Volkswagen is currently seeling the Citi Golf only in the South Africa. But a powerful version, the R-line will soon be offered. The new Citi R will be a limited edition and will be available later this year.

The new R-line produces 90kW at 5900rpm, five more than the original hot-hatch, Mk.I Golf GTi. What’s happened is that VW’s competition department has taken a fuel-injected 1.8-litre Golf engine and beefed it up with different camshafts, crankshaft, con rods and pistons.

Visually, the R-line Citi is remarkably restrained. I had expected something aimed at the boy racer to come with huge wings and garish stripes but the body kit runs to nicely proportioned front and rear spoilers and sills. It also has slightly lower suspension, double exhausts and new 15", six-spoked alloy rims through which red brake callipers are just visible.

In fact most of the boy racer stuff is inside the car, what with front bucket seats, a three-spoked sports steering wheel with aluminium trim, silver dials, vents and sills as well as silver foot pedals.