Volkswagen R GTI
Las Vegas, America 鈥?More than thirty years ago Volkswagen launched the GTI, a car that would kick start the hot hatch segment and revolutionise the concept of affordable and accessible high-performance motoring. Now comes the R GTI, launched in Las Vegas, a look forward into the future of compact car performance. Jenkins approached the R GTI with the motorsport-inspired goal of 鈥渟peed through lightness.鈥?That is, reducing the car鈥檚 weight is as critical to improved performance as amplifying the engine鈥檚 output. In collaboration with the firm OSIR Design, hand-laid carbon fibre component experts, Jenkins replaced the stock GTI鈥檚 front fenders, hood, side rockers, and hatch door with carbon fibre panels developed by both OSIR and Jenkins鈥?in-house team. Additional carbon fibre components are the lower front spoiler, front grille surround, rear rooftop spoiler and Jenkins-restyled rearview mirror housings, all in carbon fibre. Reference to the GTI鈥檚 trademark hexagonal grille pattern is also seen in the R GTI鈥檚 specially constructed 19x9-inch aluminum alloy wheels, with lightness as a crucial contributor to reduced unsprung weight, and improved ride quality and cornering.
Tucked within fenders designed for additional clearance, the beefier running gear includes Michelin Pilot Sport Cup ultra-high-performance radials, sized 265/30 R19. In track tests, the larger tyre footprint proved to be a valuable ally in transferring the engine鈥檚 prodigious 470Nm (340 ft-lb) of torque to the ground. Despite being rolled straight out of the design studio on to the track, the R GTI pulled off an impressive zero to 60mph (0-96km/h) time of 4.8 seconds. The chief contributor to the R GTI鈥檚 impressive performance is the turbocharged engine developed in conjunction with APR, one of the country鈥檚 leading aftermarket Volkswagen tuners. APR develops and sells high performance, and high performance only, leaving others to peddle air fresheners and floor mats. APR鈥檚 engineers and product developers are passionate about Volkswagen technology, and it shows in the quality and results of their contribution to the powertrain. It all starts with Volkswagen鈥檚 2.0-litre FSI turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, an award-winner for its unique combination of direct injection and turbocharging.
APR also replaced the turbocharger with a larger Garrett ball-bearing unit with twice the flow capacity and pumped up the boost to 21 pounds per square inch (psi). All of the pressure-side plumbing was strengthened with silicon hosing and a large-diameter cast-aluminium, black powder-coated intake pipe feeds the big turbo the cool air it needs from the larger, front-mounted intercooler, delivering twice the stock air flow. An Inconel exhaust manifold and an APR stainless steel exhaust system ensure efficient flow-through. It鈥檚 a tidy, factory-like transformation, and the result is a whopping 375 horsepower (280kW), on 93 octane pump gas. Harnessing that kind of power is as important as unleashing it, of course, and Jenkins was determined to retain the stock GTI鈥檚 driver-friendly demeanor. The clutch was upgraded to handle the increased torque, and a Quaife limited slip differential was installed to make the engine鈥檚 power flow more efficiently through the tyres. To bring deceleration into line with the improved acceleration, Jenkins selected Brembo brake components. Fitted at the front corners are Brembo鈥檚 four-piston aluminum alloy calipers, which squeeze Brembo two-piece floating cross-drilled discs with billet aluminum hats. The radial-mount design features a lightweight two-piece aluminum alloy body, quick-release pad system and sequentially sized pistons. The front calipers have even been painted with the colors of the German flag. Inside the rear wheels are disc brakes fitted with drilled rotors. Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world鈥檚 largest producers of passenger cars and Europe鈥檚 largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, Touareg and Phaeton through more than 600 independent U.S.
Golf: The Rimowa suitcase of hatchbacks owes much to the original Rabbit/Golf that Giorgetto Giugiaro鈥檚 ItalDesign created for Volkswagen. Giugiaro turns 81 this August, but his stout C-pillars tapering forward to a simple horizontal grille appear forever young. The lower roofline reduces headroom in the Civic. Civic: A longer wheelbase provides superior legroom. The lower roofline means reduced rear headroom despite Honda鈥檚 thinner seat cushions; it requires twisting through the rear door to avoid bumping one鈥檚 head. Ah, but heated seats back there reward the effort. Golf: Boxiness has its advantages, beginning with ease of getting in and out. Golf鈥檚 extra 21 mm in front headroom (18 mm rear) encourages powering the 12-way driver鈥檚 seat upward for a superior viewpoint of the road ahead. Execline models include leather seats, as does Honda鈥檚 Sport Touring, but lack Civic鈥檚 rear-seat warming. The Sport Touring smacks into submission the myriad craters of winter-ravaged highways, but slams over Toronto鈥檚 Grade A potholes.5-litre engine combines with an excellent continuously variable transmission for strong acceleration - and a sorry drone at higher engine speeds.
