Peruse the New Car pages on this site and it soon becomes clear that sport sedans are in fashion. From the Acura TL to the Volvo S40, nearly every manufacturer has something intended for the sedan buyer seeking style and performance.

One of the many entrants in that slice of the market is the Volkswagen Passat, a car that capably caters to those shoppers with powerful engines, a sleek design, and impressive handling. Be that as it may, not everyone looks at the Passat, and Volkswagen in general, as a top player in the performance game.

By the looks of the Passat R GT Concept car, it would appear that the folks at VW aim to change that. Test drive a 2006 Passat here in the States and the most you’ll unleash is 280 horsepower. The Passat R GT packs 575 horsepower.