GRR

Volkswagen launches hot new Tiguan R

01st July 2020
Bob Murray

Are you an R or a PHEV person? Either will now do if it is the Volkswagen Tiguan, Europe’s most popular SUV, you fancy. Whether R for racing or PHEV for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Tiguan can now tick both boxes after a mid-life refresh.

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The popular Tiguan – it outsells the Golf – first came out in 2007 and, somewhat surprisingly, has never had an R version before. The sportiest model is expected to get VW’s familiar 320PS 2.0-litre turbo engine mated to a dual clutch DSG ‘box and clever all-wheel-drive, complete with torque vectoring and lowered sports suspension.

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It’s a familiar recipe from other VW R models, but VW is resisting tempting us further with performance figures. It does however say the latest all-wheel-drive system with R-spec vectoring of torque between left and right wheels gives the Tiguan a dynamic boost. It will need that to compete with rival crossovers as they become increasingly performance orientated.

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The Tiguan eHybrid also gets a boost – from an electric motor which can drive the car in zero emissions mode at speeds up to 80mph. Again, VW is being coy with numbers – surprising in view of fact the new models are due in showrooms in the autumn – but expected powertrain is 1.4-litre petrol engine plus the electric motor for a total of 245PS. In the most efficient of its many driving modes, the hybrid Tiguan should be good for a pure electric range of 30 miles – but rather less than that if you drive at 80mph…

The mid-life refresh for all Tiguans, including clean new “twin dose” diesel-engined versions, is marked out by a nose and tail restyle – bigger vents, more chrome, more family look grille – and a cabin upgrade. This brings to the Tiguan VW’s latest infotainment systems with all digital controls and more connectivity for online-based services and functions. Take a look at Golf Mk8, in showrooms now, to get an idea of what the new Tiguan dashboard will be like.

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Other upgrades to look out for include new steering wheel with touch controls, digitised touch sliders for climate control, LED matrix headlights and optional 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system.

  • Volkswagen

  • Tiguan

  • Hybrid

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