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First Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R

A Hotter GTI Is Hatched We're slumming through traffic in downtown Geneva, Switzerland, making our way towards the French border where we're about to spend a few hours flogging the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R along the twisty, narrow roads of the Alps. Right now, we're focused on the Golf's comfortable, well-appointed interior, and how its good visibility and relatively small stature make it a pleasant drive through heavy city traffic. It's just like every other GTI – or Golf, for that matter – in this regard. But as soon as we approach the entrance to highway A40, we find ... Read More

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    Volkswagen Golf R
    Review: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R [w/video]
    1336752000

    Boiled Down, But Still Delectable It is nearly impossible to avoid reminiscing about the 1983 Volkswagen GTI while driving the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R. As you may recall, "the original hot hatch" arrived on our shores seemingly eons ago with a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four spitting out just 90 horsepower. While hardly brawny, even in an era of wheezy ...