2008 Volkswagen R32 to Debut at Chicago Auto Show

If the Volkswagen GTI is considered to be a loud mouthed defensive back and a little hotshot showoff, then the R32 is the automaker’s all-pro linebacker. This vehicle is more reserved, not as swift but packed with more muscle.

The R32 has been running the street of Europe for two years now while US is given the GTI which in fairness is a top performing Golf or Rabbit if you prefer. But American buyers are clamoring for the R32 which finally encourage Europe’s largest automaker to finally bring the R32 in the US. The R32 is to debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

The R32 is closely identical to the GTI from the outside but the inside and underneath are very different. The GTI is a trim equipped with high quality Volkswagen Golf parts and a single-minded screamer while the R32 takes a more indulgent approach to speed. Another contrasting feature of the R32 with that of the GTI is in terms of its interior which provides a truly luxurious feel and instills in the chassis a greater confidence especially on dicey roads however it is 300 pounds heavier than the GTI.

Under the hood the GTI and the R32 are likewise different instead of the GTI’s 200hp turbo four-cylinder, the R32 is equipped with Volkswagen’s 3.2 liter narrow angle V6 that delivers 250hp and 236 lb-ft of torque same as that of the Audi A3 3.2. The engine of the R32 is coupled to a six-speed DSG which enables the vehicle to reach 60kph in less than six seconds.

But of course compared to the Evos and STIs of the world the R32 is more of a boy racer. The Euro-spec R32 is great machine that delivers power smoothly and consistently without the Turbo lag. Its interior also comes close to that of a luxury car with its super comfortable leather sports seats, padded leather door panels, soft materials wherever your elbow touches and a plush finish overall. It is also equipped with convenient features such as an automatic climate control, sophisticated sound system, optional navigation system, and bixenon headlights which are standard to this vehicle. The R32 is more like a powerful luxury sedan in econo-hatch clothing.

This vehicle may not have the lightning reflexes of a Mitsubishi Evo but it responds more deliberately once you turn the steering wheel and very stable at 150 mph on the autobahn add to that rough and rain-soaked stretches. The four-wheel-drive of the R32 combines with its low noise levels, rattle free and rigid body to provide a truly relaxing cruising experience.

Plus once the DSG paddles are engaged it revs up the V6 power band which changes the car’s characters completely. Not only does the forward urge increase but the 3.2 liter engine also takes a throaty growl when the accelerator is floored and the tach needle rises above 5000 rpm. And even when the windows are up, engine sounds still resounds in the car and gives you the feeling of a six-cylinder engine.

The R32 combined performance and luxury has attracted buyers to this vehicle when it first appeared toward the end of the fourth-generation Golf’s run. In US, buyers have snapped the 5000 samples that were first presented and demand for the said vehicle has remained high. The price of the R32 will not stray far from $30,000. R32 will reach dealerships this fall.