After Volkswagen confirmed the production arrival of a fire-breathing circa-300kW Golf hyper hatch, the first images of the new tyre-frying model have emerged.
Expected to be powered by Volkswagen's most potent 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powerplant thus far, potentially a 295kW version of the EA888 engine block, the vehicle spotted in Germany is a merely a mule at this stage, but it does provide a few clues as to where Volkswagen is heading.
The vehicle pictured is a current Golf R body shell fitted with wider, larger diameter 20-inch wheels, significantly lowered suspension and a rear wing – not unlike performance versions of the Mercedes-AMG A 45.
Testing at the Nurburgring road course the mule is carrying a more potent engine that may match or even outgun the A 45's 265kW.
Although its production name is not yet known, the gangbusters Golf has tentatively been termed the Golf R 400, mirroring the name given to the 2014 Beijing concept car.
Little is known about the specifics of the upcoming vehicle but what's clear is Volkswagen's intent: it wants top-dog status in the hot hatch segment. The upcoming Ford Focus RS and aforementioned Mercedes-AMG A 45 will certainly not bow out without a fight, but if Volkswagen can boost the current Golf R from its 206kW/380Nm state of tune to close to 300kW and 450Nm it could deliver the fastest, most capable production hot hatch to grace terra firma.
As well as the new engine the Golf R 400 will benefit from an aggressive new look governed by aerodynamics. After all, its top speed will easily exceed the de rigueur 250km/h electronic limit most German passenger cars have fitted.
But new hardware and increased performance levels will come at a premium, likely making this new model the most expensive Golf yet. The Golf R starts at $52,740, but the new R 400 could be significantly pricier, with reports from Europe suggesting a €50,000 price point – that's about $70,000 in Australia.