Volkswagen could smear the European and World Car of the Year winning Golf 7 in honey and marmite and it would still be a sales phenomenon, but in this case Volkswagen’s European division has done one better and fitted a tasteful aesthetic package, which they call the R-Line.
The desired effect is the look of a sporty hot hatch that boarders on the GTI, but one that still runs the small and efficient engines under the bonnet and carries a reasonable price tag too.
It’s only available in Europe at the moment, but we’ve seen Volkswagen S.A. keener to introduce R-Line packages lately, as prefaced by the VW Touareg R-Line we drove earlier in the year. In Germany where it is available, the R-Line comes in three forms: the R-Line exterior package, R-Line interior pack and even an R-Line Sport kit for better handling.
The exterior package is standard stuff for a subtle body upgrade, so the R-Line gets a new front bumper, a gloss black grille, a rear diffuser, slightly flared wheel arches and of course R-Line logos on each side of the car. Volkswagen is also offering new 17- and 18-inch ‘Salvador’ alloy wheels, compatible with all R-Line packages.
The R-Line interior kit changes the look of the seats with different cloth and alcantara materials, also emblazoned with R-line logos. This is in addition to a sporty leather covered steering wheel and gear lever, which complement the unique trim with aluminum inlays and stainless steel door sills and pedals.
Finally, if you don’t think you’ll like the normal suspension of your Golf 7, you can have the R-Line with ‘GTI-like’ lowered suspension, progressive steering and tinted windows side and rear.
The cost for all these packages? Well, the exterior package will retail in Germany for €1 180 (approximately R15 500); the interior tweaks come at the price of €945 (R12 000) and the R-Line Sport package with its sportier suspension is available at a fairly modest €430 (approximately R6 000).
If these packages make an appearance in South Africa, our advice is to hold out for the Golf GTI. After all, why have a fake when you can have the proper hot hatch in all its glory?
