2022 Volkswagen Golf R and Tiguan R due in Australia in February, T-Roc R here later in 2022
Volkswagen Australia's R expansion to kick off in February 2022 with the Golf and Tiguan, followed by the T-Roc R in the second half of the year.
Volkswagen Australia is preparing to launch four new high-performance R models in 2022, the new 2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch and wagon, 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R and 2022 Volkswagen T-Roc R – here's when you can expect them to arrive.
First to reach Australian Volkswagen showrooms will be the Golf R small-car duo (above) and Tiguan R mid-size SUV (below), due to launch locally in February 2022.
All three will be powered by the same reworked 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a new 4Motion all-wheel drive system with R Performance Torque Vectoring, allowing the torque split between the rear wheels to be easily controlled.
MORE: 2021 Volkswagen Golf R unveiled, Australian timing confirmed
MORE: 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R revealed as flagship of new-look range
Outputs are rated at 235kW and 420Nm, with Australian-delivered models to feature the same engine tune as their European counterparts for the first time.
Volkswagen claims a 4.7-second 0-100km/h time for the Golf R hatch, increasing to 4.9 seconds in the Tiguan – with a time yet to be revealed for the Golf R wagon, as it has yet to be revealed globally.
For a deep-dive into everything you need to know about the new Volkswagen Golf R hatch, click here to read our full story. Meanwhile, to read more about the Volkswagen Tiguan R, click here for our June 2020 reveal story. Stay tuned to CarAdvice for more Volkswagen Golf R wagon news, following the model's official unveiling.
Following the Golf R and Tiguan R into showrooms will be the 2022 T-Roc R, due on sale in Australia in the second half of 2022 as part of the facelifted T-Roc range – given the regular, non-R model is fast approaching its fourth birthday in Europe, despite being on sale in Australia for just over a year.
The pre-facelift T-Roc R features an earlier iteration of the Golf and Tiguan's 2.0-litre turbo engine, developing 221kW and 400Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a less advanced all-wheel drive system for a 4.8-second 0-100km/h run.
While it's unclear whether the T-Roc will be treated to a power and torque bump as part of its facelift, changes are highly likely to include a revised exterior design (with new front and rear bumpers, and Golf-inspired headlights), updated infotainment software, a touch-based climate control panel, and new safety technologies.
Click here to read more about the pre-facelift T-Roc R, and here for everything we know so far about the facelifted model.
As for the Arteon R large performance car (below) and Touareg R plug-in hybrid large SUV offered in Europe, the former has previously been deemed too niche for an Australian launch, while a lack of emissions regulations in Australia will rule out the latter – though Volkswagen Australia says it is "keen on any other R variants [it] can look at."
Despite the small overall size of our new-car market, Australia continues to be third-largest market for Volkswagen R products, behind the UK and the brand's native Germany.
Stay tuned to CarAdvice for all the latest on Volkswagen Australia's R product launches in 2022.
2022 Volkswagen R new model timing
- Volkswagen Golf R hatch and wagon – February 2022
- Volkswagen Tiguan R – February 2022
- Volkswagen T-Roc R (facelift) – second half of 2022
- Volkswagen Arteon R, Touareg R – not for Australia (yet)
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