THREE new estate cars are joining the Volkswagen Golf line up with the arrival of an all-wheel-drive soft roader and two performance models including the quickest load lugger ever to wear a VW badge.

The trio will be arriving in August and each is aimed at a specific niche.

For the purists - or those who just want something out of the norm - is the fire breathing Golf R estate, a heavyweight performer in every sense while for those who need a go anywhere vehicle is the Golf Alltrack which is surprisingly capable off-road.

Both those are fitted with the latest Haldex four wheel drive technology while the other new member of the Golf club is a diesel GT designed for touring.

The Alltrack runs from £26,790 for a 1.6-litre diesel to £30,595 for a much livelier 184ps 2.0-litre oil burner. That higher powered engine is also fitted to the Golf GTD estate which costs from £28,255 for a manual of £29,700 for a six-speed DSG automatic.

The R estate becomes the flagship of the entire Golf range and tips the scales at £33,505 - almost £700 more than the Golf R hatch on which it is based.

It has awesome credentials pumping out 300ps from a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that is tuned for maximum punch.

It is almost in the same league as an Audi RS4 and outstrips other quick estates such as the Ford Focus ST by some margin.

Designed as a genuine high performance model the R can be switched into race mode at the push of a button unleashing all its potential as demonstrated during some quick laps at the Ascari track on Spain's Costa del Sol.

The 4x4 set up is designed to deliver maximum grip and even at full bore on the circuit it clung through corners with great composure - and this is a car which can carry the proverbial kitchen sink while accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 5.1 seconds.

It sits almost an inch lower than the standard Golf estate and comes with sporty styling including wide front air intakes and quad exhausts protruding in pairs either side of the rear diffuser.

The Alltrack also has its own distinctive looks with underbody protection, scuff plates front and rear and pronounced wheel arches and sills to go with some added ground clearance.

Like the R model the Haldex drive system has electronic differential locks but on the Alltrack the software is configured to provide optimum traction.

Normally the Alltrack will run with a front wheel bias with the drive switching automatically whenever wheelslip is detected but engage the off-road mode and it is almost as capable as a full blown SUV.

It is all done electronically and around the very technical off road track at the Ascari facility the Alltrack coped with 60 degree descents, axle twisting 'bomb' holes and sharp side angles which would be enough to topple any normal vehicle.

Hill descent control can hold the car at speeds ranging from one to just under 20mph and as so called soft roaders go it is at the top of the scale. It can also tow up to two tonnes.

Like the Alltrack version of the Passat - VW's other estate derived off-roader - the new Golf variant is really blurring the lines between mud pluggers and regular estates.

The latter is the category in which the final member of the new trio finds itself and the GTD provides a sporty but nicely economical drive.

It is good for 0 to 60 in 7.9 seconds with masses of mid-range pulling power and VW is claiming an official fuel figure of 64.2 for the manual version and 58.9 for the DSG model with emissions of 115 and 125g/km.

We managed to average a shade under 48 to the gallon in a GTD fitted with the DSG box - and that was the same as we achieved in the Alltrack driving both cars along the twisty mountain roads which surround the Ascari circuit.

That was impressive, especially for the Alltrack which officially is supposed to be thirstier at 56.5 to the gallon.

Off road it is a different story and on a 20 minute drive in tough conditions with the 4WD system engaged it returned just 14mpg - almost as thirsty as the R which logged only 10 to the gallon during eight laps at full tilt around the 3.5-mile Ascari track.

On road the R is much more conventional and rated at 40.4mpg with a CO2 figure of 164g/km and in everyday use it should be good for around 30 to the gallon despite its huge performance.

All three look good - especially the GTD with its pronounced body lines and honeycomb grille - and all have the same luggage capacity as the regular estate which ranges from a convenient 605 litres to a maximum of 1,620 litres.

With the new models in place VW will have the most comprehensive Golf line up it has created in the car's 40 year history.

The Mk Vll Golf, launched only two years ago can now be had as everything from an electric vehicle to a performance thoroughbred as well as being a top notch hatch worthy of the Car of the Year accolade in 2013.

That's not to mention the estate versions, the Golf SV compact MPV and the convertible - and there's probably more to come.