550-HP VR6 Crate Engine Is Way Better Than A Boring LS-Swap

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 the2024 model was revealedat the start of this year, at which time VWconfirmed 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 recentlybuilt a stunning Mk3 Sciroccowith a 565-hp R32 engine. While VW might not care for the VR engine anymore, HPA does, and gearheads can celebrate that.