The Volkswagen Golf R is perhaps the most well-rounded hot hatchback available, if you’re willing to pay for it. Between its powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive grip, not many rivals can keep up with it, but a new report suggests that VW is working on a far more aggressive version in celebration of the Golf R’s 25th anniversary.

The big news is that this special Golf R will swap out the turbo-four engine for none other than the snarling, distinctive 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo that powers the Audi RS3 . It’s a move that should make this the quickest Golf ever, and would also mark the first time in a long time that any Golf gets five-cylinder power.

Autoblog

The current Golf R’s four-pot produces 328 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is already plenty, but the RS3’s engine is another animal entirely. In the RS3, this charismatic five-cylinder makes 394 hp and 369 lb-ft. If VW elects to keep those outputs for the hot Golf R, we can expect a 0-60 sprint time of around 3.6 seconds.

Using a heavier, larger five-cylinder engine with so much more power will require changes to the suspension, which could amount to extra chassis bracing and reinforced knuckles. Bigger brakes are likely, and VW could also utilize the RS3’s unique front axle setup with bespoke pivot bearings. No manual is expected, so the transmission should be a version of the brand’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Our spies captured the hot Golf R being tested at the Nürburgring, where we can see changes like additional intakes on the hood, a new front bumper providing additional cooling, and a new roof-mounted spoiler. It also has the usual quad-exit tailpipes that are a signature of the R.

According to the report by Autocar, this 25th anniversary Golf R will also act as a swansong for the purely gas-powered Golf, before it switches over to an electrified powertrain of some sort. It’s expected to arrive in 2027, but an official reveal is likely next year.

Related: Honda Won't Like The Volkswagen Golf R's AWD System

The last time a five-cylinder Golf was sold in the United States was around a decade ago, at the end of the Golf Mk6’s production run. Although it sounded good, the Golf Mk6’s 2.5-liter five-pot made just 170 horsepower, so it wasn’t all that quick, and its efficiency was middling at just 26 mpg combined.

Much more exciting than the 170-hp engine in the Golf Mk6 was where it all started for the R model. That, of course, was the R32 introduced for the Mk4 Golf, which had the muscular 3.2-liter VR6 engine, a mill that was also used in the Mk5 Golf R32. Since the Golf R Mk6, the mightiest Golf has used a turbo-four engine, which means the 25th anniversary version will be the first R-badged Golf with a five-cylinder engine. It’ll also be one of very few cars remaining with a five-cylinder engine; brands like Volvo, one of the purveyors of five-cylinder engines, have long since abandoned the engine type.

VW

Given the five-pot’s extra grunt and all the other tweaks that will be required, this could be the first Golf to approach the $60k mark when it arrives. That’ll see it matched up against the likes of the Acura Integra Type S, Mercedes-AMG CLA 35, and BMW M240i.