256-hp Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen has finally released official U.S. pricing and specs on the 2012 Golf R. The meanest hatch in the company's stable will set you back $33,990 (*plus destination). That's a sizeable chunk of change, to be sure, but it will net you the most powerful Golf production engine to be sold in the States. At 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the turbocharged 2.0-liter turns out six more horsepower than the 2008 Golf R32 VR6 while sucking down less fuel. Volkswagen says that the company's internal estimates put the 2012 Golf R at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. That's an impressive jump compared to Environmental Protection Agency estimates of 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for 2008 R32.
