Spy Photo: Volkswagen MK8 Golf R Wagon

For those who don’t know, the Mk7 and MK7.5 Golf R sits on the MQB platform as does the Audi S3/RS 3. In the States though, we did not get the Golf R Wagon and it looks like we may never get it as Volkswagen of America has dropped the Golf SportWagen/Alltrack (and the base Golf) from its lineup. That’s too bad because the Golf R wagon seen here is a good looking vehicle. Did I mention that the Golf R is also AWD?

We spotted a prototype for the Golf R Variant / Wagon totally free of camouflage. The only camo you will see is the snow and a little black piece of tape hiding the R logo at the back. As expected there are no bigger surprises , the front end looks exactly as the hatch and the rest almost like the regular Variant. We can see LED rear lights and wider side sills. And for the first time we also see that there is a tow hook; this is the first time we’ve ever seen a tow hook on the R. This could be just for testing purpose but it may also come as an option. It also looks like the Akrapovic exhaust is fitted on this prototype. Just like the hatchback, the wagon will also have a stiffer lower suspension and of course, the bigger brakes with blue calipers as we can see.

Power will come from the same engine as the hatch meaning a turbo four-cylinder petrol engine (EA888 Gen4-TSI) with 320 horsepower connected to all four wheels via the 7-speed DSG gearbox; the same setup as an S3. Hmmm…with the success of the Audi RS 6 Avant in the States, it would be great to see the return of the A3 Sportback and its brothers, the S3 Sportback and the RS 3 Sportback. APR already has a S3 Sportback here for development; could the excitement from that one plus the RS 6 Avant show Audi of America (and Audi AG) that we want more Avants (Sportback)?