VW Golf R 333 revealed, pricier than Audi RS3 – for those who can have one

Volkswagen has revealed a new limited-edition Golf variant for the European market, in the form of the Golf R 333.

The eye-searing sports hatch treads a similar path to the recently revealed, and confirmed for Australia, Golf R 20 Years edition – sharing an uprated 245kW/420Nm version of the standard 2.0-litre turbo-four.

That’s up 10kW on the EUDM Golf R, and up 20Nm over our regular petrol particulate filter-less Australian-spec vehicles.

The Golf R 333 wears a European price tag of €76,410 (AU$125,580), making the special edition Golf more expensive in its domestic market, and here in Australia, than the manic Audi RS 3.

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Distinguishing the Golf R 333 beyond its Lime Yellow Metallic paint, are black exterior accents, a titanium Akrapovic R Performance exhaust, 19-inch ‘Estoril’ alloy wheels in semi-slick tyres, a speed limiter increase to 270km/h and, for the first Volkswagen R model with a serialised build plaque in the interior.

Drivers will clock, according to Volkswagen, 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds as they’re shoved back into Nappa leather upholstery.

Other interior treats include carbon-fibre inlays, backed by a nine-speaker Harman/Kardon premium stereo.

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Sadly, the limited-edition Golf R 333 will only be offered in Europe, with orders set to open from June 2.

Of course, local fans can buy into the same uprated powertrain, with the 245kW/420Nm Golf R 20 Years set to land locally in limited numbers before the end of the year. It also receives the R 333’s carbon-fibre interior inlays and Akrapovic titanium exhaust.

Just 50 units have been allocated to Australia — 32 of them finished in Lapis Blue and the remaining 18 in Pure White — available through Volkswagen’s national dealer network, with orders set to open on July 13.

The Golf R 20 Years commands a list price of $77,490. That’s a $10,500 premium over the standard Golf R hatchback, which is already 39 per cent more expensive than its predecessor. But we reckon the price is right.