H&R Special Springs has been in the business of sports springs and dampers for decades and, from time to time, they bring a car to the SEMA Show as a moving display of their latest performance parts. This time, the Jetta R-Line received the H&R treatment, and it looks quite tasty.

The R-line sits in the middle of the current Jetta lineup with an MSRP of $22,945. It's, as such, a budget commuter, but that doesn't mean it forgoes build quality and performance. The seventh-generation compact sedan was chosen by three tuners as the starting point for their 2018 SEMA Show projects, one of them being H&R.

"Straight from the factory, the seventh-generation Jetta’s bold new design grabs people’s attention," said Robert Gal, Senior Manager, Performance & Accessories, Volkswagen Sales & Marketing. "The fact that this group of top tuners and customizers chose it as a canvas for their offerings and creativity is further testament to its appeal."

The German company's modified Jetta features an eye-catching glossy Habanero orange paint with silver stripes on the sides, gunmetal gray wheels that sit adequately close to the wheel arches thanks to the H&R sporty suspension setup, and add-ons to the bumpers that enhance the car's athletic appearance.

What makes the Volkswagen Jetta R-Line by H&R Special Springs special

The 2018 edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show kicks off today and goes on until November 2nd. Among the countless extreme-looking - and sounding - machines at the show there are a few more subtle ones. This Jetta R-Line tuned by H&R Special Springs is one of them. Since it's been improved by H&R, it deserves a second look that you might not, otherwise, grant it.

The H&R Jetta also features a black lip added at the bottom of the front bumper which completes the angry front fascia. The main hexagonal grille and the one frowning one below it were left untouched, H&R also deciding not to remove the styling chrome bar above the grille.

From the side, you'll immediately spot the and Sticky Jewel graphics made up of five horizontal line. The thinnest one is also the longest, sitting just below the side windows and running from the corners of the headlights all the way back to the rear quarter panel. The three other lines, each shorter than the one directly above it, only extend as far as the rear doors. There's also a black H&R decal on the right-hand side of the hood, just in case you didn't notice the H&R logos on the number plates.

The side skirts also received some black extenders which aim to continue the lower profile of the front and rear bumpers. The wheels are, maybe, the biggest change to the car, however. They are 19-inch Rotiform BUC wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber. Behind them, there are 13.4-inch color-matching upgraded brake calipers.

At the back, there's a high-rise rear spoiler and black inserts on the lower bumper and the exhaust tips. "The Jetta is a great car out of the box," said Roland Graef, President, H&R Special Springs, LP. "This use of suspension, stance, bodywork, and wheels only compliment the incredible appeal the car already has."

Well, how about the suspension, then, you're going to ask. Inside, the car's packed with Volkswagen accessories and MoJoMats carpet floor mats, and MuddyBuddy Trunk Liner as well as pop-in sunshades.

As expected, H&R did not set about to wrench any more performance out of the engine. As such, the stock 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four is there with its stock 147 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,800 rpm. The engine is linked to an 8-Speed Tiptronic transmission.

Keep an eye out for more news and reviews straight from the 2018 SEMA Show!

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta.