575-HP HPA R32 - the hottest hatch of them all
HPA Motorsports has applied its turbo prowess to the latest and greatest of VW hot hatches, the Euro-only (for now!) R32. In stock form the R32 produces 250 bhp from its 3.2-liter V6, but after HPA gets done adding its FT575 package, the car produces an astounding 575 horsepower. With that kind of power the all-wheel drive HPA R32 can hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds while smoking all four tires at launch. In order to change the R32 into a true supercar, HPA has equipped it with twin turbos and a pair of intercoolers along with a special intake manifold, custom downpipe and a twin-bypass HPA exhaust system, all of which help the car consume copious amounts of air.
The FT575 is a complete package, however, so handling and braking are upgraded, as well. Check out Motor Trend's article to get the details on what all the FT575 package includes and this video to watch MT editors drop the hammer and cover the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 123.2 mph.
For those of you wondering when the Mk V R32 will make its way stateside, our friends over at VWVortex claim it will arrive in August of 2007 for around $32,850 with a DSG transmission. Sorry, no standard stick shift.
[Source: Motor Trend]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard Warren 3:02PM (9/08/2006)
I'm liking it.
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menice 3:03PM (9/08/2006)
oh please please bring that state-side.
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JonM in MN 3:20PM (9/08/2006)
Awesome car, but I'm not as impressed with the standard R32. For 33K, you can d@mn near get in to an Sti, Evo MR, or Shelby GT. I know VW has a certain cachet with many, but that's a chunka change for 250 horses.
I've not tried DSG, so I can't comment from experience, but I'd also rather have a proper manual.
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Adam 3:20PM (9/08/2006)
We should see it state side, at least that's what all of the VW people say that I've spoke with. The Tex (VW Vortex) probably has the date correct. I'd like to see Audi bring the 2 door A3 here as well.
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epilonious 3:23PM (9/08/2006)
*shrug*
The base iteration of the R32 will be just like the LAST R32: Not as powerful/capable and more expensive than the other hot compacts... but still sought after by a number of VW-philes who will defend it with the same old style-over-substance routine as it is seconded in plushy smoothness exceeded only by some of the more quixotic Audis.
The HPA instantiation of the R32 will probably cost so much it will be cost effective to just import the Nissan GT-R.
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JonM in MN 3:30PM (9/08/2006)
I was wondering about cost too, they're pretty coy on the HPA website.
Anybody wanna hazard a guess as to what it cost to put together that car?
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DPC car videos 3:44PM (9/08/2006)
HPA makes some fast VW's, The HPA VW acceleration is as good as a new Porsche 997 turbo, but I would expect a higher trap speed for the 1/4 mile with 575 horsepower.
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felonious.monk 3:41PM (9/08/2006)
With DSG, there is no reason whatsoever to want standard stick shift.
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:-) 3:53PM (9/08/2006)
The reason to want a standard stick is that the breaking point of the DSG seems to be around 350-ish horsepower. Although driving a gti with dsg is a lot of fun, but there we are only talking about 200 or so hp.
VW should offer a AWD GTI with the 2.0T.
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Dieselhead 4:57PM (9/08/2006)
"VW should offer a AWD GTI with the 2.0T."
Yeah and a TDI with AWD. I would be all over that, but I would also be all over a diesel with a CVT transmission. Think about it- diesels have a bad powerband, so why not pair it with a transmission that could keep it in its powerband all the time?
More on-topic, that HPA R32 is pretty cool. I wonder what the turbo lag on that thing is like though. I know it has two turbos, but 575 HP is still gonna be a lot of boost. Unless they did a sequential turbo setup with a small turbo that spools up first and then a honking big turbo to handle the top end...
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fizzandpop 5:12PM (9/08/2006)
10: Although VAG has the superb CVT tranny in the back of their shed (I have one in an A4 and it's smooth and economical) I think it still has a bit of a problem with the torque. The A4 only has 162lbft. It is availbale with the 3.2 V6 now, but again, that's not a very torquey engine. It's because the whole thing is made of rubber bands, or something. Anyhow, it would be perfect for the smaller diesels they have over there in Europeland.
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KT 5:42PM (9/08/2006)
Seems a bit slow considering the Hp to weight ratio and AWD. Didn't the 3900lb GT500 lay down an 11.8 with less hp and only 2 wheels turning it? I would think this thing should be at least low 11's if not into the 10's.
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Riker 6:13PM (9/08/2006)
Any tranny/driveline upgrades done to that monster?
I'd be afraid it won't last long on stock equipment.
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DieselD 10:40PM (9/10/2006)
Euro-only!?! Oh dear....
http://www.volkswagen.com.au/golf/model_R32.asp
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DragTimes.com 9:20AM (10/07/2006)
Impressive car and results, the EVO seems to be a better buy. We've seen EVO's with a couple thousand dollars in modifications run quicker than this R32.
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