Volkswagen unveiled a new version of its $40,000 high-performance Golf hatchback with 315 horsepower and a drift mode

2022 Volkswagen Golf R.Volkswagen

• Volkswagen released the details of its new 2022 Golf R on Tuesday.
• The Golf R is the highest-performance version of VW's long-running Golf hatchback, and VW says the 2022 model will be the most powerful one yet.
• The new Golf R has 315 horsepower, 310 lb-ft of torque, a new all-wheel-drive system, and tech updates.
• It will go on sale in the US in late 2021, and VW has not yet said what it will cost.

Volkswagen may be hopping on the SUV bandwagon by aggressively expanding its range of crossovers, but that doesn't mean it's leaving behind all the models VW enthusiasts hold dear.

Yes, although VW reportedly axed its Golf hatchback in the US while introducing a new compact crossover called the Taos, the beloved high-performance Golf GTI and Golf R models are here to stay, for the time being at least.

The carmaker on Tuesday unveiled the 2022 Golf R, promising it to be the most powerful production Golf yet. For 2022, the Golf R gets bumps in both horsepower and torque, along with a new "Drift" mode and all-wheel-drive system.

Plus, even as sales of stick-shift cars dwindle, the 2022 Golf R will be available with a six-speed manual. Although Volkswagen recognizes an increased appetite for small SUVs among US drivers, it clearly still sees a market for the enthusiast-oriented hot hatchbacks it's spent decades perfecting.

Take a closer look at the updated 2022 Golf R — inside and out — below: