VOLKSWAGEN has confirmed the price of its barnstorming 240bhp 3.2-litre V6-engined Golf R32.

The R32, the most powerful Golf ever built, will cost £22,340 on the road, with CO2 emissions of 276 g/km, putting it in the top 35% benefit-in-kind tax bracket.

With four wheel drive and a six-speed gearbox, the R32 will sprint from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, and on to a top speed of 153 mph. Not surprisingly, fuel efficiency is not its strong point: 24.6mpg on the combined cycle.

The R32 has new bumpers, alloys and brake calipers with sports seats and aluminium interior trim. Only available in deep blue pearl metallic, 250 will be available in the UK this year, with 500 in 2003.