VW R36 Passat

[altspace]

Volkswagen started their "R" line of cars with their limited edition Golf IV R32 and ended up selling over 14,000 worldwide. Volkswagen Individual has now added to the "R" line with a new R36 Passat sedan and wagon. Volkswagen starts with a 4motion 3.6l Passat and bumps the power to 300hp, adds 18" wheels, lower and stiffer suspension, an all-new body kit with front and rear valances and side skirts, new sport seats with deeper bolsters covered in Alcantara, new turned aluminum dash trim, dual chrome tip exhaust and more.

For the German market which only gets the 250hp 3.2l VR6 version of the Passat, this is a significant increase in power. However the U.S. market already gets the 3.6l with 280hp, so the additional 20hp in the R36 while nice, is much less of a bump. Volkswagen claims the R36 scoots from 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds which is fairly decent for the portly all-wheel-drive sedan.

German markets get all the good stuff. (cryhard)

 

[genericuser]

I know everyone is expecting me to say this, but gawd damn that's a sexy wagon.

 

[dmitrik4]

i would be all about a 300hp AWD passat wagon.

 

[Rainman]

Is this like a bargain Audi or what?

R

 

[chuyler1]

I like the color. I'm not crazy about Audi/VW's new front ends but this one is starting to look OK.

 

[wannabe]

pricing?

 

[altspace]

It's German only.

 

[Raynman]

A special edition car that's automatic? Interesting...

 

[melicha8]

Yeah but how long until there is something wrong with it

 

[DE31]

well its the dsg which was tested to be faster than a manual... someone chime in on how it works, im too tired to explain and to find the best motoring video.

A special edition car that's automatic? Interesting...

 

[Raynman]

well its the dsg which was tested to be faster than a manual... someone chime in on how it works, im too tired to explain and to find the best motoring video.

Whoops. Totally forgot about the DSG. I thought it was a regular atx.

 

[tunersteve]

It seems to me they're getting more and more alike with the Audi design. They used to have their own styling cues and such, but with these, they basically scream Audi design. Too much blending going on over there in Germany.

 

[altspace]

I agree. Though nothing new with VW/Audi in terms of Passat/A4 models.

 

[redrims]

Freakin Hawt!!! but that interior is enough to give me a seizure!

 

[Donas64]

The wagon is HOT! The sedan is HOT as well.

The MS6 better thank it's lucky stars that these cars aren't coming to the states.

 

[Rainman]

The wagon is HOT! The sedan is HOT as well.

The MS6 better thank it's lucky stars that these cars aren't coming to the states.

These cars are sexy, but the MS6 is STILL sexier.

R

 

[Newf]

I like both, but no way are these going to be cheap, VW is always too $$$

 

[mikeyb]

VW North America really can use these two hot Passats in their lineup. The parts are available here in the states as a sport appearance package.

 

[II-Savy]

Not the best built cars in the world. VW has typically not had good luck lately. I did see the GTI get a nod in the recent c and D. Not my cup of tea. I did like the older r32 though. Too much cake for 240 hp though.

and by the way...I am selling my car.

 

[mikeyb]

2007 Volkswagen Passat R36

Once again, the Germans save the best for themselves.

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After a quick preview at the Wolfsburg/Essen motor show last fall, VW is introducing the production version of the Volkswagen Passat R36. Available as the R36 sedan and R36 Variant (that means "wagon" in VW speak), the R36 is to the Passat what the delicious R32 is to the Golf. In other words, it has a pumped-up V-6 engine (in this case, a 300-hp, 3.6-liter mill with direct injection) and 4MOTION all-wheel drive. Power is transferred to the wheels via VW AGs twin-clutch, six-speed, sequential-manual Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). But unlike the R32, which made its U.S. debut at the 2007 Chicago show, the R36 will be kept out of our paws unless we fly to Europe and rent one for a seriously quick blast around the Continent.

How quick? Well, at an estimated 5.6 seconds to 60 mph, the Passat R36 sedan could be the quickest VW ever, with the R36 wagon not far behind at 5.8 ticks of the stopwatch. Why is it quicker than the similarly powered Volkswagen Passat 3.6 we get here in the U.S.? A 20-hp boost cant hurt, but most of the credit probably goes to the DSG; it doesnt sap power like the conventional fluid-coupled automatic does in the regular Passat.
As with most fast German cars, top speed for the R36 models is limited to 250 km/h, or 155 mph. Suspension tweaks and sexy 10-spoke, 18-inch wheels with aggressive rubber at all four corners may add some much-needed sharpness to the heavy Passats handling characteristics.

Sharpness also characterizes the R36s appearance: exterior modifications include a matte-chrome grille surround and a deeper front air dam with Audi R8like grille strakes. The R36s body sides feature sculpted sill extensions, and the rear end wears a chunky apron with two chrome exhaust tips that could have started life holding a pint or so of Krombacher. Blue painted brake calipers, tainted LED taillights, and slightly flared fenders round out the exterior changes. As with the R32, a Pearl Blue paint job makes it to the R36.

Inside, patterned metal trim rings the passenger compartment. The driver faces slick, white-lit gauges while doing his dirty work by way of a heavily sculpted steering wheel and fancy metal pedals perforated with the stylized R logo. The four outboard occupants sit on heated leather seats, the front sport chairs being unique to the R.

The Passat R36 goes on sale in Europe during the second quarter of 2007. Price? Who cares? We cant get one anyway. Harrumph.

[CarandDriver]