Official: 300bhp Volkswagen Golf R estate

The new Volkswagen Golf R Estate will be the fastest Golf Estate ever when it goes on sale next spring.

With a power advantage of nearly 50bhp over the 247bhp Ford Focus ST, the Golf R Estate will be the fastest small estate available.

The Golf R Estate has a 0-62mph time of just 5.1 seconds, which is only fractionally slower than the Golf R hatchback. That's largely due to the estate carrying 100kg more weight. The estate is only available with a DSG automatic gearbox, which sends power to all four wheels.

Fuel economy is rated at 40.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 162g/km, meaning that road tax will cost £180 a year.

Like the hatch, the Golf R Estate is fitted with Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system as standard, along with an XDS+ electronic differential that helps to eliminate wheelspin.

Exterior changes mirror those of the R hatchback, with different front bumpers and large air intakes, a sportier grille design and bright xenon headlamps with built-in LED daytime running lights and the option of 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, the car features four exhaust tailpipes and gloss-black detailing.

The inside will be familiar to owners of the Golf R hatchback, with suede-like Alcantara or leather sports seats, ambient interior lighting and carbon dashboard trim. Boot space is unchanged from the standard estate at a useful 605 litres.

Prices should be announced following the reveal of the R Estate at the Los Angeles motor show this week, but we expect around a £1,000 premium on top of the £30,000 asking price for the R hatch.