Autoblog

Click above for a high resolution version

It was only a matter of time before Abt got its hands on a Volkswagen R32. The hot hatch is no slouch in stock form with 250 horsepower, but Abt has boosted output to 370 bhp via a supercharger complete with a water-cooled intercooler. This knocks the 0-60 mph time down to 5.0 seconds flat and raises the top speed to 167 mph. Abt has also fitted the R32 with an adjustable sport suspension, as well as 19-inch BR wheels. Follow the jump for the press release.

[Source: Abt Sportline]

Everyone loves a good shootout and it's even better when the two vehicles duking it out are actually attainable. Enter the WebRidesTV crew who setup shop at our new favorite road course, the Horse Thief Mile at Willow Springs, to run the Mazdaspeed3 and Volkswagen R32 through their paces to see which vehicle provides the best bang for the buck in the hotter-than-hot hatch segment. While the performance and price discrepancy is rather high – the R32 is packing fewer ponies but comes in with a higher sticker – the reviewer is keen to point out that both models have their high and low points. The MS3 may put down better lap times, but the R32 might have it beat on interior accoutrements and a more Grand Touring demeanor -- as with any review, it comes down to what you value more.

You can view this newest review from WebRidesTV after the jump and check out their last shootout between the Roush and Saleen from last month.

To emphasize just how quick its new Golf R32 hot-hatch really is, Volkswagen has mailed out a CD to potential customers and dealers containing some very short road-trip songs. The album, simply titled 'Short Car Songs,' contains three short classics, such as 'One Green Bottle,' 'It's a long way to Tip,' and 'She'll be coming around the mountain,' and is aimed at grabbing attention for the new car and getting people into showrooms to check it out.

Don't write this concept off as a waste perfectly good plastic just yet. Results on previous launches using this promotion have shown test drives going up 75% and sales up 25% on initial forecasts. All from simply mailing out a CD? Perhaps next time the songs should be distributed digitally via the iTunes Music Store.

[Source: Ads of the World via German Car Blog]

The last R32 was a favorite of tuners and VW enthusiasts alike, and from the looks of the early orders, the 2008 MK V R32 is going to be in hot demand. The kind folks over at Volkswagen gave current GTI and R32 owners first dibs at the 2008 model, and the VW loyalists didn't disappoint. Of the 5,000 R32s destined for the US, nearly 1,000 have already been spoken for.

The 2008 R32 will retain its 3.2l engine with 250hp, and 4Motion permanent AWD will be standard. The starting price of the hot hatch will be a breath-taking $32,990, putting it in 3-Series territory, but we don't think this will be much of an obstacle for those who covet the R32. After seeing the souped-up Golf in person in Chicago, it's difficult to foresee the R32s hanging out on dealer lots for long. The R32 roles out in the fall.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

For those following the development of Volkswagen's hottest of hot hatches, it's common knowledge that the automaker has been hard at work adapting the engine from the R36 Passat to fit within the confines of the new Golf. Hans Lehmann and his clandestine photogs were able to catch this new breed of hatch undergoing cold weather testing, but according to the shooters, those R32 badges on the deck lid don't tell the truth about what lies beneath.

The Golf R36 prototype benefits from the aforementioned engine upgrade, producing power somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 HP and sending it to all four wheels via a DSG gearbox. Although the exterior hasn't benefited from any extensive modifications, those gaping air intakes in the front fascia certainly speak to the R36's sporting creds.

If we ever see this thing Stateside, we hope that those roof-mounted driving lamps are offered as a factory accessory.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Volkswagen has discovered that a previous recall of 362,000 vehicles (1999-2002 Jettas and 1998-2002 New Beetles) for a defective brake light switch actually affects a much larger range of vehicles. The German automaker is extending the recall to an additional 790,000 vehicles that include 1999-2006 Golf and GTI models, 2001-2005 Jettas, 2001-2007 New Beetles and the 2004 R32. The possibility exists that brake light switches in these vehicles may have been installed wrong, which could lead to their remaining on all the time or not working at all. In an extreme possibility, some vehicles with automatic transmissions might be immobilized if the brake light switch can't be activated so that the transmission can be shifted out of Park. When the new recall begins in April, VW dealers will install a new brake light switch free of charge for owners of the affected vehicles. If you think your vehicle is included in the recall or have any questions, you call VW at 1-800-822-8987.

