Volkswagen Australia is keen to add more performance oriented models to its line-up. But not too many! Headlined under the R badge, the carmaker currently offers three models Down Under -- the Golf R32 (more here), the Touareg V10 R50 and the newest R car -- the Passat-based R36 (see below). According to Volkswagen Australia boss, Jutta Dierks, the company would like to add "maybe one or two more" R models.
The subject of a specific launch at Phillip Island recently, the R cars feature unique suspension and braking packages, as well as bespoke engine tunes, appearance and interior upgrades. Modifications aren't to the extent of, say, Mercedes' AMG or the BMW's M cars, but the cars present as a step above the 'run-of-book' Volkswagen models.
Despite the prominent billboards and online advertising for the R car now in the marketplace, Dierks says, Volkswagen will be cautious about promoting the models as a range. Each she suggests will be closely linked to its donor model.
"I know that's very popular with some manufacturers going down this track [to promote a stand-alone performance range]. For us R line is special, but we will not really promote it as a separate line or stand alone -- it will always be a nice addition to the Volkswagen range," Dierks told the Carsales Network.
Dierks says the whole passenger car range is open to R treatment.
"Basically you could do an R line version of every car. If I would be honest I would like to see something like this on the Jetta, but there are no [current] plans for that.
"We have [the new] R50 Touareg -- maybe we get an R-whatever Tiguan... The concept behind R fits every model in the range and we will make a strategic decision where to concentrate," she revealed.
"On the other side it [an R model] should be very special. R32 is special; R36 is special; R50 is special -- that's the way it should be. If you then have a kind of inflation and it goes with the whole range you kind of lose that excitement. We have to find that balance -- maybe one or two more [models] and still keep it very, very special," Dierks opined.
Dierks says there's nothing to prevent diesel passenger car models from joining the R line-up. Already the R50 uses a version of the Touraeg's V10 turbodiesel engine, she points out.
In the meantime, while the R32 is the most populous model (over 1300 of the latest Golf V AWD version have been sold Down Under) the focus is on the latest R model -- the Passat R36.
Available in both sedan and wagon variants priced from $65,590 and $67,590 respectively (including 33 per cent LCT), the R36 features a specially tuned 220kW version of the same narrow-angle (10.6-degree) V6 that powers the standard 3.6-litre Passat and the Touareg V6. That makes the R36 VW's most powerful passenger car (it's only topped by the R50 SUV).
With a 0-100km/h time of 5.6sec (5.8 for the wagon) it's also the quickest.
Featuring lower, sportier suspension (25mm lower than the standard), the R36 rolls on 18-inch alloys and features oversized brakes (345mm front; 310mm rear). Like its R32 stablemate, the hottest-ever Passat uses Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and trademark paddler-shift Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).
The bodywork and interior are tweaked including: an aggressive front bumper, more chrome; a bootlid spoiler (the wagon wears its spoiler on the trailing edge of the roof); 12-way electrically adjustable sports seats, flat-bottomed race-style steering wheel and the de rigueur R paraphernalia such as sill plates and pedals
On the fast sweeping Phillip Island layout and on a sharp road loop in the nearby Strezlecki Ranges in South Gippsland (Vic), the R36 mixed surprising capability on the track with reasonable road manners. The suspension is firm and sensitive to sharp-edge bumps, but in keeping with the expectations of the buyers of this style of vehicle, and the trade-off is well worth the better manners in corners and at high speed.
On the track back-to-back with the R32 Golf you could feel the extra bulk of the Passat body, but overall roll and pitch are well controlled. The extra size of the Passat seems to gel better with the 4MOTION system to boot... There's less of an impression of the drive 'hunting' to and fro as the car searched for traction out of corners, for example.
Braking performance is very good in road terms -- strong enough and consistent. Keen drivers will appreciate the fact the stability control system is not too obtrusive. If Volkswagen is serious about this segment of the market, however, it needs to offer an intermediate 'sport' setting that allows a touch more attitude.
Our brief road drive highlighted the refinement of the wagon variant -- with eyes forward you'd be hard pressed to pick which body style you're driving... The way it should be.
In fact, thanks to an annoying dash rattle, the wagon we drove was our pick over the sedan. It turned out the best way to drown out the rattle was to exercise the quite elastic midrange of the 3.6-litre V6 and let the engine's encouraging aural signature run interference.
The performance doesn't appear to come at too high a price in terms of fuel, either. Even at the relative quick pace we set, the R36 returned around 10.5L/100km on the rural road loop. A brief check of the 100km/h cruise mileage suggests better than 9.5L/100km should be possible on country cruises.
Look out for a full launch review of the R36 at the Carsales Network soon.
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