Volkswagen's Tuned-in Passat: R GT

Motoring Channel Staff - 7/11/2005

The 2005 SEMA tradeshow is the world's biggest gathering of specialist tuners, mainstream car makers and aftermarket accessories, which range from bodykits to intercoolers to racing steering wheels.

The big car makers at the SEMA show often release wild concept cars, most of which are rarely destined for factory production. One of the world's largest car conglomerates, Volkswagen, has been hinting at every opportunity that it's range of R GT vehicles - headlined by the Passat R GT - could be the inspiration for a new range of super-powerful passenger cars.

For it's range of R GT models first-seen at the '05 SEMA tradeshow (which include the Jetta/Bora, Passat and Touareg), Volkswagen teamed up with Canadian tuning house HPA, who came up with the devastating 410kW R32 Golf, capable of smoking high end exotica.

Volkswagen explains that the vast network of engineers and designers within VW's world-wide overarching group never needed to be urged to challenge conventional wisdom, and the Passat R GT is the result of this free-thinking philosophy.

According to VW, Europe's largest automaker, it asked its California-based design studio and HPA to look into a number of questions:

What if Volkswagen's R concept of high performance, so persuasively presented in the athletic R32, could be magnified into "supercar" proportions?

What if Volkswagen's rich crop of technology could be distilled into a more potent mixture?

What if its narrow-angle V6 powerplant, 4MOTION all-wheel drive and DSG dual-clutch transmission were to be blended to blow away the world's most discerning performance enthusiasts?

What if Volkswagen's designers had no other goal except to turn their visions into sculptures of composites and metal?

And what if an R GT series of vehicles were to be built, to act as dream-makers, as forerunners, perhaps, to a line of factory-bred ultra-high-performance specials?

One viable answer to these questions is the Passat R GT, a solution which features a heavily tuned-up 3.2-litre V6 to up the power levels, and brazen new exterior styling to give it more visual impact.

As VW explains, the Passat R GT was born from a European-spec 2006 Passat 3.2 V6 FSI with DSG transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

A highly capable vehicle in its own right, the European Passat's engine underwent a mechanical transformation by HPA, which the company maintains resulted in dynamics that launch the Passat R GT into supercar dimensions.

Modifications begin with a twin-turbo conversion package that features dual exhaust manifolds, each carrying a Garrett GT25R ball-bearing turbocharger.

Charge cooling is optimised by twin intercoolers, and the exhaust gases pass through a quad bypass emissions system that retains the stock catalytic converters.

The results of this modified twin turbo 3.2-litre V6 engine include a power output totalling 429kW, or 575 horsepower, making the R GT model one of the fastest Passats in existence. HPA also modified the DSG gearbox for more revs between each upshift to match the engine's increased output, giving the concept car the kind of acceleration to make a Lamborghini Gallardo look average.

Chassis mods were also highlighted in the Passat R GT's dossier, and VW insists that the souped-up mid-sized German car is now home to a track-prepped chassis. The major suspension components were exchanged for a lower and stiffer KW Variant 3-way coil-over racing array and the brakes were borrowed from Phaeton - Brembos, naturally. It wears high performance 245/35 R19 Michelin radials (with 19-inch forged-aluminium Avus alloy wheels).

The high-speed sedan exhibits what VW calls sleek, entirely modern bodywork. Created by Volkswagen's California design studio, the group chose gleaming candy white paint to clothe the modified bodywork, which is comprised of new front and rear bumper aprons and side skirts.

Step inside the super-quick white Passat and you'll be greeted by contrasting black leather, which is balanced out by splashes of white piano lacquer trim. Further accessories include a white Apple iPod module for the driver and front passenger and even a handheld gaming system (Sony PSP) has been integrated into the seat backs for the use of rear seat passengers. Volkswagen has made it known that a car that can cross Europe in just a few hours must be equipped with the best of audio systems, and satellite navigation is another interactive part of the cars electronics.