Volkswagen has been filmed testing what is believed to be a high-performance Tiguan R at the Nurburgring.
The prototype in question looks identical to the Tiguan R Line, but the sound coming from the tailpipe lets it be known this is much more than that lukewarm model. As it pounds around Germany’s most famous racetrack, tires squealing for mercy, the unmistakable noise of Audi’s 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder can be heard emitting from the large twin tailpipes.
While Audi’s turbo five-pot makes 395 horsepower in the RS3 and TT RS, it won’t be offered in such a potent form in the Tiguan R. predicts it will be detuned to match the Golf R’s 306 horsepower output, but we could see it producing a touch more – perhaps up to 325 horsepower. Paired with VW’s quick shifting seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, it should be good for a 0-60 mph sprint in the 5-second range.
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VW chief Herbert Diess previously said there is room to expand its lineup of R performance offerings, with a crossover the most likely candidate to receive a go-fast overhaul. It’s not clear if an R-badged crossover would arrive in North America, but it sure seems likely considering American consumers’ penchant for larger vehicles.
Watch the supposed Tiguan R prototype take to the track in the video above. The performance-focused crossover should debut sometime next year, with an arrival at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show most likely.
[Source: Autocar]
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