This Crazy 500bhp VW Jetta Is Chasing A 208mph Speed Record

Volkswagen and THR Manufacturing have built a 500bhp Jetta, using the standard engine block, with the aim of setting a new speed record at Bonneville
This Crazy 500bhp VW Jetta Is Chasing A 208mph Speed Record

Volkswagen Jettas aren’t usually among the most exciting cars you’ll see. Sure, the old A1s and A2s can boast a certain ex-Soviet cool, but much of the car’s history is wall-to-wall beige. This 500bhp monster is like finding a steaming-hot pizza where your corn flakes used to be.

This Crazy 500bhp VW Jetta Is Chasing A 208mph Speed Record

This stripped-out and tuned-up saloon built in collaboration between Volkswagen and THR Manufacturing has been built to take a swipe at the existing BGCC class record at the Bonneville salt flats. It’s a marketing stunt to promote the virtues of the all-new Jetta, whose predecessor had gone far too long without any meaningful upgrades.

The class record this Jetta has to beat is all the way up at 208.572mph. To make that kind of speed possible the standard 2.0-litre EA888 engine block (from every Golf GTI since 2008) has been fitted with upgraded internals and a larger turbocharger to boost peak power to something ‘over 500bhp.’ Nice. Naturally the gearing has been raised to suit the target.

This Crazy 500bhp VW Jetta Is Chasing A 208mph Speed Record

Internally pared back down to the dashboard, steering wheel, pedals, a lightweight bucket seat and the essential safety gear, this lowered rocket ship has special aerodynamic wheels and tyres better suited to the salt flats, plus a casual pair of parachute brakes.

Volkswagen will have a week to break the record during the Bonneville Speed Week of 11-17 August. Barring any catastrophic crashes, we can’t see it leaving empty-handed.

Comments

Martin Burns

Streamliner hub caps should make a comeback! Looks sleak as

08/09/2018 - 14:39 |
5 | 0
jdm-supra-1600(md squad)(Supra squad leader)

In reply to by Martin Burns

They used to be in car games too

08/09/2018 - 14:43 |
3 | 0

They should but a set is 5 times more expensive than regular hubcaps

08/09/2018 - 16:07 |
0 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

I want to see that version of the EA888 in a production Jetta

08/09/2018 - 14:43 |
12 | 0
Anonymous
08/09/2018 - 14:46 |
137 | 1
Aaron 15

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Hopefully, it’ll have brakes lol

08/09/2018 - 14:48 |
42 | 0
LamboV10

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

“Jesse, don’t do it! I bet he’s got more than a hundred grand under the hood of that car!”

08/09/2018 - 14:58 |
25 | 0
5:19.55

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Next top comment of the week

08/09/2018 - 17:09 |
3 | 2
Jevil

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

TOO SOON JUNIOR!!!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOSH

08/10/2018 - 08:51 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

I am the only one wondering what the actual record is for?!?! Just driving at 208mph isn’t much of a record for the salt flats. Is it a record for the fastest speed achieved with less than 500bhp?

08/09/2018 - 15:24 |
17 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

land speed racing is incredibly complex when it comes to classes. there are 8 or 10 different car classes, each of those classes is divided by 10 engine classes (based on cubic inch), then they factor is forced induction or naturally aspirated, then they factor is if your running gasoline other fuels. there are nearly 1000 record class combinations. this is why you can see so many odd combinations at bonneville, its all done to fit into certain classes and set records.

08/09/2018 - 17:31 |
4 | 0
Mondieu

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I tried to look it up. apparently B stands for blown, G for gasoline, CC for competition coupe with competition coupe meaning: ‘This class allows for coupe and sedan bodied cars with bodies unaltered in width or contour to compete. Ahead of the cowl, the car can be stretched, streamlined, etc. The only actual major modification you can made from the cowl back is to chop the top. Class designation here is /CC’
Source: https://bangshift.com/general-news/event-coverage/land-speed-races/bonneville-speed-week-2014-alphabet-soup-class-designation-letters-mean-anyway/

cars are divided into classes with equal displacement, which, if I am right about the stuff above, isn’t mentioned in the article, nor stated in the BGCC acronym
So it comes down the BGCC requirements being: running on gasoline, not N/A, car’s silhouette looking almost as stock plus displacement limited to 2.0 litre due to class pror to classification as BGCC

still going 208mph with those restrictions doesn’t sound like a huge achievement to me…

08/09/2018 - 18:27 |
20 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Propably fastest compact car

08/09/2018 - 18:29 |
0 | 0
Peanut_guy

It could be interesting to know which internals have been modified. I guess it means that 500 bhp are possible with stock engine, right ?

08/09/2018 - 15:38 |
0 | 0
RWB Dude

Would be even cooler if they put Jesse’s paint job on it from The Fast and the Furious

08/09/2018 - 15:42 |
4 | 0
slevo beavo

So a 2.0l EA888 volkwagon bonneville car is hoping to be slower than a 2.0l EA888 Skoda Bonneville car ( 227mph)

08/09/2018 - 17:46 |
0 | 0
My Name is Joel

So what record are they trying to break, i feel like that kind of info would be important ( ahem CT writers, ahem).

08/09/2018 - 17:49 |
1 | 0

Blown gas competition coupe/sedan

08/09/2018 - 19:13 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I would like that you when talking speed numbers, put at kmh (metric system), not everyone is from uk

08/09/2018 - 19:37 |
2 | 0
675LT_ftw

Still faster than Moog’s Honda

08/09/2018 - 21:29 |
0 | 0

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