I'm gonna stick my neck out and say it will be 4WD. I know the 'Rocco won't be, but I'm not sure that's a good thing to base a theory on, now is the time to make some differences between the 2 models 'fast' stable?
The A3/S3 is due for replacement soon, so no stealing sales worries there, it'll make more money for VAG if anything by using up the S3's platform for a while longer when it gets ditched for the MKIII. The A3 traditionally is the first application of the new platform - they've be developing what is to be the MKVII for it now and we won't see a new S3 probably until the MKVII arrives = plenty of space for the R20T in 4WD guise to breathe.
If the R20 is 2WD, then where's the headroom for GTI specials like the ED30??
The R brand has always been a very marked difference to the GTI one and I can't see them allowing the 2 to become so similar. It also goes back a bit further than people think. The Rallye was never a GTI, the VR6 syncro (sadly never imported to the UK) was never a GTI, the R32 was never a GTI.... the new R will not be a rebadged GTI.
God, I hope I'm right and don't end up looking a tool - ha ha!!
Off to wash the car and ponder trade in values.....