---
title: "A Volkswagen Golf R With a 591-HP Audi RS3 Engine Is Nearly Perfect"
description: "Volkswagen's top hatchback with the RS3's potent five-cylinder engine in it is a marriage we can get behind."
date: "2018-07-03"
modified: "2018-07-03"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Constantine"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-constantine"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/21908/a-volkswagen-golf-r-with-a-591-hp-audi-rs3-engine-is-nearly-perfect"
categories:
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Audi"
  - "Audi RS3"
  - "compact"
  - "Engine Swap"
  - "Five Cylinder"
  - "RS3"
  - "sports car"
  - "Volkswagen Golf R"
---

# A Volkswagen Golf R With a 591-HP Audi RS3 Engine Is Nearly Perfect

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/rs3-swapped-volkswagen-golf-r.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Even the "no replacement for displacement" crowd should appreciate the power-hungry nature of the 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 used in the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf R (and GTI). Although the top-of-the-line mega hatch's power plant makes just 292 horsepower in stock form, a simple software tune will net more than 50 extra horses, and a handful of bolt-on modifications will bring the R's power output past [500 horsepower](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/17100/matt-farah-gets-floored-by-a-500-horsepower-volkswagen-golf-r>). If you want even more bang for your buck, an engine swap is inevitable.

YouTube user [Gumbal](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwn0jaGbgMkYioOWBzMog1Q>) recently filmed an Mk7 Golf R with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine from the new [Audi RS3 Sportback](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/7549/new-audi-rs3-sportback-is-400-horsepower-of-hot-hatch-excellence>) stuffed in it participating in a half-mile drag competition in Germany, and it's nearly everything we wish the Golf R was.

The build itself was done by German tuning shop [MTR Performance](<https://mtr-performance.de/>), who also installed a TTE625 turbocharger from [The Turbo Engineers](<https://www.theturboengineers.com/>), seven-speed DQ500 dual-clutch transmission, and larger downpipe and intercooler. The result? A whopping 591 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

Surprisingly, the car only runs a 157 mph half-mile, even with a powertrain from the most potent [drag racing sedan](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20638/watch-this-600-whp-audi-rs3-run-consistent-9-second-quarter-miles>) currently out there. Still, this Golf R appears very stable during each launch, and sounds excellent.

Fans might wonder why Volkswagen didn't borrow the Audi five-cylinder or build another larger-displacement motor for the Golf R in the first place, especially since the six-cylinder VR6 in previous entries of VW's top-performance Golf was so revered. The problem lies in development costs coupled with the fact that the EA888 turbo-four [blows larger engines in VW's lineup out of the water](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11318/the-volkswagen-vr6-is-on-its-way-out-heres-why>) in nearly every category, especially regarding emissions.

Pay close attention to this build, because it may be the closest we ever come to getting another VR6 in Volkswagen's hottest hatch.

https://youtube.com/embed/S9MZipGvZGE

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