Offical Passat R36 Info and Photos

[YSSMAN]

...This is the Vee-Dub I've been waiting for!

Volkswagen is currently testing the new high-performance Passat R 36 at the Nürburgring in Germany. A new round of photos show both sedan and wagon variants being put through the paces.

The R36 has larger air intakes up front, large alloy wheels (painted black for disguise), and a small spoiler and two exhaust pipes at the back. Power is expected to come from a 280 or 300 horsepower V6 engine coupled with a DSG gearbox. Recent reports have indicated the car will arrive in spring 2007.

Wow, I must say that this car is quite awesome! I was a HUGE fan of the previous W8 Passat, and I think this will live up to its predecessor... Not only because of the increased power, presumably for increased agility and looks as well. Lets hope for 4MOTION AWD (almost certainty), and an optional manual transmission down the road.

...This car could be a monster killer, my only concern is price...

 

[Philly]

Wow! The sport sedan market is really coming alive! Don't think this car will compete with the likes of the M5, E63, or RS6, but this car is seriously cool. Maybe a better match for the 545i, E550 or S6. I think the body styling seems to match the performance of the car. The passat RGT looks pretty cool

 

[YSSMAN]

Having 300 BHP on tap should make it a pretty quick car no less. A big sedan such as that dipping into the 5 second 0-60 range will be impressive, and I'm certain that a 155 MPH top-speed isn't out of the question either. But if we play the pricing game, I wouldn't be surprised to see her starting just shy of $35K (at the least), putting her in the crosshairs of models like the Chrysler 300C, upcomming Zeta-based Pontiac sedan, Acura TL, and even the G35.

 

[Tornado]

Wow, the wagon looks far better than the sedan does.

 

[skip0110]

Did anyone actually buy a W8 Passat? I think I may have seen 2 total, ever.

A more outgoing sporty demeanor will be a good thing.

 

[red70mach1]

I remember a lot complaints on the six-speed Passat W8 because it did not have the right gear ratios to be proper sport sedan.

 

[YSSMAN]

Did anyone actually buy a W8 Passat? I think I may have seen 2 total, ever.

There were quite a few bought and sold here in West Michigan, but I'm not sure on exact numbers nationwide. I know that Volkswagen was turned-off by sales overall (as they were with the Phaeton), and thus the W8 model was discontinued after the 2004 model year.

...I've been watching resale values over the past few years, and although they have been on a slow decline, I'd love to pick one up in the near future. They are indeed one of the best sleeper models of the past 10 years, and easily one of the best looking cars you could buy out of a showroom at the time as well. I'd say the car looked best in black and chrome with the BBS wheels (18" I belive). Also, must have the dark maplewood and six-speed manual.

I remember a lot complaints on the six-speed Passat W8 because it did not have the right gear ratios to be proper sport sedan.

I understand what you mean, but I'm not completely sure. I know there were some issues with it not using the powerband to the best of it's ability with the Triptronic automatic, but you can't expect it all I guess. It was a sport sedan in the sense that it came with the beefier suspension, powerful W8, and could hang with most of the big-lux sedans... But it certainly wouldn't have gone with the 545i or E500 of the era. Thats just a bit too much...

 

[Poverty]

I thought this car was out already?

 

[kikie]

I'm not a big fan of the Passat.

 

[exigeracer]

My friend has an 04 Passat W8 4Motion wagon. It sounds soooo good. Very nice cars, it wears such a nice clean design (VW/Audi's best came from this era). But since then, VW along with Audi have worn into a fussy ill-proportioned rut.

This one looks like a sausage.

 

[Jim Prower]

Finally! a VW "R" model that I won't get confused with a Skyline!

It looks pretty good, Definitely very "Audi," but I'll have to see how that six does compared to the Eight.

 

[Keef]

Maybe a better match for the 545i, E550 or S6.

Wow, that's smoe pretty hefty competition. I hope that 300 horse estimate is a least 50 horses conservative if this car has a chance of running with those. And I think a Passat costing $65,000 is a liiiiiittle much.

This car is beginning to sound like Chevy's new SS cars, or an S60 R competitor. I could beat it with my next-gen Altima SE-R, basically.

 

[YSSMAN]

I thought this car was out already?

