Spy Shots: VW Passat R36
When VW teamed up the HPA Motorsports last year to create the Passat R GT concept, the automaker from Wolfsburg caused us to stand up and pay attention. What is this, a Passat from VW with street cred? No way! Now we see VW testing this Passat R36 variant at the Nürburgring, and it's hard not to get excited that it is finally giving its midsize sedan some desperately needed edge. With a 280-horsepower V6 powering all four wheels, this Passat will certainly have edge. All we can do now is hope that one day we'll see this high performance Passat on our shores. Follow the Read link for more images, including shots of a wagon version being tested.
[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
iQuack 1:28PM (10/24/2006)
Little new here. The current Passat looks much like a BMW to me.
All it needs is 2 nostrils on the front to complete the copying. The Passat and Jetta are both weak, derivative styles IMO. At least the new Rabbit shows some originality.
Hard to get excited about VW these days--especially with the company's spotty service record.
Reply
Rob 1:31PM (10/24/2006)
How is thia car special? The current Passat can be
had with 280hp and awd... Is it just a suspension
and wheel/tire thing, with special paint and plastic
bits? Who cares... Now add some real horse power,
say 330 and now we're talking about something
interesting...
Reply
kevin 2:04PM (10/24/2006)
what makes it special? the suspension and the TRANSMISSION! No more slushy automatic! (I hope) Oh, and the black headliner clearly visible in the pics. And the R steering wheel and seats should be expected too, baby!
Reply
Chris 2:39PM (10/24/2006)
Id say something is not correct with their caption. As already mentioned, the Passat can be had with the 3.6L V6 @280hp.
Reply
Mark 3:42PM (10/24/2006)
Typical sloppy reporting from Autoblog. Why spend time verifying facts when you can toss in an exclamation point and some vague first person plural platitudes?
Reply
cars garage 3:45PM (10/24/2006)
Will be the first 4WD VW sedan from VW ?
http://www.cars-specifications.com/
Reply
Whydrive 3:46PM (10/24/2006)
Sorry but the Toyota Camry SE is a superior car because it's built by Japanese. Who can trust the drunk Germans - just look at all their reliability problems.
Reply
Carster 3:46PM (10/24/2006)
A little harsh on that AutoBlog blow... there are a lot of readers out there that only get to pop in once a day and may have never even seen the photo if it was not for the AB posting up what they have about the car.
Reply
chewy 6:34PM (10/24/2006)
Yes, this will have the same engine that has been available here for about a year. But keep in mind that Europe so far only had a 3.2 liter V6 with 250 hp as the top engine. This will also have a really sport tuned suspension most likely. BTW, it looks really agressive and awesome.
Reply
rbw 3:57PM (10/24/2006)
"The current Passat looks much like a BMW to me."
You know, Lasik is fairly inexpensive and is covered by most insurance companies now.
Reply
Jscro 4:26PM (10/24/2006)
"will be the first 4WD VW sedan from VW ?"
No, VW's 4mototion has been used on a few Passat's over the years now.
Reply
Richard Warren 5:13PM (10/24/2006)
"You know, Lasik is fairly inexpensive and is covered by most insurance companies now."
Good one!
Reply
VW_MTL 5:37PM (10/24/2006)
This is mainly news for the European market as they highest output engine available there is a 3.2 VR6, unlike the 3.6 we already get in NA.
The body kit is currently available for the Passat in NA as an option that can be added to the 3.6 4Motion
Reply
ruggels 5:49PM (10/24/2006)
"The body kit is currently available for the Passat in NA as an option that can be added to the 3.6 4Motion"
which combined with the fact that we can already get the passat with the 280hp v6 (as mentioned a few times already) begs the question 'what is THIS passat then, and why is it running around the ring?'...
furthermore, can a MKV Rabbit/GTI be spec'ed with the MKV R32's engine? no... you need to buy the R32, the engine is unique to the R branded vehicle within it's little class. The same holds true for the RS4 compared to the S4/A4 and S6 and S8 compared to the A6 and A8. nah, i'll stake my left nut on something else going on here. Renting out the ‘ring just to try a suspension tweak on an engine/ body kit they’ve already had round the ‘ring? I ain’t buying it.
Reply
ruggels 7:50PM (10/24/2006)
keep in mind europe has a 250hp 3.2l? What does that have to do with VAG never having released a car under an R monicker with the same engine as the rest of the line? Why should they start now? Do you have anything else to offer sans the speculation which has been in print in the automotive press for the last four months?
What’s a “really sports tuned suspension”? Is that like uber sporty? Did you mean Rally? as in the form of car racing? If so, why introduce a rally biased suspension on a passat? Or any VW for that matter?
Sorry, speculation is one thing, but blind assertions? das geht nicht.
Reply
jscro 9:49PM (10/24/2006)
"What’s a “really sports tuned suspension”? Is that like uber sporty? Did you mean Rally? as in the form of car racing? If so, why introduce a rally biased suspension on a passat? Or any VW for that matter?"
My bet is it's more akin to the Audi Sports Suspension offered on most of it's cars; and similar to the setup on the R32. Eibach springs, and Blisten shocks. Sportier, but nothing stellar by any means.
Reply
iQuack 2:21AM (10/25/2006)
11. "You know, Lasik is fairly inexpensive and is covered by most insurance companies now."
--------------------------------------
Very funny. But I'll stick with glasses and my comment that VW has run out of styling ideas and made its Passat look like a bastardized BMW--at least from the side.
If you want Lasik, go ahead. But be aware that you might enjoy the following scene while driving at night:
http://www.surgicaleyes.org/images/Nd2_4.jpg
Reply
TracyDawson 1:24AM (11/22/2006)
If this can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in less than 6 seconds, then the FSI engine is definitely the right choice for this one.
Reply
Charles Mack 12:29AM (12/03/2006)
Excellent choice by Volkswagen to market their R36 flagship "Passat" as an everyday driver to answer any BMW or Lexus drivers arrogant attitudes about the performance driven product of reasonably priced cars for the daily drive of life not status... As the venerable driver of Volkswagen "Renwagens" I can attest to leaving many BMW & LEXUS drivers looking at my tailights as I fly by their sleds (sedans) on the freeways. Oh Yeah!!!
Reply