Confirming Wapcar’s earlier speculation, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has previewed the new locally-assembled (CKD) 2023 Volkswagen Golf R.

Order books open today with an expected price range between RM 330,000 – RM 350,000, representing a huge reduction of circa RM 80k - RM 100k over the fully-imported model, previously listed at RM 431k, with additional equipment and features to boot too.

Also read: The first CKD unit outside of Germany - 1 unit of Mk8 VW Golf R was produced in Pekan, what's happening?

Furthermore, this also marks a major milestone as Malaysia becomes the first country outside of (Wolfsburg) Germany to assemble the Golf R; and the fourth CKD model of the current range after the Tiguan Allspace, Golf GTI, and Arteon.

Denyu Bostandzhiev, Managing Director of VPCM said, “We are extremely proud to present the new Golf R here for our loyal fans. With the new upgrades, we see this performance hatchback as the ultimate driving machine, on the road and track, offered at a very attractive price.”

Also read: Review: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R (Mk8) - It's quantifiably better, but also worse

“To be able to claim to be the first country out of Germany to assemble this product is a real honour for us. This special mandate given by Germany validates our continuous commitment towards the Volkswagen brand, and now with this new introduction, I am pleased to note that our full range of products here are entirely assembled at the Volkswagen plant in Pekan,” he added.

Under the hood, the Golf R is powered by the EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 320 PS and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.

Power is divided to all four wheels through VW’s 4Motion AWD system. The 4Motion system allows power to be distributed between the front and rear axles, and even sends up to 100 percent of power to either rear wheel depending on traction requirements.

Traction is managed by then Golf R’s Vehicle Dynamics Manager which augments the XDS electronic differential system and adaptive sports suspension. Performance stats read 4.8 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint, onto an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Also read: New Mk8 2022 VW Golf R previewed for Malaysia, priced from RM 356k, RM 77k more than before

New additions to the 2023 Golf R include the standard “R Performance Package” which features a (7-kg lighter) titanium Akrapovič exhaust system, a new rear spoiler, 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels and the new “Drift” and “Special” driving modes.

Another big update for the 2023 Golf R is the inclusion of the VW IQ Drive ADAS suite, with features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Travel Assist, Side Assist (blindspot information), Front Assist (FCW and AEB), Lane Assist (lane-keeping) and Emergency Assist; which brings the car to a safe stop if the driver is unresponsive.

Also read: Sold out in 8 minutes: Limited edition VW Golf R 333

On the inside, new features include a Head-Up Display (HUD) that is projected to the windscreen, wireless smartphone charging and automatic high beam assist. Elsewhere, the 2023 Golf R features the same 10-inch Discover Pro infotainment system as before.

The 2023 Golf R is available in three colour options – the signature Lapiz Blue, Deep Black and Pure White, bookings for the 2023 Golf R can be made at any VW dealer nationwide.