The GTI Performance is the more extreme of the two, with scissor-style doors, a copper and black checkered-flag paint scheme, a full wide-body conversion and ground effects kit and a host of other tiny tweaks that complete the VW GTI's transformation for quick hatch to exotic street racer. Even the interior is customized, with a unique 2+1 seating design, which places the rear occupant in the center of the car. Out back two oversized trapezoidal exhaust outlets and ample steel mesh work give the car a race-inspired look.
Huge brake ducts in front of the rear wheels, custom Recaro seats and lightweight multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in extremely low-profile rubber complete the aggressive, sporting look of the car.
The Passat R36 Variant, or estate, is an interpretation of what the production version of the car might look like, if VW were to build it, though it has repeatedly denied any plans to do so. Aside from larger, more aggressive 20-inch wheels taken from the company's Touareg R-Line package. Those wheels are on a 20mm-wider track than the standard Passat, and the new bodywork helps swallow the massive rubber that adorns them.
Big brakes by Brembo feature six piston calipers slow the hotted up wagon in a hurry. Bigger chrome tailpipes add to the subtly sporty look sought in the Passat R36 Variant's styling, and the whole package does look remarkably production-ready. Unfortunately it is, for now, just a styling study, however.
Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance
Volkswagen Passat R36 VariantVW Golf GTI Performance at Worthersee
VW Passat R36 Variant Styling Study
