H&R Special Springs is no stranger to providing premium quality suspension components to a number of car models from different auto brands. To put it succinctly Quite simply, it’s what they do, and they’re pretty good at it too.

This time around, the tuning specialists went to work on a car that’s lauded for being a favorite in the auto world for having the best of both worlds: high quality performance without the wallet-burning price tag.

This, dear boys, is the Volkswagen Jetta->ke306.

Regarded as a car that comes with a blend of sophisticated styling and unparalleled German engineering, the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta was the perfect vehicle to use as a platform for H&R to showcase their unique abilities in demonstrating how a car as inherently capable as the Jetta can be tuned and styled into something that can turn it into a car worthy of recognition.

Details after the jump.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta by H&R Special Springs

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta by H&R Special Springs
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Exterior and Interior

Not a lot of aesthetic upgrades were given to the Jetta primarily because H&R focused its attention on improving the car’s suspension system. That being said, the tuning company still had a few upgrades to improve the car’s look, including a Volkswagen Accessory Body kit and rear lip spoiler that’s further complimented by Sticky Jewel Graphics. They also tinted the windows, and gave the interior OEM floor mats courtesy of MacNeil Automotive.

Performance

The first thing H&R Special Springs did to the Jetta was outfit it with its own H&R Sport Springs, lowering the car’s overall ride height by 1.3 inches, thus allowing for better handling characteristics for the car with the progressive spring rate design providing excellent ride quality for the Jetta. H&R also offers race springs, which lowers the ride height by 1.6 inches, and a street performance coil over system that allows you to lower the ride height anywhere from .8 to 2 inches.

After lowering the car’s body, H&R then turned its attention to providing a new set of wheels for it and, with the help of Tire Rack, they outfitted the Jetta with a set of 235/35R19 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires mounted on silver 19 x 8.5 O.Z. Superturismo LM wheels. The new set of wheels are then accompanied by another set of brake rotors in the form of Brembo 1.4-inch, two-piece, cross-drilled rotors that’s pinched by silver four-piston Monobloc calipers.

H&R doesn’t stop there. In an effort to improve the Jetta’s track width, as well as fill in all the gaps, the tuning company gave the Jetta H&R TRAK + hub centric wheel spacers that were created using a combination of magnesium and aluminum alloys, available in a number of sizes ranging from 3 mm to 65 mm.

Pricing

The three suspension packages come at pretty affordable prices. The Sport and Race Spring suspension kit will cost you $329 while the Street Performance Coil Over System costs $1,480. For a car that carries a price tag of $15,995, that’s a pretty good deal by any stretch of the imagination.

Competition

Too many to even mention, but for the sake of clarity, there's the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Corolla, and the Chevrolet Cruze, to name a few. Each model has its share of tuning - suspension - packages so if you don't find H&R's work on the Jetta to be appealing, there are plenty of other options to choose from.