Koko hit it spot on....There is no way this car will even compete with the MS6, Especially a Modded MS6...
Not to mention the Reliability of a VW that everyone fears.
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Thanks Dragon.
Suprise they already have the All Motion Passat with a 3.6 here now for about $30K. Offering a sport model would hardly push this car into the $45K range. The automatic Passat with 3.6 gets 26 MPG - I would expect a manual to get a little better. The current 3.6 makes 256 ft/lbs of torque at 2750 RPM. A modified engine would probably make even more. 3.6 liters is a healthy amount of displacement. The fully equipped automatic Passat AWD weighs in at 3800 lbs. I would expect a sport edition to shed a couple lbs. This car will be very nice indeed. The Passat shares very similar dimensions to the MS6 so I do see it as a direct competitor. If it had been on the market when I was looking I would have considered an R36 Passat. But lets talk about styling! The Passat looks like a frik'n Pontiac.
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I beg to differ. I know that there is a 4Motion Passat currently available. However, it doesn't compete with the MS6 as far as "sport" goes. The current Passat 4Motion well appointed MSRP's for $31,900. To get what the numbers and performance they're aiming for in the articles you're talking upgrades for the engine, (even if it's only an ECU remap), exhaust, suspension, asthetics, paint variations, rims, tires, structual rigidity enhancements, and miscellaneous appointments. With all that you're talking an additional premium of at least $8,000-$9,000. Especially if the production numbers will be limited like the R32/34's. The current GTi sells for around $26,000ish. There is no way this tuned Passat will come in under $40k. Combine that with the fanatical following surrounding VW's and you're at $42kish+ OTD, add the inevitable "Market Adjustment" and you can arrive at 45k easy. That's Farfuggnugen baby! LOL. Also, from a performance standpoint the car would have to make around 300lbs+ tq. Which is about what the MS6 puts out. It can be done, but it will cost. As for the weight issue, if the car already weights in at 3,800lbs I don't see it getting any lighter. If anything it may stay about the same weight or get heavier due to the necessary structural enhancements it would need. Shaving weight costs money, which will be added to the price of the car. It will be a very nice car, just not an MS6 priced competitor IMO. That will put it out of the range of many a buyer especially if they drive the MS6 and realize they can get the same or better performance for $8-$10k less. I think the reason they've specifically targeted the MS6 buyer is that the MS6/MPS sells very well overseas. Europeans especially appreciate a car like the MS6 moreso than the common American driver.