VW's ACC system allows for a three-mode suspension and throttle response program in which drivers can select Comfort, Normal, or Sport modes.

One More Thing We Won't Get
Here's another caveat: All the test cars we drove had Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC). Fitted as standard to the Scirocco and as a $1,000 option on the GTI in Europe, it provides electronic, continuously variable damping. The driver can also manually select Comfort, Standard and Sport settings. It's one of the best systems of its type that we've tried, but for cost reasons it won't be coming to the U.S. Instead, our car will have dampers calibrated like the Euro system's Standard mode, although it's hard to say what the final result will be.

Volkswagen has unveiled two concepts headed to the 2009 Wörthersee meet. Appropriately named the Golf GTI Wörthersee 09 and Polo Wörthersee 09 concepts, the show cars add an aftermarket look to the popular European hatches.

The Golf GTI Wörthersee 09 is done up in a unique Firespark Metallic paint, with matchin accents on the show car’s 19-inch wheels and signature GTI front grille. The exterior of the GTI concept also features smoked LED taillights and rear graphics design.

Inside the GTI Wörthersee 09 sports aluminum tread plates, brushed aluminum and black high-gloss air vent surrounds, red-trimmed floor mats and unique two-tone nappa leather seats featuring Berry White leather piping.

The GTI Wörthersee 09’s engine bay remains unchanged, but a revised suspension and sports exhaust system promises to up the GTI’s sporty nature.

The Polo Wörthersee 09 concept is just as eye catching as its GTI counterpart, thanks to a bright Flash Red paint job, accented by twin black racing stripes. Black 18-inch “Budapest”-style wheels fill out the Polo’s wheel wells, aided by a lowered suspension. The black and red theme continues throughout the concept, with dark accent mirror caps, front grille and headlights.

The Polo Wörthersee 09’s interior is very similar to the GTI’s, right down to the nappa leather and aluminum accents.

The Polo Wörthersee 09 concept does with an 85 horsepower 1.4L, but a sports exhaust system should make the little hatch at least sound fast.

No word if VW has production plans for either concept, but we suspect at least a few details will show up on the options list.

The last time we showed you a Volkswagen R20 development car, it was a regular looking Golf with diesel badges. Now we’ve caught Volkswagen testing a real R20 prototype in bright red. The R20 will replace the R32 as the Golf’s most potent form.

Taking the spot of VR6-powered Golf R32, this R20 will use the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection from the Audi TT-S. This means the R20 should have about 270hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. We can also expect sportier front and rear ends once the production bodywork appears.

Power will be sent to all four wheels via either a six-speed manual or DSG semi-automatic gearbox. The run to 60 mph should be dealt with in the 5 to 5.5 second range, with a top end limited to 155 mph.

As visible in these photos, the exterior will carry over many of the new GTI’s styling traits but the R20 will also include more aggressive front and rear ends, larger air intakes, a center mounted dual exhaust, and much sportier wheels. Initially the R20 will be offered only in three-door hatchback form but a five-door model could eventually be offered down the road

Although the R20 offers a lot to get excited about, we haven’t even mentioned the best part – it will be available in the United States. The R20 is expected to make its official debut at December’s Los Angeles Auto Show with sales to follow soon after.

Volkswagen will use its press conference at the Frankfurt auto show on Tuesday to launch the 2010 Golf R — a successor to the R32 variant of the previous-generation Golf. Although official details have not been released, images of the R leaked online Monday afternoon.

The R32’s 3.2-liter V6 has been replaced with a lighter 2.0-liter turbocharged unit delivering 265 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 62 mph is said to take 6.5 seconds for the six-speed manual edition, and 6.4 seconds for the DSG model.

Highlights include LED lights, a new wheel design, R badging, twin exhaust, and a more aggressive body kit.

Much of the underlying technology is shared with the Scirocco R20, which will not be offered in the United States. Luckily, the Golf R is headed for North American dealerships.