2025 Volkswagen Golf R debuts new look and more power for more money

• The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R’s output increases to 328 hp
• A manual transmission remains off the table for all Golfs, including the R
  
• The Golf R gains a larger touchscreen and more LED lighting

Volkswagen has an updated 2025 Golf R headed to showrooms early next year, and on Tuesday the automaker confirmed some of the specifications for the U.S. market.

Pricing information is still being reserved until closer to the market launch early next year, but VW has confirmed a higher starting price than today’s model. For the extra money comes more power, though, and a tweaked design with more LED lighting.

The 2.0-liter turbo-4’s been boosted to 328 hp, up from today’s 315 hp rating. VW didn’t detail how the new Golf gained 13 hp, but it’s probably the same or similar tune as the 20th Anniversary Edition Golf R, which then got detuned for the U.S. market. Performance is quicker with a claimed 0-62 mph sprint of 4.6 seconds. All-wheel drive remains standard as does a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. No manual transmission will be offered because VW won’t allow buyers to #GiveAShift.

Spotting the updated Golf R won’t be hard thanks to a revised front lighting signature. An LED unibrow now spans the entire front end connecting the headlights, similar to what’s found on the electric ID.4. New 19-inch light alloy wheels fill the wheel wells and are said to be lighter than the current model’s wheels. The front bumper’s been revised with reshaped intakes, and the rear diffuser is also new. The exhaust tips are now round rather than oval.

Inside VW’s swapped in a new freestanding 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that integrates AI and ChatGPT. The loathed touch-based climate and volume controls return, but it’s unclear if they are now backlit or not. Today’s Golf R’s touch-based controls are not.

A new Black Edition will be available, VW has confirmed. As the name suggests, it will come with black accents for the wheels, brake calipers, and badging.

An updated 2025 Golf GTI will be launched together with the updated Golf R. The performance duo are the only versions of the latest Golf that VW will see in the U.S.