Sometimes it seems Volkswagen is competing with itself. How do you improve a Golf? Make it a fast sports car. What if you want it to be faster than fast? That's where the Golf R comes in. So before the covers are pulled off the new 2021 Golf R on November 4, here's a recap of everything we know so far.

Golf Lore

2022 Golf R Recap
Golf GTI by Volkswagen

Pun intended, there is nothing more uniform than a Golf range. It's a consistent lineup that has stayed on-brand since the incarnation of the Golf/Rabbit in 1974. The GTI arrived just two years later, marking progress in attainable performance. No Golf would go faster until the arrival of the R32 in 2002. The 3.2-liter VR6 is long gone now, though it remains a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive beast.

For 2022, the Golf R will pick up much of the same design cues as the rest of the lineup, now in its 8th generation. This includes sleek new lighting elements, a simplified interior, and further improvements to all-around refinement. Put simply, expect more of the same but better.

As with other Golfs, the R will sit on VeeDub's global MQB platform. If the Mark-8 GTI is any indication, it will see slight changes in dimensions and weight. Greater changes are in store when you scratch beneath the surface.

RELATED: Volkswagen Teases Its Most Powerful Golf R Ever Before November 4 Reveal

Beneath The Skin

2022 Golf R Recap
Golf GTI by Volkswagen

Volkswagen is touting the Mark-8 R as the most powerful Golf model in the company's history. It will use a modded version of the EA888 2-liter turbocharged inline-four that has been around since 2008. Reflecting the GTI, this could mean a 30-hp jump over the Mark-7 Golf R's 292 hp. Presently, 280 lb-ft of torque is available at just 1,800 rpm. This means that coupled with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, as well as electronic diff locks and adaptive dampers, it's a viable threat to competitors.

These include the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Honda Civic Type-R, Mercedes-AMG A35, and the out-of-production Ford Focus RS. More power in a stiffer, lighter chassis will keep the competition on its toes.

The Manual Stays!

2022 Golf R Recap
Golf GTI by Volkswagen

Volkswagen has previously confirmed that a 6-speed manual is once again coming to the GTI and Golf R. As a no-cost option, it'll be sold along the 7-speed DSG double-clutch transmission. Par for the course (more Golf puns), the automatic-equipped Golfs will be quicker but you don't drive a manual for the schnell.

Unfortunately as a tradeoff, there will no longer be a non-GTI Golf available in the US; same for the wagon body style, which exited the market after 2019. Some sacrifices had to be made if VW wants to curb American enthusiasm when they arrive in 2021.

Even so, if history repeats and the Golf R gets another massive power bump, it'll be a riot. We'll know more when it debuts Wednesday, November 4.

Next: Volkswagen Reveals New Golf GTI Clubsport