2023 Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years debuts with 333 PS

This is Volkswagen's most powerful Golf yet

This year's hot hatch battle just got hotter.

Toyota just released the GR Corolla, Honda's close to unveiling the Civic Type R, and here comes Volkswagen with the Golf R 20 Years - their most powerful factory Golf yet.

Let's get down to the engine right away. The special edition model is powered by the same EA888 2.0-liter turbo found in the standard Golf R, but the 20 Years edition has been tuned to produce 333 PS. The engine is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and like every R model since 2002, the Golf R 20 Years is all-wheel-drive.

According to Volkswagen, the Golf R 20 Years can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, subtly improving the standard Golf R's numbers thanks to quicker gear changes from the DSG transmission.

Furthermore, VW fitted the Golf R with an “Emotional Start” function. This revs the engine to 2500 rpm on start-up to emphasize the louder roar from the Akrapovic titanium sports exhaust system.

Other changes aside from the powertrain are the addition of “20” and “20 R” badges on the exterior, together with a standard roof spoiler and 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels finished in either gloss black or blue colorway. Inside, there are very subtle additions like genuine carbon trims on the dashboard and door cards, plus a blue “R” logo on the steering wheel.

The Golf R 20 Years will be built as a limited-edition model, but VW has yet to confirm the exact production numbers of the hatchback.

With that said, we can't wait to see the GR Corolla, the Civic Type R, and the Golf R 20 Years in a track showdown. Let the hot hatch battle begin.