The 2014 Volkswagen Golf R was spied a few short weeks ago covered in camouflage. With the new Golf 7 having been revealed since then, we guess Volkswagen are little less guarded over their identity of the hottest performance edition.

Even with an unobscured view of the prototype, a few oddities remain. The side mirrors are from the current Golf 6, the front bumper features a honeycomb mesh, but smaller intakes than the Golf 6 and there is also black tape surrounding the lower air vents, all of which suggests this is not the final front bumper. At the rear, a set of quad exhausts, one pair on either side, is also a change from the centrally positioned, twin tailpipes, of the current Golf R, but we expect this is likely to change come final production too.

Volkswagen hasn’t given anything away in the engine department, but expect the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to remain with power output in the region of 200 kW. As with all Golf R models before it, Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system will channel power to all corners of the car and is likely to be updated for improved response to wheel slip and a possibly even a greater range of torque split. Stiffer suspension, more powerful brakes, and a 7-speed DSG transmission are the other key ingredients to be expected.

The Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet is due to be released shortly, meaning it could be a while before we see this Mk7 version in production form.