With VW's seventh-generation Golf range now rolled out to the world in regular form and the GTI on the close horizon, it's time to start dreaming about the hottest one of them all.
It almost goes without saying that the new Golf R will have a 2-litre turbopetrol engine similar to that fitted to the new Audi S3 .
According to Autocar , which spoke to some "well-placed insiders", the Golf R's 2-litre engine will produce 213kW and 379Nm, making it just 8kW shy of the Audi that it shares its heart with - you wouldn't expect the VeeDub to upstage its more upmarket cousin now would you?
Nonetheless, the R will still make a well-armed charge into the battlefield currently occupied by the 206kW Opel Astra OPC and 195kW Renault Megane RS.
Performance will also be aided by a surprisingly low kerb weight, achieved by using a glut of lightweight components and body panels.
Autocar reports that the DSG-equipped version of the Golf R will dash from 0-100km/h in around five seconds and that the top speed will be limited to the usual 250km/h.
In keeping with tradition, the R will channel its power through all four wheels, upgrading to the new Haldex 5 set-up that's already been introduced on the regular Golf 4 Motion models.
If you can't wait for the Golf R - which will hit world markets during the course of 2014 - or if you're frightened by the potential price tag, the seventh-generation GTI is not far off.
The GTI is set to hit South African shores in the third quarter of this year, and South Africa will only be getting the standard 162kW five-door version, which takes 6.5 seconds to get to 100 - according to claims.