Neither the VW e-Golf nor the Golf R are fresh news in Europe, as both had their world debuts at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show . However, their U.S. debut is taking place at the Detroit Motor Show , which is why we decided to revisit them for a recap.
Going on sale in select states in the fourth quarter of 2014, the e-Golf is VW’s first fully electric vehicle for the U.S. Available in five-door form only and fitted with all-LED headlights, the e-Golf is powered by a 115-horsepower electric motor which delivers 199 lb-ft (269 Nm) of torque, allowing the EV to reach 25 mph (40 km/h) from rest in 4.2 seconds and to get to 62 mph (100 km/h) in approximately 10.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 87 mph (140 km/h).
Average driving range for the VW e-Golf is between 70 and 90 miles (116-146 km). The 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in less than four hours using the available 220-volt wall box for a garage or carport. However, at a 110/120-volt electrical socket it will take around 20 hours to charge the battery. There’s also the option of fast charging using the standard Combined Charging System (CCS) plug – it takes around 30 minutes for to charge the battery to 80 percent of its capacity.
As for the Golf R , it’s the most powerful Golf ever to be sold in the United States (albeit sporting 6 hp less than the Euro-spec model), with 290 hp and 280 lb-ft (391 Nm) from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Mk7-based Golf R covers the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 5.3 seconds with the six-speed manual (0.4 seconds quicker than the old car). When fitted with the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the Golf R completes the sprint in 4.9 seconds.
The VW Golf R will be launched in the U.S. in the first-quarter of 2015 in four-door form only – which makes VW’s decision to display a two-door model in Detroit rather curious.
By Dan Mihalascu
