Fridae

Let's put the headline grabbing numbers out first. 300 horsepowers with 350 NM of torque with four-wheel drive. That is the ballpark figure for the usual Japanese WRC-inspired cars on our roads. Tired boy racers (chasers) should pay close attention to the newly launched Volkswagen Passat R36 which packs in all that power within a surprisingly much elevated package from the regular 1.8 Turbo model.

The designers had worked hard on the Passat R36. It features redesigned front and rear spoilers, 18-inch Omanyt alloy wheels, 25mm lower suspension, Bi Xenon headlights, two rear mufflers and blue coloured brake calipers making it the sporting hero of the Passat family. No worries here as there are no "ironing board" spoiler attached to the Passat R36. The frontal treatment is typical of the Volkswagen R family comprising of also the Golf R32 and the Touareg R50. Dressed in striking blue, the Volkswagen Passat R36 is a handsome car from all angles.

As the top dog of the entire Passat range, the R36 utilises a 3.6 litre V6 that serves 300 horsepowers with 350 nm of torque mated with Volkswagen famed six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox. The monstrous amount of power is harnessed through 4Motion-spec Haldex clutch on the back axle to divert torque rearwards when slip is detected. This four-wheel drive system has seen services on its sibling, the Volkswagen Golf R32. With such tremendous amount of expensive hardware shoe-horned into the Passat R36, getting the car from a standstill to 100 km/h takes a mere 5.6 secs as the smooth shifting DSG blips through the gears. And the R36 builds up speed with little fuss while maintaining an unbelievably high level of refinement. The 3.6 V6 FSI engine has a deep bassy exhaust note when bring pressed, reminding me of tennis superstar Serena Williams grunting away as she dogs round the court tirelessly and pounce on every ball with vengeance. One can imagine full throttle upshifts on the Passat R36 are particularly fun as the engine growls and yowl as the revs climb.

Never will there be a moment that the Passsat R36 would lack grip. Rainy days? Heck, just lay your right foot as the R36 blasts your way through the nicely weighted steering. Road distortions are worked away by the superbly well damped suspension. The comfortable setup encourages the driver to further exploit the deep reserves of the phenomenal engine's power, going into speeds that could get one's driving license revoked. However, the Passat R36 is still not capable of overiding its rather high kerb weight issue as it will ultimately understeer when being put through a series of corners.

Interior decos like the 'R' engraved stainless steel pedals, 'R35' imprinted sport leather seats are employed to reinforce the sportiness of the Passat R36. Central to pampering the driver is the lovely flat bottom steering wheel which is simply a delight to hold. The instrument dials on the R36 are given a new colour scheme, white being the predominant with blue and red taking a step back as compared to previous volkswagen's cars where blue takes center stage. Incidentally, this will be the approach for future Volkswagen cars interiors, starting from the MK VI Golf. While the white lighting might provide more clarity, one might sense a slight lost of corporate identity. Regardless, the Passat R36 has an ergonomically perfect interior with room and style. Special mention should be made for the front sports seats clad in "San Remo" microfiber which are amazingly comfortable, supportive and stylish, probably the best sports seats in the business?

The Volkswagen Passat R36 provides an astonishing value for your money with its feisty performance and all-wheel drive capabilities. At this price, you would be lacking plenty of horsepower and equipment should you inspect your options from the usual suspects of the German holy trinity of compact executives in the likes of the Audi A4, Mercedes Benz C-Class and the all too familiar BMW 3-Series. Perhaps it is indeed time to overlook the People's car badge and have a ball of time bullying those brand snobs on an open road.

	Volkswagen Passat R36
Engine	3,597 cc 6 cylinder V-Formation 24V, DOHC
Transmission	6-Speed Direct Shift Gearbox, 4-wheel drive
Max. Power	300 BHP @ 6600rpm
Max. Torque	350 NM @ 2400 to 5300 rpm
0-100 km/h	5.6 secs
Top speed	250 km/h
Fuel Economy	10.5 L/100km (combined cycle)
CO2 Emissions	249 g/km (Euro IV compliant)
Dimensions (L x W x H) / Weight	4,765mmX1,820mmX1,472mm / 1,689 kg
Price with COE*	$168,000*

*Prices quoted are indicative of prices in Singapore. Please contact your local distributor for prices in your country.