Well…..is this the model the US is getting, or do we get the R32?

If I was CEO of VW, I would unleash this machine.

/but I’m not

Sweet. Have always had a soft spot for the GTI.

With a factory 300 hp in the R36 model, it should scoot quickly. Those crafty Germans…always refining.

please come in 6MT

This new R36 would surely hit the market. 300 hp would be great for driving, not to mention its high performance volkswagen golf parts, which made it the bestselling vw. Surely, more prospective buyers will opt to have this R36.

How did hot hatches ever get so big and heavy that we want them with 3.6l engines?
Is this really the way to go at a time when we need to cut consumption, when increasing traffic levels and draconian enforcement mean that speed is less and less relevant and when petrol costs are set to rise and keep rising?

Cars like this are tons of fun and driving one of these machines makes me feel like I’m ten years old again.

Unfortunately europerspective is right; do we really need these types of cars anymore? I know they will only be built in relatively small numbers, but it isn’t really the right way to go for VW, when we all really need to cut on fuel consumption and emissions. This Golf has become some sort of dinosaur, predestined to cause it’s own eradication.

Still, I’d like to own one…

peter g, this is a low volume car for people who love sports driving. I don’t think there will be enough of them to weigh heavily on the world fuel supply. You can thank SUVs for that.

I’m happy for any cheap hotrod available on the market. VW will be making plenty of normal Golfs.

Hyperion, exactly my point. And I hope VW will make a lot of fuel efficient, low emision cars that still will be fun to ride.

I cant wait for a HPA version of this crazed bunny.

I hope those lights come standard.

Joey D, these are bunny-lights for a Rabbit.

Anyone else notice this car has the Thunder Bunny front end…

http://www.germancarfans.com/news/2061101.010/2061101.010.1L.jpg

yes PLEASE GIVE US A 6 SPEED MANUAL VW
dont screw it up
the lights will be standard, just like the GTI and R32.

BFD

What’s up with this??? First they tell us the 3.6 won’t fit in the MKV Golf platform, then finally the R32 comes to the States, then suddenly we have MKV R36 spy shots???

If I’d just put money down on an R32 I’d be pretty pissed right about now!

jm1681,
http://seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2006-Volkswagen-Thunder-Bunny.htm

damn….its a good thing i hesitated to put money down on the R32

yeah my thoughts exactly ^^

Hyperion,
I don’t agree that “this is a low volume car for people who love sports driving”. This will not be a sporty car, this much weight up front would make it an understeering pig, so they use a 4WD system to help it to handle. However that means yet more weight and yet less feel, feedback and adjustability. This will be an extremely fast car, but it will not be sporty. The only skills needed to drive it fast will be good eyesight and good reactions. Sports driving involves a challenge.

Sweet! now owners can get to the shop for repairs even faster!

Ad link found at the entrance to “leftlanenews.com” today:

VW Phaeton Clearance
When Dealers Need to Make Sales Goals - You Get Our Best Price!

Question: Will the R36 end up here also ???

wow, I hope they leave those awesome auxillary driving lights!

Europerspective is right, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use speed. If it was my decision, I would either strip the car out completely to make a Golf Racer for use on trackdays and empty roads and/or make a luxury version, like a scaled-down Phaeton. In fact, this car is a compromise of the two. My first proposition would be ideal for a sports car driver, and the second car a sort of smaller, cheaper luxury car for the family.
For someone wanting a better compromise, the GTI is better, because, as homeboy rightly said, the GTI is lighter, with a less heavy engine which helps it with handling. This R36 is nothing but a Golf on steroids. If of course your quest is absolute speed, this makes sense. But, once again, absolute speed has almost been absolutely eradicated.

Enjoy them while they are here.You think the planet will continue to extrapolate on the regular angle?

Best of times(Rabbit still here).Worst of times(the seams on the Earth are close to ripping open as far as socio-economic).

What is this dude talking about?

