2014 Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept
The latest Golf R production model was introduced just recently. With 221
kW / 300 PS of power. All-wheel drive. It handles the sprint to 100 km/h in 4.9
seconds and attains a top speed of 250 km/h (governed) – this is the sharpest
production Golf ever and one of the most agile sports cars in its class. But
the potential of the Golf – which made its debut exactly 40 years ago and
developed into one of the world's most successful cars – enables even further
extensions to the limits of what is feasible in sporty performance. Volkswagen
is demonstrating at Auto China 2014 just how far these limits can (currently)
be extended in the world premiere of the Golf R 400 concept car. Its name
reflects its mission. It is a Golf developed by Volkswagen R GmbH – the brand's
sports car manufacturer. 400 stands for 400 PS (294 kW). The powerful engine
with the genes of the WRC racing version propels the Golf to 100 km/h in 3.9
seconds. Its top speed, assuming that a German motorway or race course is
available: 280 km/h (governed).
3.55 kg per PS. The Golf R 400, including its all-wheel drive system,
weighs just 1,420 kg thanks to its compact high-performance engine (2.0 TSI),
lightweight dual-clutch gearbox and low body weight. Its weight-to-power ratio
is a dominant 3.55 kg per PS. The permanent all-wheel drive system by
Volkswagen – 4MOTION – is also one of the most fuel-efficient systems of its
kind. In addition, the Golf is also exceptionally aerodynamic, as the R 400 as
well. Perfection in details runs through the entire concept of the Golf R 400 –
from the engine to the largely new body design. This extreme Golf is painted in
"Silver Flake"; creating a contrast to this light metallic colour are
the car's glossy "Black" roof and mirror caps in genuine carbon. Also
designed in painted carbon effect are the splitters (wrap-around aerodynamic
parts) adapted from motorsport and genuine carbon accents in the interior.
Special features of the Golf R 400 in detail:
R 400 turbocharged engine
200 PS per litre displacement. The Golf R 400 is powered by a 2.0 TSI with
the technical genes of the WRC racing engine. Compared to the 221 kW / 300 PS
Golf R, the Golf R 400 develops 100 PS more power, thus providing 295 kW / 400
PS (at 7,200 rpm) – which is 200 PS per litre of engine displacement. This
specific power figure lies on the same level as that of super sports cars. The
engine's maximum torque was increased by 70 Newton metres to 450 Newton metres
(between 2,400 and 6,000 rpm).
R400 all-wheel drive system and running gear
4MOTION. Typical of all Golf R cars, due to their exceptional power
reserves, has always been their permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. Of
course, this also applies to the Golf R 400 being shown in Beijing. In this
car, the all-wheel drive system is coupled with an automatic 6-speed
dual-clutch gearbox (DSG), which can also be shifted manually as an alternative
via the gear shift lever or steering wheel paddles.
Clever control. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive of the Golf R, which has been
perfected with such features as a Haldex-5 coupling, is activated even before
slip occurs. Traction loss is practically prevented by this. The system makes
use of a pre-control strategy here, which depends on the specific driving state.
Under low load conditions, or during coastdown, the front wheels transfer most
of the propulsive power, while the rear axle is decoupled. This basic tuning
saves on fuel. If necessary, the rear axle of the Golf R can be variably
engaged in fractions of a second as soon as this becomes necessary. This is
done by means of the Haldex coupling that is activated by an electro-hydraulic
oil pump.
EDS, XDS, ESC Sport. Along with the Haldex coupling, which acts as a
central differential lock, the electronic differential locks (EDS) integrated
in the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system act as transverse differential
locks. In addition, the Golf R 400 is equipped with the XDS+ system on both the
front and rear axles, which brakes the wheels at the inside of a bend during
fast driving through bends, and which optimises steering response as a
transverse differential lock. Last but not least, the Golf R 400 has an
"ESC Sport" function like that of the production model. The system is
activated via a two-stage switch on the centre console. When the driver presses
the button once briefly, this selects the "ESC Sport" mode of
Electronic Stability Control (ESC). During very fast driving with lots of bends
– e.g. on a race course – the ESC does not intervene as frequently, which
enables even more agile handling properties. If the ESC button is held down
more than three seconds, the system is fully deactivated for professional
drivers on a race course.
Sport suspension and new wheels. The sport suspension of the production
Golf R, which lowers the ride height by 20 mm compared to the base Golf, did
not have to be changed for the Golf R 400 thanks to its large power reserve. In
front, the two Golf R versions each have a MacPherson-type suspension with
lower wishbones, while what is known as the modular performance suspension
(multi-link suspension) is used at the rear. The tyres are also the same on
both cars: 235/35 R 19. The alloy wheels of the Golf R 400 are a new
development. Their design is based on the 19-inch "Cadiz" production
wheels, but they were highly modified and equipped with high-gloss black
inserts which, as air vanes, perfect cooling in the reinforced brake system.
