Teased two years ago in concept form at the Beijing Auto Show, the Golf R400 is no longer part of the firm’s plans.
Initially confirmed by Volkswagen’s Research and Development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser, the hot hatch was supposed to slot above the Golf R in terms of power, performance and price, with its approximately 400 PS (395 HP) squeezed out of the 2.0-liter four-pot engine.
When Neusser was forced to resign in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal, the project bit the dust as AutomotiveNews reports. However, since the Germans did a few tweaks to the EA888 engine, which was supposed to power the R400, its development won’t be in vain as it will allegedly be used by future Audi models.
In the meantime, Volkswagen will keep focus on the next generation Golf R, which is expected after 2020. The compact high-performance car is believed to follow the recipe of the current model, only with more power and up to 300 lbs (136 kg) shed from its total weight.
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