It’s not always about the power, but when it comes to bragging rights, the VW Golf R will have its work cut out with upcoming presentations in the hot hatch segment.
Among the most anticipated arrivals are the Focus RS with over 315hp (the rumor mill is talking about 345hp) and the 306hp (310PS) Civic Type R.
In North American guise, the Golf R’s 2.0-liter turbo pushes out 292hp (296PS) and 280lb-ft (380Nm) of torque, compared to 296hp (300PS) and the same torque figure of its European sibling, which has fallen into the tuning hands of ABT Sportsline.
The German firm has developed two power kits that work on modified ECUs boosting output to 370PS (364hp) and 460Nm (339 lb-ft) in Stage 1 form, and 400PS (395hp) and 480Nm (356 lb-ft) in Stage 2 trim.
From there on and depending on how deep you want to put your hands into your pockets, ABT offers a subtle styling kit with pieces for the grille, lights, side skirts, tailgate and mirrors, several alloy wheel options in 18-, 19- and 20-inches, suspension upgrades and a few interior improvements like the floor mats.
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