At 76,410 euros, it was more expensive than an Audi RS3.
June 5, 2023 at 2:08 am ET
Volkswagen surprised us last week when it presented the Golf R 333 in Germany with an astronomical price of 76,410 euros. The asking price was a bit of a shock when you consider that the 20-year edition, essentially the same car launched in 2022, was available for €59,995. Despite being by far the most expensive Golf ever, the limited edition special edition sold out in just eight minutes.
The disclosure was made on LinkedIn by Stefan Voswinkel, Head of Product Communications at VW. Paying that kind of money for a Golf shows brand/model loyalty almost everything else, as people tend not to compare technical specs. For that kind of money, a customer in Germany could have bought an Audi RS3 in Sportback guise. There are 158 new cars listed on Audi’s website and the cheapest retails for €66,111, making it around €10,000 more affordable than the Golf R 333. Alternatively, a Porsche 718 Cayman S can be had for almost the same money as the VW. .
Volkswagen Golf R 333 Limited Edition
12 Pictures
A Germany-only version, the special hot hatch has its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine rated at 328 horsepower (245 kilowatts) and 309 pound-feet (420 Newton-meters) of torque. Since we mentioned the RS3, legend has it that VW wanted to use Audi’s inline-five for a definitive Golf R, but the four-ring rejected Wolfsburg’s eyes. A few years ago, VW toyed with the idea of an R400 (or even an R420), but then Dieselgate happened and the project was aborted.
With ever-tightening emissions regulations, don’t hold your breath for a more powerful Golf R, at least not in the European Union. The R 333 was sold exclusively in Germany as a follow-up to the 2022 Golf R 20 Years Edition. VW offered it strictly as a five-door hatchback, but you can also get the regular Golf R as a wagon in the EU and some other markets.
