BWA Auto VW Golf R: Hot Tuner 2016

Bob Whyms Automotive was established in Sydney in the mid-1970s and its background is in air-cooled VWs.

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These days there aren’t so many Beetles clattering around but the business, now branded as BWA and concentrating on marques such as Porsche, VW, Audi and Mercedes, remains a family concern, with Craig Whyms – who happily admits he lives and breathes this stuff! – arriving at Hot Tuner with a 2016 MkVII Volkswagen Golf R.

Of course, the Golf R is here because it’s enhanced. BWA has hardware and software relationships with several international tuning-tech companies, with this particular Golf R’s direct-injection turbo engine upgraded with APR tech.

But this Golf R has had a bit more thrown at it, taking an internally standard engine to a sensible maximum at a cost of around $9K. Just as hot-rodders have done for decades, the BWA ‘stage two’ package concentrates on better breathing, with a free-flowing air-intake system and a larger intercooler.

On the other side of the whistle there’s a higher-flow downpipe (standard with this level of power). With more boost arriving earlier in the revs, there’s a requirement for more fuel. But as Whyms explains, the standard injector hardware (with a new tune issuing the on/off orders) is up to the task. Aussie models have eight injectors (apparently some other international-market Golf Rs only have four) so there’s fuel flow like it’s coming from a firehose.

The brakes are sourced from the US – $4800 worth of Stop Tech 355mm rotors squeezed between six-piston calipers. On this Golf R, they’re backed up by standard-size rears that team well with the big fronts for fast road use.

As Whyms points out, those big brakes need larger-than-showroom wheels, this fire-breather being shod with 18 x 8.5-inch Kings and 235/40 Yokohamas.

German-made KW Club Sport is the brand and model on the suspension. Whyms notes that, although great on track, these ones are set-up a little softer than customer spec in order to cope with the jolts of Sydney’s more chopped-up roads.

All up, $20K worth of extra stuff has created an 11-second street weapon. “It’s absolutely daily driveable, good manners and all that,” says Whyms. “But capable of fun when it needs to be.”

SPECIFICATIONS Drive: all-wheel Engine: 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo Gearbox: 6-speed dual-clutch Suspension: coil-overs, A-arms, anti-roll bar (f); multi-links, coil-overs, anti-roll bar (r) Brakes: 355mm ventilated/slotted discs, 6-piston calipers (f); 310mm ventilated discs, single-piston calipers (r) Wheels: 18 x 8.5-inch (f/r) Tyres: 235/40 ZR18 (f/r); Yokohama Advan AD08R

PARTS AND PRICES APR Stage 2 tune: $1874 Intercooler: $1799 Transmission tune: $1299 Exhaust downpipe: $1564 Intake: $850 Inlet pipe: $170 Suspension: $4900 Brakes: $4800 Wheels/Tyres: $2500 Total Mods cost: $19,756 Vehicle cost (mSrp): $55,240 Total cost: $74,996