2008 Volkswagen R32

The R stands for rich, racy and, with all-wheel drive, a good rideAs was its predecessor, the '08 Volkswagen R32 will be offered in very limited numbers. And that's just as well because, as was its predecessor's, the new R's price tag is tough to justify in practical terms when the R is stacked up against the almost-as-good Volkswagen GTI.The R is a sweet ride, though, very tempting to drive hard...

What it Is 2008 Volkswagen R32 -- 2007 Chicago Auto Show Preview: To the average Joe, R32 means nothing, but to a Volkswagen enthusiast, that’s Racing with a 3.2-liter engine. If you’re one of those people, and you’ve always dreamed of owning a new R32, now’s your chance. But you’ve got to hurry. Only 5,000 examples will be made available for U.S. customers, and VW expects 3,000 of those to go in...

A select handful of cars offer a rare level of all-around excellence that sets them on a plane seemingly untouchable by their competitors. Premium branding is often part of the price of admission to this level of perfection, but the people’s car company—Volkswagen—sees no reason it can’t play here too, granting its R32 levels of polish and balance more often associated with pricier brands...

Wolfgang Schreiber is smart like you wouldn't believe. Scary smart. I-vill-crush-you-like-bugs smart. Best known as the technical director of the Bugatti Veyron program, Schreiber is one of Volkswagen Group's most prolific engineers (ultra-exotic Bugatti is owned by VW). It is rumored that Schreiber -- whom I met on a recent trip to Europe -- has the power to affect the tides with his mind...