R32 (2004)
In 2002, Volkswagen produced the Golf R32 in Europe as a 2003 model. Due to unexpected popularity, Volkswagen (through Volkswagen of America) decided to sell the car in the United States as the 2004 Volkswagen R32. Billed as the pinnacle of the Golf IV platform, the R32 included every performance, safety, and luxury feature VW had to offer including the all new 3.2 L 24-valve VR6 engine producing a claimed 241 bhp (180 kW) and 236 ft·lbf (320 N·m) of torque (it is commonly thought the U.S. R32 received the higher output Audi TT engine producing 250 bhp (190 kW), although VW Europe have stated in the past that this was not the case), AWD, a new 6-speed manual transmission, independent rear suspension, automatic climate control, sport seats from Konig with R32 logos, 18" OZ(Ronal produced the wheels towards the end of production) Aristo wheels, Electronic Stability Programme, massive (334 mm) brakes with blue finish calipers, sunroof, and model specific bodywork. In the US the vehicle was available in only four colours: Black Magic Pearl, Deep Blue Pearl, Reflex Silver, and Tornado Red.
The distribution of colours were as follows:
Deep Blue Pearl: 40%
Reflex Silver: 35%
Black Magic Pearl: 15%
Tornado Red: 10%
Although the R32 shared a similar appearance with the 25th Anniversary GTI, the R32 shared the vast majority of its major components with the 3.2 L Audi TT, most notably, the engine, all wheel drive system, and both front and rear suspension geometries. Five thousand cars were produced and intended to be sold over a two-year period, but the entire line was sold out within 13 months.
The R32 remains the quickest car that Volkswagen has imported to the U.S., capable of 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, and clearing the quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 99.2 mph (159.6 km/h). The R32 edges out its fastest sibling, the top-of-the-line Phaeton 6.0 litre W12 (414 bhp), by a tenth of a second at the 1,320-foot (402 m) mark.
It also has a surprisingly high resale and used-car value; the Kelley Blue Book used car retail price (the price an individual might expect to pay for one from a dealer) for a model in excellent condition with low mileage actually exceeds the original retail price of the car in many cases, making it one of a few recent cars that have actually approached an increase in value over time. This premium can be explained mostly due to scarcity, both of the cars themselves due to low production and importation, and especially ones that still have extremely low mileage.