Table of contents for March 2025 in Performance VW

Another month and another bunch of new HF Series tuning products from HG Motorsport in Germany. First up, we have a replacement turbo inlet for the 1.2-1.4 EA211 (found in the Golf 7, Polo 6R, A3 8V and A1) which, as you can see (below, right), is vastly improved over the OEM plastic item. Priced at 119.00 Euro, the aluminium inlet is more durable in construction, improves air flow and offers a sportier sound. What’s not to like? HG also offers an uprated intake hose made from durable silicone (65.55 Euro). These single hoses are a straight swap and come in either black, red or blue colours (all priced the same). Finally, HG have also released an upgraded high-flow intake for the EA888 Gen.4 2.0T (found in the Golf 8…

Our Performance Partners at UroTuning asked if we would announce it’s new Velt Sport intake kits for the Mk5/6 TSI (pictured fitted), Mk7/8V MQB (pictured assembled) and Mk8 GTI (pictured in kit form). How could we decline? Not only do these 3” inlets look stunning when fitted, they will increase air-flow (for more power and torque), enhance induction sound, plus they feature durable silicone components and 6062 aluminium piping. They also come with easy-to-follow instructions and can be fitted with no modifications needed. Oh, they also come with a lifetime warranty. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Priced at £246.00 for the Mk5/6 item, £270.00 the Mk7 and £213.00 for Mk8, these have got to be a great first mod for you new generation Golf. What are you…

Keep your EA888 Gen.4 motor running healthy with the 034Motorsport Catch Can Kit for the Mk8 GTI, 8Y A3/S3 EA888 Gen.4 motor! While the EA888.4 system has seen PCV improvements over the previous generation, long-term testing reveals oil and water vapours still make their way into the intake tract, leading to carbon build-up and oil consumption—especially at higher power levels. Utilising its years of Motorsport Racing experience, 034Motorsport engineers designed a Catch Can Kit that intercepts these oil vapours before entering the turbo inlet in an intricate baffle that allows the engine to continue ingesting the excess crankcase pressure but traps unwanted oil and water vapours. Naturally, the can itself is a thing of real beauty. To find out more about its construction and benefits, head to the website below.…

We were extremely sad to learn of the passing of south-coast Dubber, Ben Sedgwick on Christmas day. We featured Ben’s familiar Mk1 way back in the day and remember him as being such a genuine and gentle soul. While the car was pretty ground breaking at the time (and still looks fresh some 20 years on) it was Ben’s lovely nature and warm personality that left a lasting Smemory with us. We’d always enjoy bumping into him at shows and catching up. Our deepest condolences go out to Ben’s familiar and friends, especially his 17-year-old son, George who inherited Ben’s love of Veedubs (especially air-cooled variants).…

It’s easy to argue that everything that could be done to the MK1 has. The Golf and its US doppelgänger the Rabbit have been pounding pavement since 1974, with tuners applying creative touches since inception. Every motor in the Wolfsburg catalogue has been swapped, all-wheel-drive has been stuffed underneath, and forced induction options have been explored. As the saying goes, Simpsons did it! But Justin Bayliss paid no mind to the tiny cartoon characters or the ship they sailed in on. The 40-year-old aerospace engineer was set to strike a course into uncharted waters. “I’ve always loved the boxier, late 70s/early 80s cars and I was into rally and European hill climb videos,” the Bear Valley Springs, California resident tells us. “There are a lot of VW Rabbits and Polos…

From an early age, 52-year-old John was immersed in the world of Volkswagens. Growing up, they seemed to be everywhere. The local criminal fraternity favoured Mk2 Jettas, and their distinctive look made a lasting impression on John. Each day, on his way to and from school, he would pass a gleaming Mk1 GTI, a car that sparked his admiration and planted the seed for a lifelong passion. VWs were more than just a presence in his neighbourhood—they were also a part of his family’s fabric. His parents both owned Beetles, his sister drove a Jetta, and his cousin had both a Fox and a Quantum, creating an unspoken bond over the brand within the household. Adding to this environment was the unique automotive culture of Connecticut, USA, where John grew…

On South Africa there are loads of famous brothers, from cricketers to rugby players and musicians, but on the Volkswagen fanboy front there’s only one pair of fanatical brothers that we know of – Irfaan and Faadil Osman (A.K.A Demonic 6R and Phantom RSA). These brothers are well-known in VW circles, and both have a healthy social media following of fans who like to follow the evolution of their cars. They’re rarely seen apart, and if you do happen to spot one of the cars alone at an event, you can bet that the other pops up in good time. Both cars have amassed a collection of trophies from various events, but that’s not really a surprise. If you see them hard parked at an event and you want to…

