In the new issue of Motor Trend, page 116 for those reading in the store, there's a VW Golf R32, modified by a German company - HPA Motorsports (kinda like AMG is to MB).
Has 4Motion AWD, 550 HP, runs on pump premium, 16 way (?) adjustable coil-over suspension, factory A/C, is US tested and certified (VW is sending 5000 of them to the US), ... AND has a VW warranty.
specs as certified during official German TUV Government testing: 202 mph top speed
Motor Trend claims:
0-60: 3.2 sec
1/4 mi: 11.49 sec @ 120.18 mph
Slalom run @ 71 mph
braking 60-0: 107 ft
they claim to have video on their web site (haven't looked yet) with all 4 tires howling see
http://www.motortrend.com/av/112_040...olf/index.html).
I think the stakes just got ratcheted up a notch or two in the war with the WRX sti and Lancer EVO. BTW, HPA has a model that adds another 50 horses to the equation, but MT didn't see/test it.