Volkswagen’s Golf R has been spied out testing. It’s the hardest and most powerful production Golf yet, despite downsizing from the VW Golf R32’s 3.2-litre V6 to a 2-litre four-cylinder engine.

However, it’s also added a four-wheel drive variant, marketed under the ‘4Drive’ banner, and that is only available with the DSG gearbox, just as VW decrees with its own Golf R Estate.

The four-wheel drive, DSG-equipped Golf R 400 promises a zero to 62 mph time of just 3.9 seconds – a full second quicker than the standard Golf R – and a top speed of 174 mph. Tags terms: ...