If 4wd wasn’t good, Audi wouldn’t boast 7 touring car titles over the world, by the end of the 1996 season, with the A4 QUATTRO (Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Belgium and Spain). This was before the weight handicaps that obviously compromised its performance later.
The R32 was 1.5 sec faster than the BMW 130i around the Top Gear’s track, despite of the power (250 vs 265 bhp - in UK) and weight (1594 vs 1375 kilos) disadvantage, and this is significant ’cause it happened in the same day, with the same track conditions and with the same driver. Do you really think the R36 will be slow around a track?

thats a lot of weight up front

peterg - That model lineup is what I’d like to see more of from any manufacturer: if it’s a “sport” model, make sure it meets all emissions and fuel standards but make it a fast car worth the money. If it it’s a regular model, by all means, make it fuel efficient and emissions stringent.

europerspective - Your point is more of an opinion about the car’s abilities. Its intended purpose is still to fill the cheap hotrod-hypercar niche (no matter how much VW fails in this regard). I completely agree with you in wanting a car design that challenges and rewards driver skill. I’m just stating that the INTENTION is still in the right place on VW’s part. I don’t like DSG’s, by the way.

Aston Martin - I have to disagree. I think the R32/R36 Rabbit is the basis for a good sports platform because of its engine output and drivetrain layout. Yes, unfortunately, it’s heavy and that isn’t good. Even so, a GTI is still very limited from the factory as a sports machine.

What I’m wondering is why we aren’t seeing an “R20″ with the 4Motion AWD in a 6-speed manual with a 250-300 horsepower turbo 2.0 four cylinder from the GTI. That’s a bit less weight already.

I have my opinions on why I like the R32/R36 cars over GTI’s but in general I am in agreement that they aren’t quite right for the money (weight, transmission, suspension).

At the same time, I don’t like GTI performance either.

I still want a Thunder Bunny

Hyperion, “R20″ with AWD and a 300 horsepower turbo 2.0? Would taste like an Evo! That would be a rocket-at-a-track and 4-sec-at-0-60 Golf! Just perfect!
Remember this motor is good for 265hp on the Audi S3. And it’s still almost as smooth as a 6-cilinder, with good low-rev torque.

Adi, I totally agree with you. I know about the rally heritage in the Mitsu and Subie but the AWD+Turbo-4 formula works. It works very well.

When I see these $25k+ turbo AWD sedans fill in the gap between economy car transportation and dedicated rear-drive two seaters it becomes very difficult for me to take any cheap front-drive turbo economy car as being seriously worth even “bargain” money. Bargain money is a used car and there are plenty of options there if you are looking for speed.

Let’s hope VW realizes the obvious and perfects their “R” series into real competition.

That white car picture that broke today on other sites is obviously a photoshop.

If it can take a WRX or EVO X then I’ll pay attention.

i agree with above, we arent talking luxocruiser like the 335i, G35, IS350. if the R36 is going to succeed it needs to beat the likes of the STI and Evo. unless they want to compete in the premium class, in which case they are making the A4 completely lackluster lol! ill never understand VW…

haha, love those giant lights on the roof

I agree with others, until it takes a wrx, just another car IMO

pack all of the power you want into it, in the end it’s still a “golf”…so gay. What’s the name supposed to mean anyway, is it a street legal golf cart, or it was designed while playing golf, or it’s for people who play golf?? I play golf, and never in a million years would I own this car. Most golf carts are more manly anyway.

I think you all are missing the point. VW have just come out with the new R32 and are now doing an R36. I agree with (europerspective) in that these cars are too heavy, but is there anything that is in the VW line up that is samller than a golf and has the potential to be better. ummm yes. the POLO. They made it a GTI and it is quick. Followed in the dads footsteps. Just think what a VW Polo R32 would be like….
Hmmmmm tasty

Rockin’ Rabbit Racer

Hyperion.
You’re right, blogs say this has a 2 liter TFSI engine with 280 bhp. And it clearly sais RS on it so I don’t think it’s going to be the R36.

Josh, forget a Polo R32, imagine a lightwieght Lupo with a cammy 1.6, no electronic stability and a rock-bottom price tag, now that would be a true successor to the original GTi.

oh man I actually like that a lot

Is it just me, or it’s written on the plate Golf RSI??

I’m pretty sure it’s Golf RSi. VW already had the NewBeetle RSi (it was a limited edition, and I think it was pretty close to the R32 - 3.2 V6 AWD).

And it ain’t no photoshop (at least doesn’t seem so).

Does anyone not notice on the front plate it looks as though it say RS or RSi ? Maybe this is a Ralley Sport Golf….or Thunder Bunny for the U.S.

I am one of those that put a down payment on the 2nd generation R32. Having owned MK2 GTI 16v in the late 80’s. Although not the fastest it was perhaps one of the most all around balanced vehicles produced. I live in the DC area AWD needed for all-season driving. If it comes with 3.6 or 3.2 I still want the car.