395-hp Volkswagen Golf R 400 concept races for reality

The Volkswagen Golf R and its 290 hp has at times left drivers underwhelmed. It's not that it's a bad car, it just doesn't differ enough to justify the price gap from the cheaper Golf GTI, despite having all-wheel drive. So what we need is a more powerful version, because power solves many things.

And, according to a report from Car & Driver, that's exactly what we're going to get.

Debuting at the Beijing motor show, the Volkswagen Golf R 400 concept looked surprisingly non-concept-y. It's a Golf, with a few racier bits on the front and rear bumpers and a cabin festooned in Alcantara and carbon-fiber. Under the hood is the same turbocharged 2.0-liter, with merely mild alterations to withstand the increase in turbo boost.

And then VW's R&D chief let it slip that this concept is racing towards reality. Which makes all of that last paragraph make sense.

The R 400 makes 395 hp (or 400 PS) and 332 lb.-ft. of torque. Power gets routed to all four wheels through a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that can be shifted manually (without the clutch) via a traditional stick shift. This promises a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph. From a hatchback. By Volkswagen. Not Audi.

Yes, this has the potential of eradicating any and all complaints you've ever had regarding the current Golf R. Let's just pray that the R 400 will hit U.S. shores. Because, let's be honest: For as much emphasis as VW puts on its American business, VW has a history of keeping the exciting stuff out of the states.