Priced at £2 300 (R43 200), the R Performance Package, apart from the new stoppers, includes 19-inch lightweight Spielberg alloy wheels, a new bootlid spoiler, tweaked steering and on the inside, faux carbon fibre and leather trim. A further £2 975 (R55 879) option is a titanium Akrapovic exhaust that not only comes in at seven kilograms less than the standard outlet, but features valve control claimed to improve the engine's sound quality.
While power from the 2.0-litre turbocharged mill remains unaltered at 228 kW and 400 Nm of torque, the 250 km/h top speed limiter has been dropped, meaning a top speed of 267 km/h for the hatch and 270 km/h for the Variant estate. The benchmark 0-100 km/h sprint however remains unchanged at 4.6 and 4.8 seconds.
The Performance Package can only be had on models fitted with the six-speed DSG gearbox. With both items fitted, pricing for the Golf R hatch tops at £37 985 (R713 473) and at £40 975 (R769 634) for the Variant.
