VW Touareg R PHEV – Volkswagen has just released the Touareg R PHEV at a stunning price of just under $130,000 plus the usual costs.
Touareg R PHEV quick overview
The Touareg R comes in one highly specified PHEV version with the only option being a choice of colours.
The Touareg R PHEV combines a V6 turbocharged 3.0L petrol engine with a 100kW electric motor for a maximum system power of 340kW plus maximum torque of 700Nm. The R version comes with an 8 Sp automatic transmission and 4MOTION drive train. This is good for a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds.
Maximum electric only range is around 50km, so its ideal for daily city driving. Once the EV range is exhausted the Touareg R operates as a normal e-hybrid with excellent economy.
Both a Mode 2 charging cable (Type 2 to Australian powerpoint) and Mode 3 charging cable (Type 2 to Type 2) are standard, providing at-home and on-road charging flexibility.
As you would expect the Touareg R PHEV comes with almost everything VW can put in there including night vision, wireless smartphone connectivity and charging and matrix headlights.
The VW Touareg is a favourite large SUV of mine, winning multiple OzRoamer SUV COTY awards in the past. Considering it shares many component with the Porsche Cayenne one must question why buy a Porsche when you can get similar for half price.
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Full Details of Touareg R PHEV
Volkswagen’s most powerful model to date arrives in March 2024. With a heroic 340kW, the Touareg R is priced from $129,990 RRP* – a sticker that rewinds the clock by 15 years to match the V10 diesel Touareg R50 of 2008.
The Touareg R is also $6,500 more attainable than the V8 diesel Touareg R-Line of 2020, reinforcing Volkswagen’s commitment to delivering successful performance models in one of the hallowed R division’s strongest markets.
Volkswagen is launching the Touareg R as a fully loaded, options-free (paint excepted) offer and a leading plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that offers flagship customers a perfect blend: an EV for the city and an R for the country.
Engine and performance
The Touareg R combines a turbocharged 3.0L petrol engine with 250kW and 450Nm of torque with a 100kW electric motor with 400Nm of torque for a maximum system power of 340kW plus maximum torque of 700Nm.
This combination makes the Touareg R the most powerful series production Volkswagen of all time. The kickdown function always activates the V6 turbocharged engine. This is then additionally boosted by full electric power, helping to accelerate the Touareg R from 0-100km/h in a swift 5.1 seconds.
Both a Mode 2 charging cable (Type 2 to Australian powerpoint) and Mode 3 charging cable (Type 2 to Type 2) are standard, providing at-home and on-road charging flexibility for 51km** of EV-only driving range.
Combined cycle fuel consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres*** includes that EV-only driving range as part of the total figure. Customers could theoretically get lower – or close to zero petrol – usage with regular charging.
When the EV-only driving range concludes, the Touareg R operates as an ‘e-hybrid’ that still remains more efficient than previous V8 and V10 models.
Model specifications
The Touareg R arrives fully loaded with:
- 22-inch Estoril alloys in glossy black,
- 19-inch front and 18-inch rear ventilated disc brakes with blue calipers and R logo,
- air suspension,
- high gloss black roof rails and window surrounds,
- black exterior mirror shells,
- blacked out front grille and rear apron,
- black sports exhaust,
- ‘R’ logo projection from the front mirrors,
- direct tyre pressure monitoring,
- power latching doors,
- Easy Open&Close electric tailgate and
- panoramic sunroof with electric blind.
Night Vision is standard on the Touareg R and is an R-exclusive feature in the range, incorporating a thermal imaging camera to detect humans and wildlife more visibly, via a Digital Cockpit Pro display to improve night driving safety.
It is joined by another Volkswagen passenger vehicles-first in Australia – Dynamic Road Sign Display – as well as IQ.LIGHT Matrix LED headlamps with adaptive high-beam, Manoeuvre Braking front and rear, Adaptive Cruise Control with Travel Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, Proactive Occupant Protection and Side Assist with Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Interior features
Inside the flagship R features:
- the Innovision cockpit (15″ Discover Premium & 12″ Digital Cockpit Pro),
- Wireless App-Connect,
- wireless smartphone charging,
- Dynaudio premium sound system and
- 5x USB-C ports between front and rear.
- Pantera Black Puglia leather seat upholstery,
- front seats with memory settings,
- heated front and outboard rear seats,
- R sports steering wheel,
- quad-zone climate control,
- windshield projected head-up display,
- illuminated front scuff plates with R logo,
- power adjustable steering column with memory,
- plus, brushed aluminium decorative inserts.
Is it an ‘R’ or PHEV model.
Volkswagen passenger vehicles director Michal Szaniecki said the Touareg R is an R product first and foremost, as well as being one that happens to offer the emissions-reduction technology and flexibility afforded by PHEVs.
“The Touareg R delivers the performance, the handling and the options-free appeal expected of our popular R division, while providing flagship SUV customers with greater choice and flexibility than ever,” Mr Szaniecki said.
“We know most of our Touareg customers have garages at home, and they will be able to plug their vehicle in at night as they would their smartphone, and drive with zero or close to zero emissions for their everyday driving.
“When they want to take the family on a roadtrip, or even join driving enthusiast friends on a driving trip, they will have the power, the dynamics and the sophistication for which the R division is renowned – because the Touareg R is more of a driver’s car than any electric SUV at this price.”
Pricing
Pricing (recommended retail price before on-road costs)
| Volkswagen Touareg R | $129,990* |
Standard specification
- 340kW/700Nm 3.0L turbocharged petrol V6 and electric motor
- Eight-speed automatic
- 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive
- 52km EV-only driving range**
- Mode 2 charging cable (Type 2 to Australian powerpoint)
- Mode 3 charging cable (Type 2 to Type 2)
- 3.3L/100km**
- Air suspension
- 22-inch Estoril alloy wheels in glossy black
- Direct tyre pressure monitoring
- 19-inch front and 18-inch rear ventilated disc brakes with blue calipers and R logo
- High gloss black roof rails and window surrounds
- Black exterior mirror shells
- Blacked out front grille and rear apron
- Black sports exhaust
- ‘R’ logo projection from the front mirrors
- Power latching doors
- Easy Open&Close electric tailgate
- Panoramic sunroof with electric blind
- Night Vision
- Dynamic Road Sign Display
- IQ.LIGHT Matrix LED headlamps with adaptive high-beam
- Manoeuvre Braking front and rear
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Travel Assist
- Lane Assist
- Emergency Assist
- Proactive Occupant Protection
- Side Assist with Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Innovision cockpit (15″ Discover Premium & 12″ Digital Cockpit Pro)
- Wireless App-Connect
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Dynaudio premium sound system
- 5x USB-C ports between front and rear.
- Pantera Black Puglia leather seat upholstery
- Front seats with memory settings
- Heated front and outboard rear seats
- R sports steering wheel
- Quad-zone climate control
- Windshield projected head-up display
- Illuminated front scuff plates with R logo
- Power adjustable steering column with memory
- Brushed aluminium decorative inserts
*Manufacturer’s recommended retail price (RRP) for new vehicles, plus on-road costs,
** WLTP European combined-cycle energy consumption claim.
*** ADR combined-cycle fuel consumption claim.
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