Volkswagen Golf R Wagon is a powerful but practical people mover

After tearing up Arizona for the best part of the month, Volkswagen has officially unveiled its Golf R Wagon — a long wheelbase version of the Golf R. And it’s bonkers.

The car will be unveiled at LA Motor Show this week, and will be coming to the market Stateside in the coming months. Probably.

Whether it will come to South Africa, that’s another matter, but the chances are high. Volkswagen tends to bring most of its range here, and it can’t help that one of its African bases is housed here too.

While a “Wagon” version of everyone’s favourite hot hatch might not sound all that exciting, all 296 horses are retained for carting around dogs, bicycles, children, shopping bags and golf clubs at a rapid pace.

Although the car looks particularly quirky from the front, the rear is actually quite stately. For some reason, the 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection system features quad tailpipes at the rear, in some kind of “look at me,  I’m fast” plea. They do look particularly intimidating though.

You won’t be climbing kerbs with those 19″ wheels though, but Volkswagen has employed its 4MOTION all wheel drive system for improved stability in slippery conditions. The drive is controlled by a 6-speed DSG gearbox — the same found in the GTI hatch.

We’re not sure if that means Volkswagen wants drivers to point and squirt around treacherous B-roads, nor are we sure enthusiasts will actually go for something like this. What is your target market, Volkswagen?

Nevertheless, it had us at “Wagon.”