MK8 Golf R to be 400bhp.....

[dubber36]

The quest for power is just going a little silly, more emphasis on fun than fast

Hence your forthcoming up! GTI?

[fredgroves]

I have the same beef with the GTR, it is not a pure driving machine, its a box of electronics that makes you think you are

Isn't that true of all modern cars though? There can't be many without a lot of safety systems that give you a raw metal feel any more? Certainly not by the time you start piling on the power/price tag.

GT86 maybe or one of those Fiat sports cars (name escapes me, but a Fiat MX5)? However, those are somewhat specialist and not for anyone wanting/needing a multipurpose run around.

Besides, there can't be many that believe pure unaided driver skill is the key now, what with top end motorsport having more computer power than a fighter aircraft! Sure you still need skill to chuck a Ferrari around the track, but the computer gives you the edge - just like a fighter.

[wigit]

The quest for power is just going a little silly, more emphasis on fun than fast

Hence your forthcoming up! GTI?

Probably more excited by this than any car i have bought, ideal for my daily work run and I think much to the disgust of my wife this will be the weapon of choice when we go anywhere

Also not having as much tied up in a daily means I can replace the M2 with something more focused

[Exonian]

The cost of these things will likely jump a fair bit I'd think bringing the R back to a proper range topper rather than such a common sight like it has become.

Well, the article linked by the OP said as much:

VW’s desire to push the Golf R beyond its current 300bhp level comes as cheaper, more mainstream rivals like the Hyundai i30 N and Peugeot 308 GTi creep closer to the Golf R’s performance levels at a lower price point.

Stackmann said: ‘With a little more expressive design, R can go beyond the rational side of things. It [the R brand] can find its place in a different league of pure performance and there’s a space where customers are willing to pay a significant amount of money.’

Which I suppose is only the usual "speed is a question of money, how fast can you afford to go?"

Evo = Autoexpress, therefore I couldn't be arsed to read it! 

Other more reliable sources are available.

The quest for power is just going a little silly, more emphasis on fun than fast

Hence your forthcoming up! GTI?

Probably more excited by this than any car i have bought, ideal for my daily work run and I think much to the disgust of my wife this will be the weapon of choice when we go anywhere

Also not having as much tied up in a daily means I can replace the M2 with something more focused

My son's Ibiza has the same engine as the up! GTI and it's a good 'un.
Quite nippy in the heavy MQB Ibiza so should be decently quick in the up!
Fuel economy in it is amazing for a petrol. He's 22 so probably doesn't hang about much yet when I jumped in it the other evening to take it for a spin the average consumption was reading nearly 53mpg. I've had a few Diesels I couldn't get near that long term.