What Are They?
Volkswagen R GT Concepts
What's Special About Them?
This was the first time Volkswagen had its own display at SEMA so it wanted to make sure people noticed. Instead of throwing out a bunch of cars to tuner shops to see what they would come up with, Volkswagen's California styling studio took care of all the design work. The restraint is obvious. No massive wings, no rims scraping the bodywork. It's all so clean you could almost see these cars in a showroom. In order to free up time to concentrate on the designs, Volkswagen asked HPA Motorsports in British Columbia to take care of all the mechanical upgrades. It wasn't quite as restrained, but the work is still top quality.
Touareg R GT
More than a few people walked up to this concept asking if it was an all-new model from Volkswagen and we can see why. Much of its SUV bulk was smoothed out with a body kit straight from Volkswagen's Individual accessories line sold in Europe. New front and rear fascias, extended side sills and exaggerated wheel arches make for a pretty tough-looking Touareg. The finishing touch is a set of 22-inch wheels from Avus. They're a one-off set of forged aluminum monoblocks wrapped in 295/30 tires that fit perfectly underneath the flared fenders.
The stock VR6 engine was modified with two intercooled Garrett turbochargers, an aluminum intake manifold, upgraded fuel system and ceramic-coated down pipes. The result is 500 horsepower, enough to make even an overweight Touareg fast. Upgraded eight-piston Brembo brakes assure plenty of stopping power while an adjustable coil-over suspension replaces the stock setup.
The interior features upgrades from the W12 Sport model sold in Europe. There are black and gray sport seats and bright aluminum trim on the doors and dash. The dual iPod holders between the seats are a custom feature along with the Sony PSP mounts in the backs of the front seats.
Passat R GT
Like the Touareg, the Passat concept uses twin turbos to generate over 500 hp from just 3.2 liters. It features all the same engine upgrades as the Touareg but the power is sent through a recalibrated DSG transmission instead of the Touareg's six-speed automatic.
Exterior changes include a revised front fascia with a unique grille treatment and cleanly integrated air intakes for the turbos. The car sits lower than stock on an adjustable coil-over suspension and rides on custom-made 19-inch Avus wheels. The rear end has a small trunk lid spoiler, grayed-out lower section and integrated exhaust tips. The base paint is a stock shade of white highlighted by a gray ghost stripe that runs the length of the car. The interior wears the same white paint as the exterior and features a matching set of white iPods between the seats.
Jetta R GT
Of the three concepts, the Jetta has the most radical modifications. The idea behind its build was to create a Jetta that could be both a daily driver and a worthy track day car. The engineers at HPA specified a full-race suspension, WRC-spec Brembo brake system and a 550-hp version of the 3.2-liter VR6. Its most trick modification is a set of integrated AP racing air jacks. One shot of compressed air and the car raises itself up a foot in the air for easy wheel and tire swaps. A set of center lug 19-inch Avus wheels is its street setup while 18-inch DTM spec wheels would be HPA's choice for hitting the track. Extended wheel flares keep the tires covered up and give the car a much tougher stance than the Jetta's narrow stock look. The Smoke Gray paint is highlighted with silver ghost graphics that mimic the look of Volkswagen's "R" flag.
The interior reflects this Jetta's track capability. There's a full six-point roll cage, F1-style digital instrument panel and R32 bucket seats front and rear, all with Schroth racing belts and orange stitching. There's even an extra grab handle between the rear seats. Carbon-fiber trim and an extra thick steering wheel finish it off.
What's Edmunds' Take?
These were three of the best-looking cars at the show, proving that you don't need ridiculous spoilers and a Cadillac's worth of chrome to stand out. We can only hope that some of the styling upgrades on these concepts will make their way onto some production vehicles soon. — Ed Hellwig
Volkswagen R GT Concepts
What's Special About Them?
This was the first time Volkswagen had its own display at SEMA so it wanted to make sure people noticed. Instead of throwing out a bunch of cars to tuner shops to see what they would come up with, Volkswagen's California styling studio took care of all the design work. The restraint is obvious. No massive wings, no rims scraping the bodywork. It's all so clean you could almost see these cars in a showroom. In order to free up time to concentrate on the designs, Volkswagen asked HPA Motorsports in British Columbia to take care of all the mechanical upgrades. It wasn't quite as restrained, but the work is still top quality.
Touareg R GT
More than a few people walked up to this concept asking if it was an all-new model from Volkswagen and we can see why. Much of its SUV bulk was smoothed out with a body kit straight from Volkswagen's Individual accessories line sold in Europe. New front and rear fascias, extended side sills and exaggerated wheel arches make for a pretty tough-looking Touareg. The finishing touch is a set of 22-inch wheels from Avus. They're a one-off set of forged aluminum monoblocks wrapped in 295/30 tires that fit perfectly underneath the flared fenders.
The stock VR6 engine was modified with two intercooled Garrett turbochargers, an aluminum intake manifold, upgraded fuel system and ceramic-coated down pipes. The result is 500 horsepower, enough to make even an overweight Touareg fast. Upgraded eight-piston Brembo brakes assure plenty of stopping power while an adjustable coil-over suspension replaces the stock setup.
The interior features upgrades from the W12 Sport model sold in Europe. There are black and gray sport seats and bright aluminum trim on the doors and dash. The dual iPod holders between the seats are a custom feature along with the Sony PSP mounts in the backs of the front seats.
Passat R GT
Like the Touareg, the Passat concept uses twin turbos to generate over 500 hp from just 3.2 liters. It features all the same engine upgrades as the Touareg but the power is sent through a recalibrated DSG transmission instead of the Touareg's six-speed automatic.
Exterior changes include a revised front fascia with a unique grille treatment and cleanly integrated air intakes for the turbos. The car sits lower than stock on an adjustable coil-over suspension and rides on custom-made 19-inch Avus wheels. The rear end has a small trunk lid spoiler, grayed-out lower section and integrated exhaust tips. The base paint is a stock shade of white highlighted by a gray ghost stripe that runs the length of the car. The interior wears the same white paint as the exterior and features a matching set of white iPods between the seats.
Jetta R GT
Of the three concepts, the Jetta has the most radical modifications. The idea behind its build was to create a Jetta that could be both a daily driver and a worthy track day car. The engineers at HPA specified a full-race suspension, WRC-spec Brembo brake system and a 550-hp version of the 3.2-liter VR6. Its most trick modification is a set of integrated AP racing air jacks. One shot of compressed air and the car raises itself up a foot in the air for easy wheel and tire swaps. A set of center lug 19-inch Avus wheels is its street setup while 18-inch DTM spec wheels would be HPA's choice for hitting the track. Extended wheel flares keep the tires covered up and give the car a much tougher stance than the Jetta's narrow stock look. The Smoke Gray paint is highlighted with silver ghost graphics that mimic the look of Volkswagen's "R" flag.
The interior reflects this Jetta's track capability. There's a full six-point roll cage, F1-style digital instrument panel and R32 bucket seats front and rear, all with Schroth racing belts and orange stitching. There's even an extra grab handle between the rear seats. Carbon-fiber trim and an extra thick steering wheel finish it off.
What's Edmunds' Take?
These were three of the best-looking cars at the show, proving that you don't need ridiculous spoilers and a Cadillac's worth of chrome to stand out. We can only hope that some of the styling upgrades on these concepts will make their way onto some production vehicles soon. — Ed Hellwig
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