The concours d’elegance is not a place for the faint hearted. It’s a patch of the car scene defined by obsession – restorations with down to nut-and-bolt precision, critiqued by clipboard-wielding judges demanding cleanliness that only usually exists in computer-generated renders. There’s no easy way to make the grade, especially when you’re working out those imperfections at home. It’s even trickier blending that concours-standard finish with your own subtly modernised design cues. “A nut and bolt restoration was something I’d always wanted to do, but I hadn’t been through anything to this extent until I got the Corrado,” explains Alex Fraser, pressing the freshly aired-out coupe’s door closed behind him. “The build took about three years, and it isn’t one for the purists. I’d browse the best Corrados in the…

How trick are these? For anybody creating their own custom downpipes or manifold, these pie-cut bends from Jetex allow you to build the exhaust of your dreams. Made from stainless steel, these 3” (76mm) 15º sections feature a clever tooth and groove click system, that allows easy rotation of each pie to create all types of angles. Available in packs of six which, when connected, the six bits form a 90º bend. Priced at £33.67 a pack, they’re great value and will save no end of time. For more details, head to the site below. PRICE: £33.67 (pack of six) CONTACT: jetex.co.uk…

We’re pleased to welcome leading performance filtration master, Ramair as one of our latest Performance Partners and also to announce the launch of its new state-of-the-art facility in Greenville, North Carolina. This expansion is part of Ramair’s commitment to enhancing its production capabilities and better serving its growing customer base in the United States. The new facility will house advanced manufacturing equipment and technology, enabling Ramair Filters to produce high-quality air filters and induction equipment more efficiently. The new facility will also feature a dedicated research and development department focused on developing cutting-edge filtration solutions to meet the evolving needs of various industries. Find out more at ramairusa.com CONTACT: ramairusa.com…

HPA has created its first CEL-free and emissions-friendly downpipe. Doesn’t sound very sexy, but just take a look at it. Said downpipe is a fabrication assembly designed around functionality and durability and proudly manufactured in Canada. .063wall T304L stainless mandrel tubing is precision tig welded and Argon back purged for an ultra-clean look on the exterior and a perfect clean weld on the interior. HPA’s CNC-formed hanger and laser-cut flanges mate this assembly to the chassis and will withstand the thermal conditions the turbo will generate. Its flex couplings feature an internal stainless steel interlock liner that facilitates a smooth flow of high-temperature exhaust gases. Headline features include a GESi 5” G-Sport UHOX 400cpsi Catalytic Converter, Inconel stainless CFD optimised castings, 76mm diameter T304L tubing, a reducer to adapt to…

It’s with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of scene legend, Jag ‘Jags’ Singh. Jags or his numerous demo cars should need no introduction - both stood out for being loud and proud of the East London modded car scene. Jag’s Bodyshop built and painted some of the most influential cars to ever grace these pages. One that springs to mind is Hiten Patel’s legendary more-door Mk2 VR6 (PVW 12/01). I remember meeting Jags on numerous occasions at shows and in typical Jags style, he would usually arrive at high-speed, in a posse of cars with sound systems pumping. It would have been easy to feel intimidated by Jags initially… until he jumped out the car with a massive grin on his face… and a boot full of…

“To be honest, I don’t really have a collection. I always sell the ones I do make to fund the next one - I prefer modifying them to collecting them,” Mike Heywood tells us. And looking at some of his previous builds, it’s safe to say this fella has some serious talent. “I started modifying models when I was around 12 years old - smaller versions at first but quickly realised I prefer the bigger, 1:18 scale diecast models (rather than the kits). To me they just have more impact and presence when displayed. Nowadays I also modifying 1:12 scale versions, which can be super tricky,” Michael told us. “Whether it be a quick wheel swap or full blown Beetle Floorpan under a Mk1 Golf I’ve always enjoyed creating custom…

With a growling mix of bedside-Gatorade, last night’s leftover booze, and a bite of pizza crust, my stomach churns with nervous energy, and I sit up in my hotel bed. I gotta go. The shuttle for the downtown Louisville tour is about to depart from the hotel. Shower. Reluctantly ignore 100 messages while brushing my teeth. Throw on clothes and in minutes I'm punching the elevator button “down, down, down, down” until I hear the “ding!” I crack open my ice-cold sugar free Redbull and transform into show host DJV and shake off the nerves. Ok, it’s go time. We spill into the streets, local faire shops and breweries, enjoying the comfort of car show buddies and the warmth of October’s fading 70 degrees days. Did we all stay…

A complete collection of limited edition VW majolica animal figures, not something I thought I would ever desire to own. Ever. How did this happen? Good question! Well that’s a story likely rooted in my youth, the selection of a Mk2 Polo Coupé as my first car which started decades of Mk1-3 Polo/Golf/Scirocco ownership, as well as some modern and air-cooled cars. However, that would be a rather long story so let’s cut to the chase and pick it up in 2019 a year before something called a pandemic would be declared. A few years earlier I’d welcomed my lovely daughter into the world and, as happens for a lot of us, there had been some indirect changes which had preceded that happy event. This included moving on older cars…

