GTI Tuner Challenge - 2006 Volkswagen GTI

Snoop Dogg didn't invent rap music, Nintendo wasn't the first video game system, and the Civic Si was not the first hot hatch.

No, credit for the creation of the entire hot hatchback segment goes to Volkswagen, when the Rabbit GTI was released in 1983. This revolutionary 90bhp front-driver shamed many sports cars of its day and subsequently created an entirely new class of vehicle that soon saw entries from every major auto manufacturer in the world.

Since 1983, the GTI has undergone a series of regular updates. Unfortunately, like many of its contemporaries, these newer versions have diluted some of the original's purity and sense of purpose. While subsequent GTIs have grown larger and more powerful, many enthusiasts have noted that they seem to have lost a bit of the magic that made them so 'hot' in the first place.

However, the latest MkV iteration is a return to the GTI of old. Since its release in the spring of 2006, it has been universally praised by the media (including the editors of this magazine) for its excellent interior and exterior design, high-tech direct injection turbo engine, and sporty chassis. Clearly the media likes the new GTI, but after a few months with the car, what do tuners and enthusiasts have to say?

VW of America was determined to find out and decided to pose the question in the form of a GTI Tuner Challenge, the results to be shared at the 2006 SEMA show, coinciding with the launch of two extra special factory-modified concept VWs.

The PlanVW of America solicited 16 respected tuners for proposals on a performance tuned GTI. From that pool, Volkswagen's Robert Gal and Derek Jenkins, head of VW's Design Center in California, selected four tuners, using the creativity of each proposal as the deciding factor.

Suspension manufacturer H&R was one of the companies chosen, joining VW performance experts APR, Autobahn Designs (ABD), and Watercooled Racing Development (WRD). Each was given a brand new 2006 GTI and a deadline two weeks prior to SEMA to have their cars finished and ready to run at the track.

Suspension manufacturer H&R was one of the companies chosen, joining VW performance experts APR, Autobahn Designs (ABD), and Watercooled Racing Development (WRD). Each was given a brand new 2006 GTI and a deadline two weeks prior to SEMA to have their cars finished and ready to run at the track.

Since tuner efforts can only go so far to stoke the public's passion, VW decided to produce two of its own special vehicles. For the second year in a row, Jenkins took charge of this project. In 2005, he headed up the SEMA campaign that shocked and awed attendees with powerful R Concept interpretations of the Jetta, Passat, and Touareg. For 2006, he and his team based their factory tuning efforts on the GTI and Rabbit, producing the R GTI and Thunder Bunny II (see sidebars)

The ChallengeNaturally, VW wanted some press on these products. But more importantly, it needed an independent third party to pick a winner. So our parent company, Primedia, was approached, which got us and our fine sister magazines, european car and eurotuner, involved. VW of America tasked all of us with developing a suitable competition for testing the four tuner GTIs and picking an overall winner. The enticement? Time permitting, we would get to test Jenkins' top secret SEMA cars as well.

Since the tuner GTIs are essentially performance tuned street cars, we decided to test them at the Streets of Willow, in Rosamond, California. Motor Trend's test guru, Neil Chirico ran the testing, while MT's senior editor John Kiewicz and SCC's Jay Chen assisted.