Volkswagen has finally whipped the covers off the Golf R 333, a special-edition version of the German marque’s pinnacle hot hatch. Only 333 examples will be made.
However, there’s more significance to the number “333” in this Golf R’s moniker. Yup, you guessed it, the familiar (EA888) 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine sited below the Lime Yellow Metallic bonnet has been uprated to produce 333 PS, which translates to 245 kW. Compared to the standard Golf R, which we tested at the end of 2022, that’s an increase of 10 kW, making it — with the celebratory, special-edition Golf R Edition 20 revealed last year — the most powerful of its kind. And, like the latter limited edition, the twisting force has been increased by 20 Nm for a peak torque output of 420 Nm, sent to VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, which feature R-Performance torque vectoring, via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
According to the Wolfsburg-based brand, the optimised engine tuning means that the load chnage response is extremely spontaneous. The turbocharger is preloaded to keep it at a constant speed during partial-load driving. This, VW says, allows the Golf R 333 fasted power development for subsequent acceleration.
So, with the increases in power and torque, how quick does the Golf R 333 sprint to the three-figure marker from a standstill? VW claims 4.6 seconds. As a reminder, the standard model dispatches the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is 270 km/h.
The Drift and Special driving profiles, which, VW says, have been designed for the Nürburgring race track, offers additional driving pleasure, the company adds. However, the automaker mentions the latter is for when you’re “away from public roads”.
So, bar the vibrant paintwork seen here, uprated outputs and enhanced performance, what other features distinguish this special edition from its standard stablemate? The Golf R 333 features several model-specific decals on the side and black trim elements. The latter hue has been carried over to the 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels, which have been wrapped in semi-slick rubber. The brake callipers are finished in blue. An Akrapovič exhaust system, replete with titanium silencers, provide the four-cylinder soundtrack.
The Lime Yellow Metallic hue is carried over to the interior, where a numbered plaque indicates this model’s special-edition status. Sports seats, trimmed in Nappa leather, are also present. Further included in the package is touchscreen infotainment and a 480 W Harman Kardon sound system.
