Volkswagen Jetta IV- Sport Compact Car Magazine

Too often, project cars look like they were magnetized and driven through Pep Boys. This isn't the case with this red Jetta IV from New Dimensions, however. Sure, the usual cosmetic stuff is there-a full line of appealing Isotta goodies, including a leather steering wheel cover for airbag-equipped steering wheels, a leather shift boot with titanium-look trim, de rigueur billet shift knob and door sill plates and Color Edge floor mats. ND billet door lock knobs complete the interior changes, all stylish and well made.

Exterior aesthetic touches are subtle yet provide effective clues to the car's performance. Kamei supplied the sharp front spoiler, sport grille and headlamp "eyelids." It's the Trimsport "Supercharged" emblem, however, that indicates that ND's red Jetta is something special.

Under the hood is a Z-Engineering supercharged VR6 with GIAC chip and fuel management software, providing a claimed 270 hp at the crank. Wow. ND spent a good deal of time and effort working with Z-Engineering as the VR6 kit ($4,499) was developed, and the results are stunning. Few Jettas have ever brought this much power to the table.

Yet, surprisingly, all this power isn't obnoxious, not even when you put your foot down. Driveability is better than ever, with the same good low-end torque as stock. The engine is smooth, and the only serious change in sound level is a loud purr from the Jetex exhaust. It's a blast to drive.

At the heart of all Z-Engineering systems is its proprietary ZR01 supercharger, manufactured in Switzerland. A centrifugal blower cast in beautifully finished aluminum, the ZR01 is an amazingly quiet unit. Part of this is due to the unit's belt-driven step-up drive in place of more traditional gears.

Centrifugal blowers need to spin fast in order to make boost. The ZR01 is designed to spin up to 43,000 rpm to put out about 7 psi of boost (0.5 bar). In order to get to this speed, a silent belt drive steps up the crank speed. The lack of internal gearing means the unit is maintenance free and there's no parasitic drag from the gears in the lubricant.

It also means the Z-charger requires no oil feed, which has several distinct advantages including a radically simplified installation process. Without hot engine oil being pumped through the supercharger, the air being pumped can be cooler, which translates to more power.

Simplicity is the key element in the Z-Engineering supercharger system for the VR6s. Let's face it: Simplicity was not VW's guiding light in stuffing the torquey VR6 under the hood of the A-class cars. Crammed is a better word. To take advantage of what little room there is, the Z-Engineering Supercharger system is driven off the crank, from the same source as the factory alternator serpentine belt. This is a tried-and-true method that Z-Engineering has used for more than four years on its Alfa Romeo systems.

The stock serpentine crank-driven belt stays on the car unchanged. An additional pulley is bolted onto the crank and drives a second belt for the supercharger. A supercharger bracket carved from billet aluminum bolts onto factory mounting points. An additional belt tensioner keeps the added supercharger drive belt under just the right pressure.

A familiar cone-shaped air filter from K&N cleans up inlet air with minimal restriction. Boost from the supercharger is plumbed in high-tech, molded silicon ducting under the radiator, over the gearbox and into the stock mass airflow sensor. Serious power junkies take note: Z-Engineering has left room for a "Stage II" intercooler for charge air, which means higher boost levels are planned in the future.

Fuel and timing are controlled with a software and fuel pressure upgrade of the highly competent Bosch Motronic system. No Band-aids here, just sound engineering. Everything needed is provided in the kit. No modifications are required, and the Z-Engineering system can be removed as easily as it's installed. Z-Engineering recommends five hours be set aside for the installation.

The Jetta IV provides a stout, stiff platform as a starting point, but the added power pushes the stock suspension and brakes to the outer edge of their envelopes. ND upgraded to KW Variant 2 coil-over suspension with a Neuspeed front anti-roll bar, and fit the elegant and seriously large 8x18-inch TSW "Sting" wheels with massive 225/40R-18 Toyo Proxes T1-S tires.

Behind those wheels are 330mm (12.99-inches) discs fitted with AP four-piston calipers up front.

Basic Black: Six-Beater on BoostWhen is a four better than a six? When it's supercharged, and when you're trying to get around a corner quickly. Compact as it may be, a VR6 is hundreds of pounds heavier than a VW four. The weight sitting over the front tires doesn't help when you're carving canyons. Enter the boost.

Under the hood, the A3 also features a Z-Engineering supercharger system, Brospeed header and Eurosport exhaust. The simple bolt-ons changed this 115-hp stock four into a claimed 171-hp (at the flywheel) wonder.

This simple-and we do mean simple-bolt-on supercharger kit takes about four hours to install. It features the same solid engineering as the VR6 kit and includes custom software from GIAC so the Motronic injection provides the right amount of fuel and the correct timing to deal with the system's 7 psi of boost.

To make things spin up even faster, the flywheel was lightened and balanced, and a Eurosport short shift kit makes gear selection a pleasure.

The sharp looks on this black 1995 Golf evolved from the house of Abt, which contributed the front lip spoiler and rear wing, while the front grille is the popular Kamei sport unit in black powdercoat. The M3-style mirrors add a trim and sleek touch, while the blacked-out look is effected with Hella smoked dual round headlamps, smoked turn signals and rear lenses. Votex smoked fog lights round out the dark side.

On the inside, the first items you notice are the Momo Club 4 steering wheel and matching shift knob. A Conrero brushed-metal shift gate and emergency brake handle and Abt aluminum pedals add handsome bright touches.

The handling is upgraded with H&R Sport springs, with Koni adjustable shocks keeping unwanted motion under control. The Abt A23 rims are fitted with the wild-treaded 215/40R-17 Yokohama Parada tires. Peeking through are Eurosport cross-drilled rotors in stock sizes.

The package handles and moves with style and grace, and on a budget. Can't afford a new VR6 or 1.8T? Z-Engineering can tide you over until you win the big one.

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{{{Volkswagen Jetta}}} IV

Gen Golf