Volkswagen Group launched the 2020 Golf last year and it was just a matter of time until the GTI version would be announced for an official debut. Now, a report from Autocar has confirmed that the GTI will arrive this March, at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, while the new Golf R will be shown at the 2020 Goddwood Festival of Speed, this July.

Compared with the standard Golf model which is available only in Europe, both the GTI and the R will be sold in the United States. Prices are yet to be known at this moment.

The new 2020 Volkswagen GTI has little to do with the standard model in terms of design, at least. It is much sportier, has a slimmer styling, and is more aggressive than ever. The upgrades include aggressive front bumper with larger intakes, huge wheels, dual exhaust pipes and red brake calipers.

The new Golf GTI sits on an improved version of the current MQB platform, being sold as a five-door hatchback only. Inside, the cabin comes with plenty of space for five passengers and is tweaked with enough cargo space for all of the occupants. Technologically, it features a new digital cockpit with head-up display as optional, along with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a new center console and an 8.25-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

Underneath the hood, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, with a standard 242 horsepower. The Clubsport version is more powerful, as it churns out around 287 horsepower. The power is sent to the wheels via a standard six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. For the Clubsport variant, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is done in less than 6.0 seconds. More than that, according to the same Autocar, the carmaker is also said to launch a hybrid variant later on.

As a reminder, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf represents the eight-generation of the gorgeous model, putting thus an end to the seventh-gen model that first emerged on the market in 2014. Compared to the previous one, it comes with a lot of mechanical improvements. Technology and aesthetics have also been improved.

As for powertrains under the hood, the new Golf is launched with no less than five hybrids, with three of them using a 48-volt mild-hybrid unit, producing 109 horsepower, 129 horsepower, and 148 horsepower. Two plug-in hybrids closely follow, with a 13-kilowatt-hour battery with 210 horsepower and 241 horsepower, respectively.

Conventional motorizations include a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, with two powers – 89 horsepower and 109 horsepower, respectively, along with two variants of a 1.5-liter turbo flat-four with 114 horsepower and 148 horsepower. On the diesel side, there is a 2.0-liter flat-four pot with 114 horsepower and 148 horsepower.

Sharing with the GTI is a number of advanced driver assist systems, like blind spot monitor, forward collision warning, auto-dimming rearview mirror, high-beam control and lane-keeping system. Technologically, it shares the same gadgetries as the Golf GTI and Golf R.

Full details and prices of the new 2020 Volkswagen GTI will be known at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show!