You can allready buy one with the new 3.6L VR6 engine (atleast in America anyway), but with "only" 280 BHP, it just doesn't seem quite as special, does it?

 

[Leonidae]

i want to see a Golf R36.. but it'll probably be tested with gen V acting as a test mule, and then introduced to public with gen VI..

 

[Frizbe]

I think 35K and 300HP are a little conservative, as a 280HP 4Mo Passat starts at 36K. I'd be more inclined to belive 375-400HP with a price tag of 45-50K.

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

I'm not a big fan of the Passat.

Same here, I think the previous model looks waaay better then this one.

 

[harrytuttle]

My understanding of the W8 was that it was not a sporting model, but a luxury model, thus the non-sporting gear ratios. I've seen a few -- very few -- and they were as heavily used as any other Passat sedan/wagon. Strangely, not one could have been washed in the previous 6 months. You'd be hard-pressed to find an 8-cylinder Audi around here that isn't well-waxed.

This wagon is a nice car, VW deserves every sale they get, yadda yadda yadda. I just have to go on my usual rant about VAG's overlap. This has to come back on them at some point. Wasn't Audi supposed to be the sporting brand? Already reviewers are saying the best version of the new S3 has a VW R32 tag on it. It seems impossible that they keep selling regardless of brand. Maybe there's a method to their madness. Maybe both brands are slowly moving upmarket (or up-sporting-market), what with the RS4 and V10 S6/S8. Maybe I'm just the crazy man yelling at the train.

 

[Poverty]

The golf steps onto the toes of the A3 pricewise and power wise but the rest of the audi vw range doesnt overlap

 

[Vonie]

My friend has an 04 Passat W8 4Motion wagon. It sounds soooo good. Very nice cars, it wears such a nice clean design (VW/Audi's best came from this era). But since then, VW along with Audi have worn into a fussy ill-proportioned rut.

This one looks like a sausage.

I agree completley.

The W8 was cool, it was a Passat, with an 8-cylinder. Not trying to be more sporty or more luxurious, just sleeperer. This is just VW trying to make a fat car sporty, it won't work.

 

[harrytuttle]

The golf steps onto the toes of the A3 pricewise and power wise but the rest of the audi vw range doesnt overlap

What? Passat == A4, Phaeton == A8, Touareg == Q7. There's even a Golf-based cabrio in the works, which would mean the TT has competition. I never mentioned anything about price, but since you did, it's price that's the problem. You can get VW's almost identically specced to Audi's at a much lesser price. That's the real problem. The same effect is sending Mercury (and Oldsmobile, and Plymouth) into total redundancy, why isn't the same happening with VAG? Because it's German? Should the USDM ever get it's act together, VAG's overlap will be their downfall.

Another thing to take note of is that Japanese companies have very little overlap compared to their Western competitors and profits remain pretty high in Japan.

 

[YSSMAN]

What? Passat == A4, Phaeton == A8, Touareg == Q7. There's even a Golf-based cabrio in the works, which would mean the TT has competition. I never mentioned anything about price, but since you did, it's price that's the problem. You can get VW's almost identically specced to Audi's at a much lesser price. That's the real problem. The same effect is sending Mercury (and Oldsmobile, and Plymouth) into total redundancy, why isn't the same happening with VAG? Because it's German? Should the USDM ever get it's act together, VAG's overlap will be their downfall.

Another thing to take note of is that Japanese companies have very little overlap compared to their Western competitors and profits remain pretty high in Japan.

I completely understand where you're comming from, but you are overestimating the situation a bit here:

1) The Passat and A4 no longer ride on the same chassis, the only "major" similarities between the two is the use of the 2.0T and the DSG transmission. The Phaeton is dead here in the US, and it won't be comming back, as VAG realized at A) Nobody wanted a $70K VW and B) Most people were willing to spend the extra money for the Audi. As for the Q7, you are right for the most part... The Q7 is a bit larger overall and comes with the Audi lineup of engine choises. Either way, I'd rather have the VW version.

2) You are forgetting that an Audi will always be accepted as a luxury car, not a VW. Sure, I'd be happy to admit that with many of the models they are on equal footing when it comes to equipment and quality, but that doesn't make the Passat an A4 beater. The only car in the current lineup that I can see making problems with Audi would be the GTI 5-door, exactly the same car as our A3 2.0T for a grand or two less. I'll take the Vee-Dub and my flannel seats, thanks.

