Since the mid-1990s, the Volkswagen Golf R and Audi RS3 have shared the same platform, but they’ve always been differentiated by their engine choices. The Golf R currently boasts a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower, while the RS3 uses a more powerful inline five-cylinder delivering 394 horsepower. If you’re a Golf R owner, it’s understandable that you might feel a little shortchanged. If they share the same platform, why not equip the Golf with the RS3’s engine? Well, wonder no more—according to a report from Autocar, a Golf R equipped with Audi’s five-cylinder is on the way as a special 25th anniversary model.

This special-edition Golf R is expected to arrive in 2027, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the first R-branded Golf, which launched in 2002. It will also serve as something of a send-off for the fully gas-powered Golf, as Volkswagen is expected to transition to an entirely hybrid lineup in the near future.

Previously, many believed Audi’s five-cylinder engine would be discontinued due to increasingly strict emissions regulations. However, it now seems Audi is committed to updating the engine to meet new standards. That means the RS3’s blistering 3.2-second 0–60 mph sprint is one step closer to becoming a reality in this new Golf R. Autocar also reported that the special edition will feature a range of internal and visual upgrades, including forged aluminum Warmenau wheels, bigger brakes, a recalibrated seven-speed DCT, and the RS3’s torque-splitting rear differential. Spy photos of a Golf R variant being tested at the Nürburgring also reveal larger air intakes, hood vents above the wheels, a larger rear spoiler, and an aggressive rear diffuser.

According to Autocar, the model will debut next year, with sales beginning in 2027. Volkswagen has yet to confirm or deny the report, but heres hoping we’ll see a much more powerful Golf R variant soon.