape here: 292 hp and 280 lb.-ft. of torque, which gets routed through a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic to a Haldex-enhanced 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. In turn, that powertrain is good for a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 sprint of 4.9 seconds, while also delivering an expected EPA fuel-economy grade of 30 mpg highway.

Naturally, those numbers all show clear advantages for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R as compared to the previous edition, with the newest go-fast Golf enjoying 36 more horses (+14 percent), 37 more lb.-ft. of torque (+15 percent) and 3 more miles per gallon (+11 percent) in highway driving.

Also, not only is the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R the most athletic member of the next-gen Golf family, it's the most richly appointed, too. Serving double duty as the lux flagship of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf range, the R edition showcases standard amenities like:

• An upgraded cabin with leather-surfaced sport seats and a heated front row, including a 12-way power-adjustable driver's position
• VW Car-Net technology for connectivity services, along with display audio, a media device interface and Bluetooth
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning, keyless entry with push-button start, a rearview camera and other convenience technologies
• R-specific design cues such as unique bumpers and side skirts, LED daytime running lamps, dual-exhaust with four chrome-tipped outlets, and 18- and 19-inch wheel designs

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R can also be ordered with the "DCC and Nav" package that, unsurprisingly, includes the VW DCC adaptive-damping system and navigation, then adds a premium Fender sound system and the automaker's ultrasonic parking-assistance feature, "Park Distance Control."

Powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged and directly injected four-cylinder engine, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf R is priced from $36,595--a little more than double the cost of the "regular" 2015 Volkswagen Golf.