Celebrating 35 Years
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
About HPA MOTORSPORTS
Now in its 35th year, HPA Motorsports stands as one of the longest-running and most respected performance engineering and vehicle-building brands rooted in Volkswagen and Audi culture.
Founded in 1991, HPA has grown from a grassroots passion project into a globally recognized performance and motorsport operation. Operating from our 10,000+ sq. ft. facility in Langley, British Columbia, HPA is defined by three and a half decades of hands-on development, competition experience, and an unwavering commitment to doing things properly.
Volkswagen and Audi performance remain at the heart of HPA, but the company has evolved into a diversified group of specialized operations. Today, the HPA Group includes Coty Built (TDI Jeep conversions), Versatile Automotive Diagnostics, and Ford Performance development, allowing shared engineering knowledge to flow across automotive, motorsport, and specialty vehicle platforms.
Engineering First. Always.
Our facility is purpose-built to support complete vehicle development from concept to execution, housing multiple service bays, a full fabrication department, CNC machining capabilities, and a SuperFlow AWD dynamometer.
HPA’s technical expertise spans:
- Forced-induction development for VW/Audi VR6 platforms
- Haldex-based AWD conversions
- DSG and ECU calibration
- Complete vehicle builds, from refined street cars to motorsport applications
Every solution we deliver is shaped by real-world testing, competition-derived data, and a disciplined focus on reliability, drivability, and long-term performance.
Bespoke Vehicle Builds
Custom vehicle builds have been a core part of HPA Motorsports since the earliest days of the company. Long before turnkey performance packages became common, HPA was engineering complete, one-off vehicles that redefined expectations.
In the early 2000s, the VR6 GT6 Beetle program demonstrated HPA’s ability to rethink platforms entirely, blending classic design with modern power and engineering. This philosophy continued through a series of iconic, show-winning Volkswagen R32 and Audi TT builds, many of which earned magazine covers, international recognition, and lasting influence within the enthusiast community.
These vehicles were never built for spectacle alone. Each bespoke project served as both a customer dream realized and a rolling development platform, advancing HPA’s understanding of drivetrain integration, forced induction, chassis balance, and OEM-level fit and finish.
Today, HPA is widely recognized as a premier vehicle builder, trusted by clients to execute deeply personal visions with precision, discretion, and engineering integrity. From subtle, factory-plus street cars to no-compromise performance builds, every HPA vehicle reflects 35 years of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship.
Motorsport as a Development Tool
Motorsport has long served as HPA’s proving ground, not as a marketing exercise, but as a critical development platform.
Pirelli World Challenge
HPA’s modern motorsport chapter began in the Pirelli World Challenge, where the team campaigned professionally prepared Volkswagen platforms on some of North America’s most demanding circuits.
Working alongside professional drivers Jeff Altenberg and Alex Welch, HPA achieved multiple podium finishes while gaining invaluable insight into drivetrain durability, thermal management, calibration strategy, and component longevity. The lessons learned during this period directly influenced the evolution of HPA’s tuning hardware and software for street-driven vehicles.
Endurance Racing Validation
In 2023, HPA expanded its motorsport validation efforts through a partnership with Area Motorsport in the United Kingdom. The goal was clear: prove the long-term durability of the FR450 Turbo System in true endurance racing conditions.
Four Volkswagen GTI race cars equipped with HPA FR450 turbo kits were campaigned throughout the Enduro 750 Championship, ultimately securing an overall championship victory. Competing across punishing race distances, the FR450 delivered consistent, repeatable performance, confirming its durability where it matters most.
From R&D to Global Distribution
Innovation at HPA extends far beyond individual projects. For 35 years, our in-house R&D team has developed bespoke solutions for internal vehicle programs while expanding a comprehensive catalog of over-the-counter performance components.
These products are distributed worldwide through a carefully selected network of authorized HPA dealers, ensuring customers receive knowledgeable support, proper application guidance, and consistent product availability across global markets. Our dealer partners play a key role in maintaining HPA’s standards, representing the brand with the same commitment to quality and technical expertise.
Through this global dealer network, HPA performance solutions are accessible to enthusiasts and professionals alike, bringing HPA engineering to markets around the world while maintaining the integrity of the brand.
The VR550T Program
The VR550T program represents one of the most ambitious projects in HPA’s 35-year history, a modern reimagining of the legendary VR6 engineered to OEM-level standards with uncompromising performance.
Built around Volkswagen’s 2.5L turbocharged VR6 (engine code DDKA), originally developed for the Chinese-market Atlas/Teramont, HPA engineered a complete integration into the MK7.5 Golf R platform.
Producing 550 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, the VR550T delivers exceptional performance while maintaining factory-level drivability, refinement, and long-term reliability. Produced as a limited, serialized run, the VR550T stands as a flagship expression of HPA’s engineering depth and its ability to bridge heritage with modern performance.
A Message from Marcel Horn, President
"HPA was never built around a timeline, but reaching 35 years in business is a reflection of the people, partnerships, and passion that shaped it.
From early VR6 experimentation to bespoke vehicle builds, professional motorsport, OEM collaborations, and flagship programs like VR550T, every chapter of HPA has been defined by learning and evolution. The focus today remains exactly where it began: build with purpose, test relentlessly, and never stop pushing forward."
