Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its hottest hatchback, the new 2008 R32 will make its highly anticipated debut in the United States this fall. The Mk V R32 features bold new interior and exterior styling cues packaged with increased horsepower and performance. With a heritage of responsive driving and dynamic performance characteristics built into its bloodline, the R32 is ready to comfortably tackle the streets or rip up the local track day event. The choice is yours.
The R32’s muscle is provided by its namesake, the awesome 3.2 liter naturally aspirated narrow angle VR6 engine, which provides 250 horsepower and 236 ft. lbs. of torque. This unique and potent engine is combined with Volkswagen’s gripping 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system. Rounding out the drivetrain package is the highly praised Volkswagen dual clutch DSG® transmission, which allows for seamless gear changes and helps the R32 to accelerate from 0-60 in approximately 6.4 seconds.
First introduced in the United States in 2004, the first edition R32 quickly sold out its allotment of approximately 5,000 vehicles. That strong consumer demand has already hit the 2008 R32. An exclusive pre-sale of the new Mk V R32 that was offered to current model GTI and R32 owners has resulted in the pre-sale of nearly 1,000 of the 5,000 coveted Volkswagen sport-hatches. The R32 officially hits the showroom of your friendly local Volkswagen dealer in early fall 2007 with an MSRP of $32,990.
The powerful VR6 engine and its unique 15-degree narrow angle design have a bore and stroke of 84 mm and 95.9 mm, respectively, and are capped with a single aluminum-alloy cylinder head. The engine features a chain-driven, dual-overhead cam, variable valve timing, four valves per cylinder, maintenance free lifters and a compression ratio of 10.85:1.
The DSG transmission gives drivers a choice of fully-automatic operation or an automated manual shift which lets drivers shift gears up and down with a tap of the gearshift selector or finger-operated shift-paddles mounted to the steering wheel. The dual-clutch transmission utilizes direct shifting that automatically engages and disengages gears, without a clutch pedal. A computer engages one clutch on the next gear needed, just as it releases the other clutch from the previous gear. The shifts are seamless and happen with far less power loss than during a traditional, clutched-shift.
The R32 rides upon a fully independent multi-link rear suspension that provides both excellent handling and superior comfort. Electromechanical steering provides increased steering precision, while the front strut suspension and anti-roll bar help to increase cornering agility while reducing body roll.
A state-of-the-art Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes based on road and driving conditions; while brake assist helps to boost the brake pressure in emergency braking situations. Not only are the R32 brakes performance driven, but they also highlight the design aesthetic featuring blue calipers, visible behind the 18-inch alloy, 10-spoke wheels.
The R32 will be available in its exclusive signature color Deep Blue Metallic, along with Tornado Red, and two new colors for 2008 –– Candy White and United Gray. These bold colors provide a crisp styling contrast to the uniquely shaped front fascia, brushed aluminum-look front grille and Bi-Xenon headlights. A polished stainless steel dual-exhaust exits the center of the rear diffuser panel, giving a visual hint to the lurking performance. R32 badging, a rear roof spoiler and deep front spoiler, coupled with body-colored bumpers, side bump strips, door handles and door mirrors and 18-inch performance tires help to accentuate the streamlined, sporty look – distinguishing this car from anything else on the road.
The R32 boasts a long list of safety features, including front and side driver and passenger airbags; Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) that reacts to critical driving situations in milliseconds by controlling the speed of individual wheels; 4Motion All-Wheel-Drive system, which can transfer up to 75 percent of the torque to the rear wheels; and, a confidence-inspiring Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) that helps to prevent wheels from locking under heavy braking.
Inside, the R32 features race-inspired style – three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, “engine spin” chrome accents, alloy foot pedals and sports seats with integrated “R” logo. Features such as automatic climate control (Climatronic™), ten-speaker premium CD stereo system, rain sensing wipers, automatic dimming interior rear-view mirror, heated front seats, heatable washer nozzles, anti-theft alarm, cruise control and trip computer are standard luxuries that complement this performance-driven champ.
The R32 is backed by a five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty as well as a four-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper coverage. All Volkswagen products come with a 12-year/unlimited-distance, limited warranty against corrosion, and a four-year/50,000 mile roadside assistance program.