It’s hard to believe that the maker of the Rabbit GTI, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, and emotive New Beetle has never held a stage at the SEMA show. Well, not officially anyway. Volkswagen has been represented over the years via countless tuner and concept cars from various aftermarket companies. But this year VW reserved some floor space of its own and marked its entrance with the authoritative bark of a twin-turbo V6.

Three concept vehicles were poised under the “Drivers Wanted” banner – a Passat R GT, a Jetta R GT, and a Touareg R GT. Lest folks think Volkswagen takes this tuning thing lightly, these R GT concept cars come with some smoking specs. Each is powered by a 3.2-liter V6 with twin Garrett turbochargers and beefy Brembo brakes. For the Touareg that means 500 horsepower, the Jetta 550 horsepower, and the Passat an unbelievable 575 horsepower. Also featured on the Passat R GT is a candy white paint job with matching interior accents, 19-inch Avus wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport2 245/30 tires, a rear spoiler, and revised front and rear fascias. The Touareg R GT rolls on 22s with Michelin Diamaris 295/30 tires and features a lower body kit. Impressive? Yes. But it’s the Jetta R GT that steals the show. Besides those 550 horses, the Jetta features a full roll cage, a race suspension, air jacks, 19-inch Avus wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport2 265/30 tires, revised fascias, and R32 Recaro seats for four passengers.

Being fashionably late has never looked so good.

By Thom Blackett

Photos by Ron Perry, and courtesy of the auto manufacturers