Volkswagen Touareg R Rendered; Will Use Diesel V8, Likely Hit U.S. by 2012

Volkswagen Touareg R Rendered; Will Use Diesel V8, Likely Hit U.S. by 2012: "

Illustration by Christian Schulte

The R models are to Volkswagen what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz and M is to BMW: They are among the sportiest, quickest, and best the brand has to offer. You might know that the Golf and Scirocco have received the R treatment, but so too did the first-generation Touareg. The big SUV was available wearing R50 badges in Europe, with a 350-hp, 5.0-liter V-10 TDI under its hood. While that model never made it to the U.S., the next R-ified Touareg—rendered above—likely will.

The awesome V-10 TDI, which reminded us of a powerful marine diesel more than anything else, was uprated from the 313-hp base variation; all iterations have since been discontinued because they couldn’t meet current emissions standards. But there is a worthy successor to this engine: The Audi-engineered, 340-hp, 4.2-liter diesel V-8 diesel. That TDI is available in the European Touareg, but it isn’t likely to come here in that spec. Instead, we hear this engine will be fortified for use in the upcoming Touareg R, and our suspicion is that output will be somewhere close to 380 hp. It will put every other diesel in this category to shame—with the exception of Audi’s titanic, 500-hp, 6.0-liter twelve-cylinder, which powers the €130,000-plus Q7 V-12 TDI. But that monstrous Audi isn’t for sale here, and so the VW will rule the diesel-UV roost in the U.S.

Outside, the Touareg R will be distinguished from its lesser brethren by large air intakes, spoilers, and unique trim, and it will likely differ from the regular Touareg even more than our somewhat conservative rendering suggests. Expect the Touareg R to land on our shores as a 2013 model sometime in 2012.

Related posts:

1. 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI Diesel – First Drive Review
2. 2011 Volkswagen Touareg / Touareg Hybrid / Touareg TDI – First Drive Review
3. 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Rendered

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