More Leakage: Volkswagen Passat R36 unveiled
UPDATE: More specific info added
Official pics of the Passat R36 have mysteriously appeared on various international auto sites that show the car in full production trim well ahead of its official debut, which is likely to take place in Geneva early next year. And let us be the first to say: hot, hot, hot. Pardon us but we're totally grooving on the Audi R8-like air intakes at the bottom corners of the tweaked front fascia. Yeah, that's right, we said Audi R-like. Clearly the car has new side sills and a new rear skirt to accomodate a pair of large diameter tail pipes. The extra chrome brightwork on the Passat R36 is also a nice touch. Inside the car are deeply bolstered buckets, what appears to be faux stamped aluminum trim, and aluminum pedals. From what we know, the 3.6-liter FSI V6 in this hopped up Passat will produce 296 horsepower that's routed to all four wheels via VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive. Some quick sniks of the DSG transmission should propel the R36, which will be available as either a sedan or wagon, to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 mph. Phew, never thought we'd say that about a Passat. The car will reportedly debut at the Essen Motor Show in Germany in early Decemer.
Follow the jump for more pics of the Passat R36.
[Source: Autoweek.nl, LLN]
Related posts:
- Spy Shots: VW Passat R36
- Hot Passat: VW's answer to the MazdaSpeed6
- Volkswagen R32 confirmed for U.S. consumption
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jon 11:39AM (11/15/2006)
It looks nice, but I bet VW prices it out of its class and charge close to 40k for it.
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Mike Scott 11:46AM (11/15/2006)
40k sounds worth it for me. A3 3.2 is 36 with a couple options, and I say thats a fair price.
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VW-Guy 12:45PM (11/15/2006)
$40k US too much? Get a life Jon! Name the competitors to this for less than that.
Tally up that performance, AWD, luxury, refinement, room, and what is out there?
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big jimmy 12:15PM (11/15/2006)
40 k and no v-8
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G. Snyder 12:34PM (11/15/2006)
big jimmy - unless you are buying a truck, I am not sure where you get an AWD sporty sedan with a V8 for under $40k.
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Anthony Gentavoe 12:47PM (11/15/2006)
I would guess more like $45k, plus limited options.
A loaded up 2007 AWD Passat sedan with the 3.6, according to VW's site, is already in the low $40's.
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leo 1:19PM (11/15/2006)
I suspect that a loaded one with hit $45k
And yet the Subaru Legacy can hit 0-60 in 5.2sec, has AWD and costs only $30k - and it has a controll button that you can turn power off for fuel economy
I guess VW is hitting upstream and the next Acura TL, which will come with the SH-AWD system, but the TL will still only be ~$37k - so a VW with all their reliability issue in my eyes makes for a foolish buy at best
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kevin 12:55PM (11/15/2006)
bring the wagon here! for under $45k!!! please! >_
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ku 1:02PM (11/15/2006)
--$40k US too much? Get a life Jon! Name the competitors to this for less than that. Tally up that performance, AWD, luxury, refinement, room, and what is out there?
how about the G35x for $34650, or an even $40k with all the options? i'd much rather have the infiniti.
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ArcSine 1:09PM (11/15/2006)
You can get a Legacy Spec B for $32K, they're going to have a tough time beating that.
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MikeUF 1:12PM (11/15/2006)
Im sorry, but Ill stick with my Mazdaspeed 6 for 24K out the door. Volkswagen is not a luxary marquee. Thats what Audi is for. VW used to stand for a cheaper German automobiles. Pricing this at 40-45K is the Passat W12 all over again.
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Katie 1:15PM (11/15/2006)
I would have the Infiniti as well.
And 10 more hp to boot. 306 to 296.
I would even pay 7,000 more, whats that 100 bucks a month, and get the Acura RL.
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Nick 1:19PM (11/15/2006)
All of that and a sparkling reputation for quality.
I'm with you Ku...the G35x certainly is a better start in this price range. Further...the Mazdaspeed 6 is another option. Hell, I'd even drop a WRX in there and an EVO for good measure. All of said manufacturers will match the performance and have better reputations for quality to go with it (except maybe Mitsubishi).....and will probably be cheaper.
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Jon 3:36PM (11/15/2006)
VW-Guy,
As the other posters have said, the Legacy and G35x. Both will have higher perceived reliability also.
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Laura 1:36PM (11/15/2006)
#10 +1. The Mazdapeed 6 is terrific competition and its probably far cheaper. Unless VW comes in with a really competitive price this car is pretty and compelling but probably out of reach. They really need to figure this stuff out.
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MC 1:38PM (11/15/2006)
First of all, the G35 is a fine car, but a lot smaller than the VW. Hard to cross-shop those.
Also, a Mazdaspeed 3? Come on. It's half the size, a hatch versus sedan, turbo 4 versus V6, and built with materials that cost about half of the ones VW uses.
The G35 and the 3 are great cars, but not 5 passenger Europoean luxury sedans.
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TDIMeister 1:46PM (11/15/2006)
#10: "Pricing this at 40-45K is the Passat W12 all over again."
You mean W8.
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Michael Karesh 1:49PM (11/15/2006)
I personally don't care for the chrome face, and the wheels could be much sportier.
On whether the G35 is comparable, how about some actual numbers:
Passat
Length: 188.2
Front + rear legroom: 79.1
Rear shoulder room: 54.6
G35
Length: 187.0
Front + rear legroom: 78.6
Rear shoulder room: 55.2
Not very far apart, are they?
As for reliability, I'm seeing decent repair rates for the 2006 Passat so far. 31 cars over a total of 145 months have reported 8 trips to the shop, which works out to 0.7 trips/year. While the Accord and Fusion are at 0.4, the 2006 Civic is at 0.9.
Official results will be released in a couple of weeks.
Details about the research:
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
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MikeUF 2:02PM (11/15/2006)
16: Mazdaspeed 6...AWD, 274 HP, Sedan, same size as a Passat. And again a Passat is not a luxary sedan. Thats what the A6 is for.
17: Sorry about that, W8 is correct, but I'm guessing you got the point
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aaron 1:52PM (11/15/2006)
Maybe VW should not bring this to US because there are way too many people complaing about the 'supposed' price of a car they will never consider buying any ways........
but on a second note, I hope this Passat R36 crosses the pond and come here so that selected few can enjoy this fast VW. it surely will be a sleeper.
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