SPY SHOTS: Volkswagen Passat R36

The most powerful Passat yet was caught in testings. Volkswagen used the Golf R32’s V6 engine to create a new 3.6-litre unit with around 280bhp. The R36 gets a butch bodykit and 4Motion four-wheel drive. Expect sales in early 2007.

The R36 is powered by a 3.2-litre VR6 engine extended to 3.6 litres. Equipped with FSI direct injection to save fuel and boost grunt, peak power climbs from the 3.2-litre’s 250bhp to around 280bhp. That’s 5bhp more than the previous Passat’s flagship – the thirsty and short-lived – W8 engine. There may be way more to come, too. Sources talk of a twin-turbocharged version, which could send peak power to a whopping 400bhp.

Source: CarMagazine

S4cabriofox - 10/26/2006 9:47:39 PM

0 Boost

Been there, done that.

chewy - 10/26/2006 10:16:07 PM

+2 Boost

Twin turbo, 400 hp sounds very nice.

EL34i - 10/26/2006 11:02:05 PM

+3 Boost

The Passat is, undoubtedly, a superior saloon to the ungainly Japanese luxobarge known as the Lexus LS 460.

kart1 - 10/27/2006 1:17:40 AM

0 Boost

Why don't you buy the passat instead of the LS 460 and use the rest of the money to beef up your German bias.

Mark - 10/27/2006 8:18:41 AM

+2 Boost

Repost...

Rupert - 10/27/2006 6:10:05 PM

+3 Boost

the passat is best in its class, and if you can't quite stretch to a 3/c/a4, then a passat is a good alternative.
the passat does stretch across two classes, the mondeo/vectra class and the 3er class.

Sauceboy01 - 10/27/2006 3:22:00 PM

+3 Boost

it's nice!

audirevolution - 10/28/2006 3:25:28 PM

+3 Boost

The passat is better than the camry and accord in my opinion.

S4cabriofox - 10/29/2006 3:15:52 PM

+1 Boost

It is. Although it has a price premium, you get what you pay for.

It has the best interior, the best driving demeanor, and an overall more satisfactory ownership experience than the more generic competitors.

audirevolution - 10/29/2006 8:36:58 PM

+2 Boost

Agreed.