Innehållsförteckning för August 2021 från Performance VW

Remember when getting 220bhp out of a tuned G60 was considered pretty impressive? Then 12v VR6 turbos made reaching over 300bhp easily achievable. Not long after the multi-valve 1.8T 20v arrived, squeezing up to 400bhp out of that engine became a realistic goal, too. Whoever would have dreamed, though, that come 2021 people would be achieving over 600bhp from their daily driven Golfs? This month’s cover car, Tom Parker’s Mk7 R, actually puts out 640bhp on regular pump gas (and around 700bhp on high-octane fuel) from its tuned 2.5-litre Audi five-pot motor. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? Well, it is, but that’s only really the start for Tom, as he’s planning a larger turbo and has his sights set on 1000bhp! Where will will this madness all end? We’re not quite…

DRUM AND BASE Inspired by the positive response from its 2019 Atlas Basecamp Concept and the Basecamp accessories line offered for its Atlas models, Volkswagen of America has created a one-of-a-kind concept build that highlights the adaptability and adventurous style of the new Taos compact SUV. Looks good, doesn't it? The Taos Basecamp Concept incorporates bold arch flares, all-terrain wheels and tyres, plus a new colour scheme. Contrasting silver rocker cladding ties into the front and rear skid plates to complement the rugged appearance that is reminiscent of the previous Atlas Basecamp concept vehicle. Upgrades include H&R raised suspension, custom Traverse MX wheels by fifteen52 wrapped in 225/65R17 Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tyres, and a custom Thule Canyon XT roof basket with integrated off-road LED lighting from Baja Designs. To…

O’ve worked on automotive magazines for 15 plus years now and I’ve written and snapped more show reports than I’ve eaten overpriced venue ‘gourmet’ burgers – a tenner, for that?! So, it feels pretty strange to be writing this, the first event I’ve attended for well over a year. I knew I had missed show season and events, but I didn’t realise quite how much until I started seeing low slung VAGs scraping the tarmac on the roads towards Northamptonshire. Nothing beats that feeling as you drive towards a show with your tribe and people that just get it, get you and get your way of life. I guess, as clichéd as it sounds it’s just a Dub thing and others wouldn’t understand. Luckily, I arrived at Early Edition just…

The story of the XL1 dates to 2002, when then Volkswagen AG Chairman Ferdinand Piëch arrived at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in a prototype known only as “the 1-litre car.” Having been kept secret until that drive, the 1-litre car was a two-seat spaceship, powered by a single-cylinder, naturally aspirated, direct-injection diesel engine that was centrally positioned in front of the rear axle and paired with a dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission. The 300cc engine produced just 8.5 horsepower, but combined with its 640-pound weight and unheard-of 0.159 drag coefficient, the car managed to run for 100 kilometers on one litre of fuel (.99 litres to be exact). Between its technological achievements, aerodynamic shape, tandem seating, and gullwing doors, the 1-litre car was like looking into the future. The future…

For most car enthusiasts, embarking on parenthood tends to coincide with an enforced slowing down. It’s a phase of life where practicality takes priority over performance, night feeds replace evenings in the garage, and weekends are more about soft play than shows and socialising. The end goal has always been worth the comprises (apparently…) but, these days, continuing the human race doesn’t always mean putting the brakes on automotive thrills. Volkswagen had an influential part in that change. The Mk1 GTI set out a stall for cars that could shrug off the school run then encourage you to take the long route home afterwards, but the Mk7 R is the peak evolution of that concept. It serves up a tuneable 300-plus horsepower with five doors, four-wheel drive and an estate…

“What’s the weather like in Britain?” came the question down the phone from Montreal based Canadian, Jason Balaze. “In the last few days we’ve had rain, wind, hail, and a tiny bit of sun” was my typically British 20th May response. Thankfully I didn’t kill the vibe as Jason was buzzing. Quebec was experiencing the hottest day of the year so far; thirty-odd degrees, brilliant sunshine and the Mk1 Rabbit polished to perfection for a drive out and photoshoot that very evening. One of those days that make all the late nights and skinned knuckles a project car demands worth it. “Today is a good day” confirmed Jason. The infectiously upbeat 44-year old explained that he has had a long career working in the automotive performance parts industry. In recent…

Mr. Geg Marvin isn’t your average Volkswagen owner. “I’m nearly a 30-year Dubhead with a soft spot for wayward strays,” the 48-year-old explains with a grin. “If a strange or iconic mechanical oddball crosses my path then it's safe to say I’ll probably end up owning it.” That ethos is how we got talking with Greg on a random weeknight about all things VW. Shedding the stranger stigma took less than an hour. You see, the car before you, a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit finished off in Candy white with one-off fifteen52 flares, will be instantly recognisable to those who’ve been doing the Dub thing for 15 years or so. Except Greg didn’t build this bunny - C2Motorsports did. The water is a bit murky in regards to the car’s complete…

