Senner Tuning Re-imagines the VW Golf V R32

Remember the Volkswagen R32? That was VW's response (sort of) to the Mitsubishi Evos and Subaru WRXs. It was based on the last Golf platform, and sported a V6 plant and all-wheel drive and a host of other nifty performance features. Sure, it has since been supplanted by a newer version, but that hasn't stopped German tuning firm Senner from having a go at the older R32.

In this case, Senner has just presented a new sports package with performance and styling bits for the older, but still pretty hot Euro hatch. The Golf R32's 3.2-liter V6 engine has gotten the Senner rub down with a revised ECU, a BMC air filter and, naturally, a new sports exhaust system. All told, this cranks the output from the stock 250 ponies to 274 horsepower. The peak torque is also up from 320Nm to 339Nm.

Senner Tuning added a Bilstein sports suspension as well as new cross-drilled brake discs with racing pads to whoa the whole assembly up. The re-done R32 now sports 20-inch alloys wrapped in 235/30 R20 Dunlop high-performance tires. All this is to improve handling says Senner.

On the outside, it's carbon fiber carbon fiber carbon fiber. It's like Senner coated an R32 in glue and rolled it though acres of carbon fiber. The wunder-composite gilds the roof spoiler, rear diffuser, mirror housings and front grille inserts. And like seemingly every car out of Germany these days, new LED daytime running lights grace the front bumper to round off the exterior upgrades.

I always liked the R32s when they came out, but they sort of were a glorious failure in a way. They were fast, but not as fast as either the Mitsubishi Evos or the Subaru WRXs. They were relatively inexpensive, but not as inexpensive as the Mitsubishi Evos or the Subaru WRXs.

So no one bought the R32s in the numbers they bought the Mitsubishi Evos or the Subaru WRXs. Which was understandable, but was sort of a pity. The R32s were handsome, and more of a solid piece of kit. But the bottom line usually wins.

Source: CarScoop