Is time running out for the likes of the Golf R? Volkswagen has confirmed its high-performance R division will be a fully electric sub-brand by 2030…

Wondering what the future holds for Volkswagen’s high-performance R division? Well, if everything goes according to the Wolfsburg-based firm’s latest plans, the sub-brand will be electric only by 2030.

Yes, VW has confirmed to various British publications – including Autocar and Auto Express – it is “gradually converting its portfolio, with several electric R models in the planning stages”.

“We’re currently assessing various concepts and possibilities but will only offer R models that meet our requirements. One thing is certain: the future of R is electric.” Those are pretty emphatic words from VW, leaving us wondering what’s next for the likes of the Golf R.

Well, unless established nameplates live on in Volkswagen’s electric future, models such as the Golf R, T-Roc R, Tiguan R, Arteon R and Touareg R will not be part of the performance division’s line-up by the end of the decade. Instead, we will likely see R-badged versions of the German firm’s ID models.

Don’t expect to see petrol-powered R models such as the Golf R and Tiguan R after 2030…

“In order to become a fully electric brand by the end of the decade, we’re already taking the necessary steps today for the forthcoming transformation. The globally successful products from Volkswagen R are part of this exciting change process and will stand in future for sustainable electric mobility,” said Reinhold Ivenz, Head of the R Business Unit at Volkswagen.

Interestingly, according to the Autocar report, the forthcoming electric R models will ride not on the current MEB architecture but rather on the VW Group’s upcoming (and likewise electric only) SSP underpinnings. The British publication furthermore speculates the first examples will hit the road in the second half of this decade.

Where does that leave the GTI badge? Well, though nothing is yet official, indications are the GTX moniker that has already been rolled out to the likes of the ID.4 and ID.5 will effectively cover that space.

As a reminder, the R badge has been around for 20 years, having debuted on the original Golf R32 back in 2002 before being applied to the fifth-generation Golf in 2005. The year 2009 saw the launch of the Golf 6 R, with the Golf 7 R following in 2013. Today, as many as five model ranges include a full-fat R model, while the R-Line specification has also become popular.

Related content

Video Review: Is the most powerful Golf ever worth the hype?

Why is the Volkswagen Golf 8 R delayed in South Africa?

Volkswagen Tiguan R (2022) Launch Review