While once we had just the Golf R, we now have the Touareg R, the T-Roc R, the Arteon R and this… the brand-new Tiguan R. Get used to it, Internet, it’s not going to stop any time soon.
The Tiguan R (based on the facelifted second gen crossover) is extremely similar in spec to the lovely Arteon R that was unveiled just last week. That means there’s the Evo4 version of the Volkswagen Group’s classic 2.0-litre turbocharged fast thing under the bonnet, which makes 316bhp and 420Nm of torque in this tune. That power is sent to all four wheels, and the new R-Performance Torque Vectoring system can split it between the front- and rear-axles as well as between the left and right rear wheels, providing extra traction in tight corners.
The Tiguan R sits 10mm lower than its standard siblings and its 21-inch “Estoril” wheels cloak rather hefty 18-inch brakes. Plus, you can spec an Akrapovič exhaust like on the smaller T-Roc R.
There are Comfort, Sport, Race, Individual, Offroad, Snow and Offroad Individual driving modes and, as with the Arteon, a little R button on the steering wheel takes you straight to the raciest setting.
All sounds great doesn’t it? Then you remember that the new Arteon Shooting Brake can be had in R flavour and this thing is rendered completely obsolete. Bet sales will be massive though…