Mercedes has AMG, BMW has M -- and now Volkswagen has R.
Europe's number one car maker, Volkswagen, has made its performance group official with the launch of R GmbH, a company with the sole purpose of turning mundane VWs into fire-breathing road warriors.
The company line is that "Volkswagen R GmbH will be the specialist for sporty exclusive models from Volkswagen in the future" and most enthusiasts and car spotters will no doubt be aware that several Volkswagen R models already exist.
The first 'R' model ever launched by VW was the Mk IV Golf R32 back in 2002, which was upgraded to Mk V in 2007 and then replaced by the 2.0-litre Golf R this year. The Passat R36 and Touareg R50 are also part of the R line-up, as is the Scirocco R in some overseas markets.
"Our vehicles contribute to the emotionalisation and growth of the Volkswagen brand," explained Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, the General Manager of Volkswagen R GmbH.
Volkswagen's new performance company employs more than 350 staff and has its headquarters in Warmenau near Wolfsburg in Germany. With a new focus and an official research and development facility, the new company can expected to churn out many more high performance models. Just don't expect a Transporter R any time soon...
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