With all the buzz about various new 2012 vehicles, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R is one that may not get quite as much attention as others. That said, it’s worth taking a look at what VW is offering in this segment for the new year. What sticks out to many reviewers is the price tag: at around $33,000 MSRP, the 2012 Golf seems extremely priced up, especially since the 2011 model, according to Edmunds, retails for around 18,000.
So what’s driving cost for this new version of the 2012 Golf that’s slated to arrive in the U.S. next spring? From initial reviews of this car, it seems like the critical factor is power. Volkswagen staffers are saying that this new Golf is going to be the most powerful car of its kind ever produced (by VW.) Looking at the horsepower bears out that concept, since the 2012 model is estimated to get a staggering 260 HP out of a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged DOHC engine block. By contrast, Edmunds estimates the power for the current model at around 170 HP.
All of that power means that fuel economy will decrease quite a bit for the 2012 model. Where the 2011 Volkswagen Golf gets up to 33 miles an hour on highway, preliminary numbers for the 2012 model show as low as 26 mpg. This doesn’t really fit with the overall trend, especially for smaller cars, which is going to be another major obstacle for the German auto maker debuting its newest Golf product to the North American market. There’s been a lot of talk about U.S. Volkswagen production, which could turn out well for Volkswagen, and some of its diesel cars like the Jetta and Passat are promising big sales for the company, but with an oversized price tag, it looks like the 2012 Golf is only going to be a hit with a crowd that carries a lot heavier wallets than the average American buyer. Watch for more on what VW has planned for this car and look for competitive incentives if you do plan to get the new and improved Golf for more power on the road.