"Project R GT"

Jetta As our regular readers know very well, FestivalOfSpeed.net focuses primarily on “grassroots” or “niche” motorports events, products and manufacturers. Thus, it may surprise many of you to see an article on the new Jetta and Passat concept cars that Volkswagen rolled out at SEMA 2005. When I first came across these two stunning automobiles on the Volkswagen stand at SEMA, I was absolutely awestruck.

The Jetta, in particular, looks as if it is a World Challenge GT car with removed sponsor stickers and the addition of rear bucket seats. The car sits snugly on 19” Avus alloy wheels, while resting tightly on a KW Variant 3-way coil-over racing setup. Even at rest, the Jetta (and Passat, though to a lesser degree) give the impression of incredible performance.

As many cars suggest performance, but later fall lacking, it was encouraging to see the engine bay and read about what VW’s California design studio has accomplished in preparing this incredible car for the road. To begin with, designers worked in close consort with HPA Motorsports in specifying the powertrain that propels the car at near-terminal velocities. HPA immediately removed the 2.5L 150hp stock motor from the 2005 Jetta and replaced it with their own twin-turbocharged, twin-intercooled, 550-horsepower variant of VW’s 3.2-liter, 240-horsepower six-cylinder V6 that powers the R32. Since this is a drastic departure from the “sensible” stock motor, the transmission also needed to be addressed, where HPA fit VW’s highly acclaimed DSG twin-clutch transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive, though modified in house to accommodate the engine’s staggering performance. To help keep all that power under control where “the rubber meets the road”, HPA specified a full three way coil over setup as used in race cars along with a World Rally spec Brembo brake system.

All of these incredible performance upgrades would be comfortably at home in a full-spec race car, complete with sponsor livery. However, to keep things discreet on the road, VW’s design studio elected to paint the body of the car in a subtle smoke grey shade, though they did fit different front and rear bumper facias along with aggressive side rocker panels and a distinctive custom rear spoiler. As mentioned before, the wheels are striking nineteen inch Avus alloys covered with low profile Michelin high performance tires. The wheels are a center lug design, allowing a quick change to eighteen inch wheels, should the owner wish to take the car to the track – no need even to find the floor jack, as an AP Racing air jack system is already fitted.

So, from the outside, quite a strikingly attractive car. As expected, the interior doesn’t disappoint either, with four Alcantara-clad racing bucket seats for driver and passenger along with four-point Schroth racing harnesses. "A fully integral roll cage and Stack racing cluster help add to the Jetta's "racecar for the streets" credentials. This car is definitely ready for a few hot laps – it even has a racing fuel cell installed in lieu of the standard fuel tank!

Specifications:

- 550-bhp, 3.2-liter Twin Turbo MPI V6 engine
- PQ 35 Haldex 4MOTION® system
- Twin Turbo conversion Package to include:
     - Dual Garrett GT25R ball-bearing-based turbochargers    
     - Dual proprietary HGP integrated exhaust manifolds and turbine housings
     - Cast aluminum short-runner intake manifold
     - Dual air-to-air intercoolers
     - Quad by-pass emissions-legal exhaust system
     - Dual 3-in. (70-mm) ceramic-coated down pipes
     - Upgraded fuel system
- 3-way FIA Competition KW Race suspension       
- Integrated electronic display including auxiliary instrumentation
- 6-point integrated roll cage
- AP Racing air jacks
- WRC Spec Brembo brake race system:
- 380 x 32-mm front discs with WRC tarmac spec Brembo one-piece billet 8-piston calipers
- 330 x 32-mm rear discs with Brembo 4-piston calipers and independent park brake calipers
- DSGTM Transmission featuring lengthened gears and sport-shifting calibrations

Exterior:

- Smoke Grey with silver ghost graphics
- 19 x 9.5-in. (street) custom-built forged aluminum modular Avus® wheels / center lock DTM style
- 18 x 9.5-in. (race track) custom-built mono-block forged aluminum DTM specs Avus wheel
- Michelin tires:
     - Pilot Sport2 265/30R19 (street use)
     - Pilot Sport Cup 265/30R18 (track use)
- New front and rear bumper fascias and side rocker panels/custom rear spoiler/25 mm fender flare
- Llumar glass treatment

Interior:

- Black leather/Black Alcantara
- Matte carbon fiber
- Front and rear performance bucket seats with color stitching accents:
     - R32 Recaro race buckets
     - Schroth Profi II ASM harness
- Accent color in small areas (i.e. - gear shift knob)
- Stack F1 style ST8600 digital display system

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