Yes, you read that right. After decades of producing arguably the best air suspension on the market, Michigan-based Air Lift Performance has done the unthinkable and launched a range of high-end, adjustable coilovers. I know, we were as surprised as you no doubt are. However, there is more than a touch of method to this madness. In fact, it’s far from madness - it’s bordering on genius. You see, not only do these Air Lift Performance Coilovers feature 32-way adjustable damping, monotube shocks, anodised bodies, top mounts, locking collars and spring perches, but there’s also an awesome twist. They also feature the ability to convert to a complete air suspension system via a coilover-to-air conversion kit (which will soon be available to buy separately). I know, clever, right? As far…

Unitronic is pleased to announce the launch of UniFLEX, the world’s first and most robust Flex Fuel package of Performance Software and Hardware for the Mk8 Golf R & 8Y S3 EVO4 with many more applications to follow. Unitronic has also unveiled numerous supporting UniFLEX calibrations at the Stage 1, Stage 1+ and Stage 2 levels. These all-new calibrations have undergone months of extensive development and are available for customers with locked or unlocked transmissions and with or without the use of Unitronic’s MPI Upgrade Kit for a full torque experience. With a jaw-dropping maximum of 496HP/461 LB-FT on tap with E85, and exciting new features such as Rolling Launch Control (RLC) and Advanced Thermal Management for performance-oriented customers, there’s a suitable upgrade path for everyone thanks to Unitronic’s commitment…

We’ve seen some amazing cars take our COTY top slot over the years built by some truly legendary people. Names like Ron Huijzer, Pete McGunley, Remi LaFlamme, and Jorg Ballermann are just a few to be included in the list. Holland, Germany, Canada, USA, France, and the UK have all snagged that top slot. Golfs. Sciroccos, Polo, Beetles… we even had an Audi win once. In this year’s shortlist we had everything from an LS-swapped Passat drag racer to a VR6T-converted Mk7 Golf R. While shortlisting all the cars we featured in 2024 down to just 22 was hard enough, but thanks to your input we then whittle those down to a top three. That’s right, the votes are in and - as they say on the X factor -…

Eurowise has always had an illustrious history in servicing and heavily modifying the product ranges from Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz since they opened their doors in 2009. We’ve featured a number of its high-end show car builds over the years including, most recently, John Nguyen’s 1.8T-swapped MK1 Cabby (PVW 4/22) and Tim Harris’s Mk1 Scirocco 3.2 VR6 (PVW 6/19). Most of the Eurowise clientele needed road-car wrench turning and/or high-quality performance parts, however the folks that preferred a sans pavement trail or technical creek crossing were left without a solution if they owned a rig from across the Pond. Never ones to rest on their laurels, several years ago, Mike Ngo and his team of engineers, skilled technicians, and master fabricators at the shop decided to blaze a…

PVWMAG.COM/SHOWS MARCH 2nd RISENATION - HALL OF FAME Nekkerhal, Mechelen, Belgium @risenation_be 9th ULTIMATE DUBS Telford, UK ultimate-dubs.co.uk 23rd VOLKSWORLD SHOW South Of England Showground, UK volksworldshow.com 28-30th GT SHOW SUZHOU Suzhou, China gtshow.cn APRIL 5-6th DUBSHED Lisburn, Northern Ireland gtini.com 5-12th VW GOLF CHALLENGE 10TH EDITION Morocco vwgolfchallenge.com 11-12th WOOKIES IN THE WOODS Fontana Dam, NC, USA wookiesinthewoods.com 12-13th GR8 CAR SHOW Kortrijk Xpo, Belgium gr8mag.be 13th TUCKED AT THE MUSEUM British Motor Museum tucked-automotive.com 13th AUTO CULTURE Doncaster Racecourse, UK autocultureshow.co.uk 13th CLASSIC VW CUP Brands Hatch, UK classicvwcup.com 25-27th VW FESTIVAL SPRING CAMP OUT Thoresby Park, UK vwfestival.co.uk 26th DUBS AT THE LAKE McHenry, MD, USA @dubsatthelake 26th LAPS FOR JESUS Thompson Speedway, CT, USA nedustoff.com 26th PNW SPRINGMEET Washington State Fairgrounds, USA @pnw_springmeet 27th DROPPED Heusden-Zolder,…

JOHN KANTERS Location: New Zealand Car: 1991 Caprigruen Mk2 GTI Year purchased: 2019 I thought I would write to you about my 1991 Caprigruen MK2 GTI here in New Zealand. I bought it in 2019 as a near dead abused car and decided to do something a little different and rarely done. I swapped in a 2.0TSI from a MK6 GTI, running factory ECU but retaining a fully stock Mk2 dash and cluster with everything working including the MFA. Over 1000 hours of hard work are in this car for mechanical and paint alone, everything being done by myself in house including all body work and block sanding (only outsourcing applying the outside base/clearcoat). Pictures do this car no justice at all, I wanted it to look like VW could…