Volkswagen Golf R

It's long been thought by Volkswagen enthusiasts that VW's turbocharged four is superior to the V-6. After all, it's lighter, and with added boost can generate more power. That belief is embodied in the 2010 golf R, a car destined to go on sale in Germany before the end of the year, although not currently slated for the U.S.

Not only does the R's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine belt out 270 bhp-20 more than the previous R32's V-6 but the R weighs 335 lb. less. The 4-cylinder also sits farther back in the chassis, thus reducing some of the R32's notorious front weight bias. The R's latest generation 4 Motion all-wheel drive features a prdictive center defferential, rather than reactive. An electrohydraulic control unit adjusts the torque bias, in extreme cases going to full lockup transmitting 100 percent of the torque to the rear axle.

The R features a lowered, revised suspension and bigger brakes. The stability control system incorporates a new sport mode, while the optional Dynamic Chassis Control adjusts the responsiveness of the steering