Volkswagen recently took the 2022 Golf R hot hatch and 2021 ID.4 electric crossover to the Smithers Winter Test Center in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and gave the keys to Tanner Foust.
Now, you may know him for co-hosting Top Gear USA, or for being a three-time Rallycross champ and two-time Formula Drift champ, but he is also Volkswagen R’s brand ambassador, so this isn’t a review, but rather a promo. Still, he started his career as an ice-driving instructor, so he does know what he’s talking about.
Review: 2021 VW ID.4 Is Not Bad, But It Still Needs Some Improvements
Besides being brand new, the 2022 Golf R features a more advanced 4Motion, with torque vectoring. The system can distribute up to 100 percent of the rear thrust between the two wheels for better cornering performance and reduced turning radius. In terms of power, you are looking at a 2.0-liter four-pot, producing 315 HP and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. It can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and will top out at 155 mph (250 km/h). The European version, which is the one depicted on film, is offered solely with a 7-speed DSG, but in the U.S. and Canada, customers will also get a six-speed manual option.
With its low center of gravity and over 50 percent of the weight distribution at the rear, the 2021 ID.4 is a good winter companion, Foust says, despite lacking all-wheel drive. It has a 201 HP and 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) electric motor that powers the rear wheels, and an 82 kWh battery pack, for an EPA range of 250 miles (403 km).
The 2021 VW ID.4 has an MSRP of $39,995 in the Pro guise, equipped with a 10-inch infotainment system, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless charging pad and a few other features. We don’t know how much the 2022 Golf R will cost when it arrives later this year, but it will be pricier than the 2020 Golf GTI, which starts at $28,695.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOLcscAzAyU
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