Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years

FIRST DRIVE Special edition celebrates two decades of four-wheel-drive performance

Essentials

 Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years

Price: £48,095

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol

Power/torque: 328bhp/420Nm

Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, four-wheel drive

 4.6 seconds 0-62mph:

Top speed: 168mph

Economy: 36.7mpg

CO₂: 174g/km

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AE the 20 years ago, Volkswagen's string of devastatingly quick, four-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks have set the tone for extracting sports car-baiting performance from humble beginnings. And now, to commemorate the first Golf to wear the R badge two decades ago, VW has built the Golf R 20 Years.

Taking the Mk8 Golf R as a base, the 20 Years aims to inject more character into the package, potentially unlocking an extra sparkle to fight the world's best hot hatchbacks. And there are many contenders on that list, with a new Honda Civic Type R about to join the fray, too.

With a two-tier rear spoiler, 19-inch alloys and a hunkered-down stance, the 20 Years has the same visual aggression as the R-Performance Pack-equipped Golf R, albeit with optional blue wheel accents and subtle badging. The Golf R's subtly menacing design has always disguised the car's potential, and the 20 Years does little to change that.