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Although the GTI might be the quintessential performance version of the Volkswagen Golf, it's no longer the most powerful. Two generations of the Volkswagen R32, followed by today's Golf R, easily outstrip the GTI's horsepower ratings and add all-wheel traction to the mix. With an all-new Volkswagen GTI already on sale in Europe, it only stood to reason that the Germans would once again up the hot-hatch standings with another iteration of the Volkswagen Golf R. The new R is based on the seventh-generation Golf/GTI chassis and commands a healthy €9650 premium ($13,000) over a GTI in Germany.

Although the GTI might be the quintessential performance version of the Volkswagen Golf, it's no longer the most powerful. Two generations of the Volkswagen R32, followed by today's Golf R, easily outstrip the GTI's horsepower ratings and add all-wheel traction to the mix. With an all-new Volkswagen GTI already on sale in Europe, it only stood to reason that the Germans would once again up the hot-hatch standings with another iteration of the Volkswagen Golf R. The new R is based on the seventh-generation Golf/GTI chassis and commands a healthy €9650 premium ($13,000) over a GTI in Germany.

The good news for Mazda is that, in the month just ended (July), the new 6 midsize sedan saw its sales jump by more than 167 percent over the previous model. The bad news is that figure is still only one-tenth the volume Toyota did with the Camry. Clearly, the midsize sedan arena is one that is dominated by big names with outsized reputations and huge built-in buyer bases. But for those who'd rather not see themselves coming and going, the Mazda 6 provides an alternative take on the midsize sedan formula, one that speaks particularly to enthusiasts.