In recent news, it has been said that the R-badged Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is more likely to get the green light than a sporty GTI version.

Both models were shown as concepts at the VW meet at Worthersee, but no production decision was announced.

The Golf Cabriolet R used the 261bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found in the Scirocco R, while the GTI used the 207bhp TSI engine from the GTI hatch.

Since Worthesee, it has emerged that the more powerful soft-top R model is favored for production ahead of a GTI because it would generate bigger profits and better fits into the range above the 207bhp 2.0 TSI model, currently the range-topping Cabriolet model.

However, the clock is ticking for a decision because the EA113 engine that will power the R version is due to be phased out in 2014, ahead of new EU6 emissions regulations.

Sources have said that the EA113 won’t be re-engineered to pass EU6 and instead it will be replaced by a high-output version of the current EA888 Golf GTI engine.

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