---
title: "Volkswagen’s R Models Will Become More Extreme and Electric"
description: "Does that mean the next-generation Golf R will follow its Ford and Honda competitors in becoming a vessel for vents, scoops, and spoilers galore? Sounds like it."
date: "2018-04-30"
modified: "2018-04-30"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/20521/volkswagens-r-models-will-become-more-extreme-and-electric"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "German Cars"
  - "Golf R"
  - "I.D. R"
  - "Volkswagen"
---

# Volkswagen’s R Models Will Become More Extreme and Electric

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/04/2018_golf_r-medium-6693-e1525099163326.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Admirers of Volkswagen's decidedly [grown-up approach to hot hatchery](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/15943/us-bound-2018-volkswagen-golf-r-might-get-a-performance-variant>), we have some bad news. The German automaker recently spoke to [*Auto Express*](<https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/103321/volkswagen-r-to-go-extreme-with-new-range>) and expressed intentions (see what I did there?) of making its high-performance R models more "extreme."

"The R brand is going extreme and can go extreme," VW sales and marketing board member Jürgen Stackmann told the British publication at the Beijing Motor Show. "The role of R is that it can go beyond the pure rational; nobody needs a compact car with 400 horsepower, but there is a place, certainly, and that’s the turf of R."

Does that mean the next-generation Golf R will follow its Ford and [Honda](<https://www.thedrive.com/video/16701/the-2017-honda-civic-type-r-review-the-hot-hatch-that-cannot-be-unseen>) competitors in becoming a vessel for vents, scoops, and spoilers galore? Sounds like it. "With a little more expressive design, R can go beyond the rational side of things," Stackmann added. "It can find its place in a different league of pure performance and there’s a space where customs are willing to pay a significant amount of money."

The company also says its upcoming I.D. electric models will be getting the R treatment, pointing to the [I.D. R Pikes Peak racer](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19385/this-is-the-volkswagen-i-d-r-electric-pikes-peak-racer>) as a proof of concept. "The I.D R that we put into Pikes Peak shows that the R strategy needs a dimension on the electric world," the VW exec said. "It cannot stick to just conventional powertrain solutions - it is a new dimension to our brand."

Indeed, electrification will be coming even to the automaker's non-I.D. models with the [Mk8 Golf pegged to get](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/20424/volkswagen-unveils-48-volt-mild-hybrid-system-for-next-generation-golf>) a 48-volt mild hybrid system. That car is [slated to enter production](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17816/volkswagens-eighth-generation-golf-will-start-production-in-2019>) in 2019. Given Stackmann's statements, expect the R version to assault your eyes, mind, and wallet with its increased amounts of *extreme*. Hey, with the [Focus RS effectively dead](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20415/ford-sedans-are-dead-in-the-u-s>), someone had to take its place eventually.

When we reached out to Volkswagen, a spokesperson said the company cannot provide any further comment at this time.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)