3) As far as sporty models go, it is tit and tat I suppose. Audi has the will to make their cars stupidly fast, far beyond what VW will ever do with their R-spec programs. I do agree that an MKV R32 does negate the need for an S3, but you aren't going to see the Passat R36 running up on S4s and RS4s. VAG, for the most part, knows how to keep their models seperate. I have faith in them...

 

[Tornado]

What? Passat == A4, Phaeton == A8, Touareg == Q7.

In addition to what YSSMAN said, that is a common misconception. The Audi rode on an aluminum chassis, whereas the Phaeton rode on an steel one. The platform was the same, but that was about it.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Is the Continental on the steel version or the aluminum version? I can't remember...

 

[YSSMAN]

Volkswagen today unveiled the much-anticipated Passat R36 — a high performance variant of the popular sedan and wagon. The 296 horsepower R36 features a DSG transmission and 4Motion all-wheel-drive.

Zero to 62 mph takes 5.6 seconds for the sedan and 5.8 seconds for the wagon, thanks to a power 3.6 liter FSI engine. The cars have a top speed of 155 mph.

The R36 will be on display at the Essen Motor Show in Germany, taking place December 1 to 10.

Wow, I am very impressed with this car...



(More photos of the Wagon and a few of the shots of the interior *very impressive* available here)

...Lets say that I'm more than ecstatic about this car. The look is spot-on, semi-Audi in some ways. And to be honest, you really cannot complain about performance figures such as that, as they rival those of the big American super sedans, the Charger R/T and Impala SS quite easily... With one difference of course, this car likes to go around corners, a lot.

I love it!

 

[Leonidae]

I want to see that engine in Golf!

 

[Poverty]

The Q7 rides a heavily modified tourage chassis, and the phaeton has more in common with the bentley than the A8.

Audi and VW are pretty distiguished these days. You only need to compare interiors to see that. Anyway I like that R36, it looks very nice. How much though? I bet its only a little more expensive than the R32

 

[harrytuttle]

Nice. I wasn't expecting a wagon version, but I'm pleasantly surprised. And it still leaves plenty of room between this and the comparable Audi (S4, I suppose). :up: VW

1) The Passat and A4 no longer ride on the same chassis, the only "major" similarities between the two is the use of the 2.0T and the DSG transmission.

In addition to what YSSMAN said, that is a common misconception. The Audi rode on an aluminum chassis, whereas the Phaeton rode on an steel one. The platform was the same, but that was about it.

That still doesn't change how the public sees it, or how it's marketed. Similar size, similar price, similar accoutrements....


All that aside, if Audi can push the more sporting aspect of the platform while VW pushes the more sedate/luxury side, then even if the price is exactly the same there would be a clear difference between the two.

Now if only VW can hold up their end of that plan....

 

[YSSMAN]

...VW seems to have figured out that they are better off going back to how they used to sell cars than how they attempted to do a few years back. I remember reading stories from the VW folks about how a big research firm was hired to attempt to figure out why young people weren't connecting with VW anymore. The answer was simple, their cars were too expensive, and were usually viewed as older people's cars.

...I think they have done a fairly good job of changing that, but I think VW also maintains a bit of pride in knowing that many of their cars are for more "mature" drivers...

 

[Bram Turismo]

The new Passat is butt-ugly. The previous ones though, they were lovely, especially the VR6 Passats from the early and mid-90's 👍

 

[Poverty]

Nice. I wasn't expecting a wagon version, but I'm pleasantly surprised. And it still leaves plenty of room between this and the comparable Audi (S4, I suppose). :up: VW






That still doesn't change how the public sees it, or how it's marketed. Similar size, similar price, similar accoutrements....


All that aside, if Audi can push the more sporting aspect of the platform while VW pushes the more sedate/luxury side, then even if the price is exactly the same there would be a clear difference between the two.

Now if only VW can hold up their end of that plan....

Audi is the sporty and luxurious brand. VW is just "normal".

Only audi and VW that are similiar size is the A3/golf and the phaeton/a8. The days of audi being a tarted up VW are over.