R 400 exterior
Side profile. Volkswagen Design made wide-ranging design changes to the Golf
R 400. For one, the body was widened by 20 mm on each side to accommodate the
19-inch wheels that are further outboard due to their larger wheel offset. In
front, the designers developed an entirely new wing, which – as a modern
interpretation of the legendary Rallye Golf G60 (from 1988) – are significantly
flared. Similarly, the rear side panels over the wheel housings of the Golf R
400 were also flared. The wheel arches are painted in body colour as a uniform
part of the new wings and side panels. In addition, the bottoms of the sides
are characterised by a wrap-around splitter made of visual carbon that is a
very flat aerodynamic element derived from motorsport. Perfection in the
details: the fibres of the visual carbon parts in the exterior area that just
have a matt coating are aligned in the driving direction, and as arrow-shaped
elements they emphasise the dynamism of the R 400. Above the splitter,
designers also adapted the side sills to the new contours, creating a uniform
transition to the newly designed wheel arches.
Front end. Designers have redesigned the front end of the Golf R 400 as
well. Beneath the high-gloss black radiator grille with its "R
badge", on a background in "Lemon Yellow", the Golf R 400 also
features a line in "Lemon Yellow". Similar to the line of the Golf R
(chrome line), Golf GTI (red line) and the new Golf GTE (blue line), it forms
the termination of the grille towards the rear and continues into the
headlights on the left and right. Beneath this line, there is a type of slot
that serves as an air inlet on the Golf R 400 to help cover the car's elevated
cooling requirements. The bumper was also completely redesigned. The central
air inlets have a surround that is a wing-like element made of carbon effect,
which visually appear to hover in the bumper. The lines of this aerodynamic
element run horizontally up to the height of the bi-xenon headlights, then they
bend in a V-shape towards the rear, and finally describe the form of a C (left)
and a reversed C (right). Self-contained wing elements in high-gloss black also
hover in the lower air inlets. Between the aerodynamic element of visual carbon
and the high-gloss black wings (as well as within these black elements) there
is a protective screen whose honeycomb structure – like so many details of the
Golf R 400 – is reminiscent of motorsport vehicles. Since the wing element
protrudes somewhat further forward, this gives it a progressive
three-dimensional appearance. As in the side profile, there is also a
motorsport-derived splitter in carbon effect at the front.
Rear section. At the rear, the wrap-around motorsport splitters transition
into a diffuser, which – like the front wing element – protrudes slightly out
from the body. Integrated here are the two central exhaust tailpipes. The
reason: in contrast to the Golf R with its four tailpipes (two each, left and
right), the Golf R 400 follows the design of the Golf R32 – the original
R-series model presented in 2002. Specifically, there are two polished
tailpipes with a diameter of 110 mm, which are spaced 200 mm apart from one
another and extend slightly upwards. Perfection in the details: the exhaust
tailpipes have an inner part that is visible from the outside, which repeats
the honeycomb design of the front air inlet. The designers also redesigned the
rear bumper; at each end of the bumper there is a carbon inlay in a C-shape
(reversed C on the right). The reflector is integrated in the lower horizontal
part of the C; the vertical part protrudes slightly from the bumper. Here the
designers have worked in a wheel arch exhaust vent.
Dual rear spoiler design. The black roof transitions into a roof spoiler
that is also in black. It has two levels: viewed from the rear, the gaze is
directed through the two "flying" spoilers, one above the other, to
the roof. Designers have integrated an LED brake light bar in the rear spoiler.
R 400 interior
Shell seats in Alcantara and carbon leather. The interior of the Golf R 400
has also been extensively customised. The driver and front passenger have
motorsport shell seats with integrated head restraints and belt openings. The
cross-quilted middle seat panels are designed in Alcantara
("Anthracite" colour); the areas at head level and the inner surfaces
of the lateral supports are designed in exclusive "carbon leather".
The same applies to the outer side of the shell seats. The decorative stitching
and stitch tucks (contrasting seams on lateral supports) create a contrast to
the fresh "Lemon Yellow" colour. "R" badges are embroidered
in the leather on the backs of the front seats. The rear individual seats are
also designed in "carbon leather" on their outer areas, and the inner
surfaces are upholstered in Alcantara. The area between the two seats is
trimmed in black "Nappa leather".
Carbon accents. Carbon is also the dominant material for accents in the
doors and on the passenger's side of the dashboard – in contrast to the
exterior, however, it is coated here in a glossy rather than matt clearcoat.
The centre console accents, cockpit surround and trim around the air nozzles
are designed in glossy black piano finish. Carbon leather is used for the door
inserts. The door armrests, meanwhile, have contrasting stitching in
"Lemon Yellow". There is white ambience lighting around the door
accents and the stainless steel door sill plates. Carbon leather is used in the
"R" design of the three-spoke sport leather steering wheel. All
leather elements are also customised by decorative stitching in the contrasting
colour "Lemon Yellow" – perfection down to the smallest of details.
Source:Volkswagen Press Release
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