BMW M5 owners need not worry about a VW badge in their rearview mirrors quite yet. Unfortunately, the chance of a Volkswagen Passat R GT Concept car graduating to production is nil, at least not one with 575 horsepower. But as is the case with the Jetta R GT Concept, this juiced Passat shows buyers and members of the aftermarket scene what can be done with a VW. More importantly, the Passat R GT Concept car is the perfect tool with which Volkswagen can gauge public interest in a possible line of hot rod products along the same lines as DaimlerChrysler’s SRT and Ford’s SVT.

Photos courtesy of Thom Blackett and Volkswagen of America