Thanks for the tip, Judd!

[Source: USA Today]

According to AutoTelegraaf, a loose-lipped V-dub employee spilled the beans that the German automaker is developing an R-badged high-performance version of the Touareg SUV. Unlike current gas-powered R variants such as the R32 Golf and upcoming R36 Passat, the R-badged Touareg will likely be based on the 4.9L V10 TDI model. Motor Authority reports that aftermarket tuners have gotten this engine to produce upwards of 625 ft-lbs. of torque and 365bhp, which bodes well for this SUV's potential. According to VW's naming convention, the new model will likely be called the R50. In terms of appearance, it's thought the R50 will resemble the R-line Touareg (shown) that can be built by outfitting your SUV with parts from the VW Individual customization program. Unfortunately, there's no word on whether this speculation includes the U.S. as a possible market for the R50. Currently, we're only promised the presence of the R32, which isn't even here yet (you can preorder one of the 5,000 earmarked for the States here), so chances are the R50 is not in our immediate future.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]

Volkswagen hasn't published the link to the new R32's microsite on its homepage yet, but industrious AB reader Curt thought to punch "R32" into VW.com's site search and presto: here it is.

The site features a preorder form (essentially a lead generator for your local dealer), features & specs and a tell-a-friend feature. This week's been pretty active in terms of web sleuthing, with Ford fans digging up the Oval's official details on its trio of renamed cars, Scion fans unraveling Car & Driver's URL naming scheme to get the jump on the new xB and xD details, and now a VW fan finding the as-yet-unpromoted R32 site by simply using VW's existing search engine.

The moral of the story: if your page is published and it's not behind a layer of real security, people are gonna find it. Speaking of finding things, you can find Autoblog's on-the-scene coverage of the US-spec R32's unveiling here.

Thanks for the heads-up, Curt!

Click on the image for a high-res gallery of the new R32

Volkswagen announced the second generation of its performance flagship, the R32, based on the newest generation Rabbit platform. Like the original 2004 iteration, the new R32 is powered by 250-hp, 3.2L VR6 engine with 236 lb-ft of twisting force. The VR6 is mated up to a six speed DSG dual clutch gearbox that allows for lightning quick sequential shifting without having to work a clutch pedal. The gearbox transmits the motive force to all four wheels through a Haldex differential system with a rear torque bias for optimum handling.

Also like the 2004 model, only 5,000 examples will made available for sale in the US market, each one having a number plate on the lower spoke of the steering wheel indicating the serial number. The cars will be available starting in August and VW has set up a micro-site at VW.com where prospective buyers can sign up to get on the reservation list. The VW press release is after the jump, and VIDEO of the car's unveiling is below.

Update: Although VW announced the R32 micro-site would be live the day of the presentation, the link still hasn't appeared on the home page. However, a quick search revealed the url at http://www.5000r32.com. So run over and place your pre-order now.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Our 2007 kickoff week for the Reader Ride of the Day was one of the best in recent memory and we can't tell you how good it was to bring back our favorite daily feature.

Although there was a fair amount of four-wheeled pron to battle it out, in the end, Mike Hutch's 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R beat out the BMW M Coupe by scoring an additional 340 votes to win the week. Although it seems a fair amount of you were smitten by the BMW Bavaria's classic lines, it only managed to come in third, followed by the SRT-4 and the '97 Legacy 2.5 GT.

We couldn't be happier with this past week's offerings, but we must move on and move on we shall. So let the beaters begin.



Submit your ride, whatever it is, by following the directions after the jump.