| Volkswagen of America has recently announced | | | | is scheduled to hit dealerships in August. |
| that it will operate a production-based GTI | | | | |
| Cup spec racing series beginning in 2008 to | | | | The R32 was first introduced in the US |
| give chance to aspiring young racers who | | | | market in the year 2004 and shortly after its |
| wants dreams of entering the professional | | | | debut a great number of units were sold out. |
| motorsports someday. The new series is going | | | | For this year since the R32 is offered in |
| to be sanctioned by the Sports Club of | | | | limited number only, Volkswagen will set up a |
| America. | | | | reservation system in which through its R32 |
| | | | micro site on the automaker's official web |
| According to Volkswagen Motorsport Director | | | | site. Interested R32 customers are to |
| Kris NIssen, "Volkswagen as an automotive | | | | complete a "purchase interest" form, |
| manufacturer is represented around the globe, | | | | generating what Volkswagen describes as an |
| and we have a strong history in motorsports, | | | | R32 certificate. The first 850 people who |
| including successful spec racing Cup programs | | | | would present an R32 certificate plus deposit |
| in more than 10 countries. The GTI Cup in | | | | to a Volkswagen's dealer will be able to get |
| America will underscore Volkswagen's | | | | one of the first R32 vehicles. |
| competitive spirit and the inspiration we | | | | |
| take from racing into the building of our | | | | The R32 just like other Volkswagen's |
| vehicles." | | | | masterpieces is built using only the best |
| | | | auto parts and that includes Volkswagen motor |
| Although the GTI Cup racer was optimized for | | | | mount which is popular for quality and |
| track performance and safety, the core or the | | | | durability. The R32 is powered by a 3.2 liter |
| life of the GTI remains to be the street | | | | V6 that produces 250 hp and 236 ft-lbs of |
| version's high-tech, 200 horsepower 2.0T | | | | torque. It is also outfitted with a standard |
| four-cylinder engine that delivers 207 ft-lbs | | | | 4Motion all-wheel-drive. The automaker said |
| of torque. It is also fitted with an | | | | it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just |
| automated manual DSG® transmission, | | | | 6.4 seconds. |
| electro-mechanical power rack-and-pinion | | | | |
| steering system, and advanced multi-link | | | | Other features of the R32 include: twin |
| fully independent sports-tuned rear | | | | chrome exhausts, 18 inch alloy wheels, |
| suspension. In short the production GTI is an | | | | bi-xenon headlights, a unique front grille |
| extremely capable machine to take on any | | | | and R32 badging. Its standard features are |
| racing challenge. | | | | consist of a rear roof spoiler, deep front |
| | | | spoiler and body-color bumpers, side bump |
| Meanwhile the German automaker has also | | | | strips, door handles and door mirrors. It |
| confirmed that its motorsports-inspired | | | | also boasts of safety features like |
| 250-horsepower R32 is returning to the US | | | | electronic stability control and antilock |
| this year but also added that quantity will | | | | brakes. |
| be limited to only 5,000 units. The new R32 | | | | |