JUNE 27th BROKE BOYS AT THE FARM Warwickshire Event Centre www.brokeboysuk.co.uk JULY 23-25th BUG JAM 34 Santa Pod www.bugjam.com 25th UK RALLYE GOLF SHOW Only Charged Dubs, DN3 1QR www.ukrallyegolfshow.com AUGUST 1st ROLLHARD SHOW Bicester Heritage, OX26 5HA www.rollhard.co.uk 6th VW FESTIVAL Harewood House, Leeds www.vwfestival.co.uk SEPTEMBER 3-5th EDITION 38 Overstone Park www.edition38.com 11th FORGE ACTION DAY Castle Combe www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk 19th PLAYERS SHOW North Weald www.players-show.com 19th GRAVITY SHOW NAEC Stoneleigh www.gravityshow.co.uk 18-19th DUBS AT THE GAP Flintstone, Maryland, USA www.dubsatthegap.com 26th OH SO RETRO Margate www.ohsoretro.co.uk OCTOBER 3rd TRAX Silverstone www.fastcar.co.uk/trax-silverstone Got an event? Let us know! Email us at: pvw.ed@kelsey.co.uk with date, location and website and we’ll attempt to include it on these pages! Note: Please check event’s website beforehand to ensure show is still going ahead, to…

ROB TOOGOOD AGE: 39 LOCATION: Wiltshire MODEL: Mk7.5 R estate PURCHASED: March 2018. It was a factory order with the following… OPTIONS: Oryx white pearl paint, climate windscreen, Dynaudio sound, rear view camera and black mirrors/roof rails FIRST MOD: Fitted a Maxton rear lip spoiler. I’m now on my third spoiler having had a custom carbon lip and now a custom larger gloss version. I won’t be changing that now as I really like it. It did take a little work but I managed it SPENT: I guess all in the mods would of cost 5k maybe…. FUTURE PLANS: Going forward I’m waiting to get a set of DS fins for the rear diffuser. Other than that it’s the perfect family car. Does everything and is very fast when I…

Please allow me a moment to ready the scene before you read on. There will not be any performance modifications or high dollar wheels. Heck, you’re lucky the cars are even mostly clean. What will follow is an enthusiast’s four year recap on the most versatile car in VW’s current lineup and a ‘naptime’ review (read: quick) on America’s very large Atlas SUV. Enter, the 2017 Golf R, a DCC and Nav car with a 6-speed manual finished off in an R-appropriate Lapiz blue. I purchased it new on October 31, 2016 from Trend Motors Volkswagen, a local dealer I’ve had a relationship with as both an employee and an outside contractor for over 13 years. Coincidentally, it was also my first wedding anniversary so I tell people it was…

FROM £766.80 Jetex has just announced its all-new cat-back system for the Mk7 Golf R (2013-17) available in a resonated or non-resonated format. Made from T304 stainless steel, 76.5mm/3" into 63.5mm/2.5" pipework the system comes with quad 90mm tailpipes to let everybody know all is not quite the way it left the factory. Well, it would be rude not to give the game away a little. The exhausts, which mount just after the factory downpipes, comes with all fittings needed and will set you back £766.80 for the non-resonated system or £927.60 for the resonated set-up. PRICE: From £766.80 CONTACT: www.jetex.co.uk…

What do you get if you cross a tiger with an iguana? Well, something hideous and terrifying, most probably. Tigers are massive and muscular, iguanas are small and bendy, trying to sew them together to create some manner of hybrid predator would frankly be macabre. Nevertheless, this is what Volkswagen did (figuratively, at least) back in 2007 when they portmanteaued the two words together to create ‘Tiguan’. You can perhaps see where the product planners were coming from, the crossover SUV being at once sizeable and agile, there’s a scintilla of sense there. But never before has the Tiguan made more sense than in the hands of Shaun Mooloo: the brains behind VAG Café, purveyors of Revo tunes, VW upgrades and all-round VAG awesomeness down in Pretoria, South Africa, he’s…

It’s officially summertime. And with high hopes of enjoying some shows and events this year that means it’s high time we started getting our performance VWs ready for action. After a year of hiding away throughout various lockdowns, our cars are no doubt ready for a thorough clean. And that’s why we spoke to Gtechniq’s Dom Berry, calling upon his years of experience in the detailing industry to ask for Gtechniq’s Top Ten Tips for a deep summer clean. So, with the wash mitt at the ready, let’s get those performance VWs looking fantastic and ready for show season. GTECHNIQ 01604 962553 www.gtechniq.co.uk 1 USE AN IRON AND FALLOUT REMOVER… There’s a big difference between these and general-use wheel cleaners. The idea of an iron and fallout remover is to…

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JAMES WALLACE AGE: 42 LOCATION: Greenwich and Nottingham OCCUPATION: Freelance journo and PR chap FIRST CAR: MG Metro Turbo I bought for £100 (and cost £1400 to insure) CURRENT CAR: Passat estate daily and Vtec Mk1 track car for weekends WORST CAR OWNED: E30 Touring with a 540i V8 fitted. Let's not go there… DREAM CAR: A '55 Chevy Nomad with a blown LT5 and modern chassis Performance VW: Is writing your full-time job, or just something you do for fun? James Wallace: It was until the start of 2020. Now I’m doing a spot of PR, being a freelance journo and mixing that in with the odd milk delivery at night (he's not kidding, kids – Ed). PVW: When and how did you get into writing in the first…