Turn your Golf R into the car it was always meant to be with HPA's turbocharged 2.5-liter VR6.
Volkswagen tuner HPA Motorsports has made an announcement that will bring joy to any Volkswagen fan. The famed Canadian firm has released a new VR6 crate engine that is strong enough to handle plenty of power… up to 550 horsepower.
The motor, known internally as the PA VR550T, is a 2.5-liter turbocharged VR6 that can produce as much as 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. HPA Motorsports says the crate engine has been in development for two-and-a-half years.
While the company hasn't listed which cars the engine is compatible with, we know that it will work in the previous generation Golf R. A video posted to HPA's Instagram page shows a Golf 7.5 R launching with gusto, flying off the line in a flurry of turbo and signature VR6 noises.
HPA Motorsports says the VR550TT is only compatible with the DSG at the moment. There are plans to introduce a manual in the near future. “This is the level of commitment we have to this platform, and our dedication to deliver you the Golf R you have always asked for as if it rolled out of the factory at Wolfsburg,” said the tuner.
There's no word on pricing yet, but we're guessing VW enthusiasts will throw their wallets at HPA to get their hands on the VR550TT.
The VR6 hasn't been used in a Golf since the late 2000s when VW stopped producing the Mk 5 R32. Ever since the sixth generation, Volkswagen's high-performance Golf has been powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The VR6 lived on in other products, notably the VW Atlas, until the 2024 model was revealed at the start of this year, at which time VW confirmed the VR6 was dead.
Once a staple in the Volkswagen lineup, the VR6 powered everything from hot hatches to minivans, SUVs, and luxury sedans. It's a cleverly designed engine, allowing the engine to share a single cylinder head for two cylinder banks of what is, in principle, a narrow V6. The motor requires just two camshafts, regardless of whether it's a two or four valves per cylinder design.
The compact dimensions allowed VW to install the VR6 in smaller engine bays. Aside from that, the simple design reduces production costs and simplifies the build process.
HPA Motorsports is a respected VW specialist, proving itself time and again. It recently built a stunning Mk3 Scirocco with a 565-hp R32 engine. While VW might not care for the VR engine anymore, HPA does, and gearheads can celebrate that.
Keyword: 550-HP VR6 Crate Engine Is Way Better Than A Boring LS-Swap