The VW Golf R looks set to lose its crown as the most powerful production Golf ever made, as an executive for the German automaker has confirmed that the Golf R 400 Concept will be built.

Unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show, the study is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged EA888 engine tweaked using motor sport know-how to produce 395 horsepower (400PS), 99hp (100PS) more than the regular Golf R.

The Golf R 400 is obviously faster, reaching 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h). That means it’s faster by a full second to 62 mph and reaches a 30 km/h (19 mph) higher top speed than the Golf R.

According to VW research and development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser, the VW Golf R 400 will be built. The executive told Car&Driver that the engine hasn’t been changed much from the version rated at 290hp in the U.S.-spec Golf R, with only mild updates being applied so that it can withstand more boost.

Although the engine in the Golf R 400 has the same basic architecture as the Golf R’s EA888 powerplant, it produces 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque between 2,400 and 6,000 rpm, 70 Nm (52 lb-ft) more than in the Golf R. According to another VW executive, the EA888 engine can handle the additional horsepower and torque output.

The uprated engine could also be used on Audi models, as VW wouldn’t spend money on development for just one brand. Whether this means that, the next-generation Audi RS3 will ditch the turbocharged inline-five for the new four-banger is uncertain though. Also not clear is whether the Golf R 400 will arrive in the U.S.

By Dan Mihalascu

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