VW Golf R400 2

The Golf R400 concept is one of the most eagerly-awaited hot hatches on the calendar. Rumoured to be unveiled in 2017, L' Automobile Sportive is speculating that the production of this prized hatch will be very limited, and it'll will be rather pricey too.

It is believed to be even more expensive than the Audi RS3 Sportback , which in Germany, starts at €52,700 (RM221,045). The production car will receive the R420 moniker as there are theories that suggest the output will be tweaked to 420 PS. The permutations that revolve around its powerplant seem to focus on an upgraded version of the four-cylinder, 2.0litre TFSI engine rather than the RS3's five-cylinder, 2.5 litre motor.

Nonetheless, like a standard Golf R, a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system should still be featured, but the identity of the gearbox remains a mystery that is shrouded in secrecy. It is said that Volkswagen's standard six-speed DSG will not be able to handle the 450 Nm of torque that could be on offer. Thus, it should either have a manual 'box or the high-performance seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission in tow.

VW Golf R400 8

Just as a reference point, the Golf R400 concept's performance figures were already pretty stratospheric, with a 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and an electronically-restricted top speed of 280 km/h. So, expect the production version's performance to absolutely surpass these figures.

If all goes well, this searing hot hatch could make the Audi RS3 and the Mercedes-AMG A 45 look rather tame in comparison. We simply can't wait for this absolutely ferocious hatchback to be unveiled.

Volkswagen Golf R 400 Concept