Following the launch of the 2023 Touareg facelift, Volkswagen has now introduced the new performance-oriented Touareg R variant, featuring an updated exterior design, new equipment, and a new name – the Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid.
Exterior design changes on the new Volkswagen Touareg R pretty much mirrors its regular counterpart, with the most noticeable update being its front fascia, sporting redesigned headlights, LED daytime running lights (DRL), as well as new bumpers.
At the back, the tail lights have also been redesigned, looking quite a bit sportier than before. It’s now characterised by a LED light bar that extends horizontally across the rear of the car, only broken up by the new illuminated VW logo, giving the Touareg R the “big car look” that matches its identity.
The wheels retain a rather similar design to the pre-facelift model, but it is now larger by one inch, at 21 inches this time around. Behind them, the brake calipers now get a fresh coat of blue paint, branded with the ‘R’ logo.
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Powering the facelifted Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid is the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) unit as its pre-facelift predecessor. The system consists of a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged engine and an electric drive motor, and is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
With power sent to all four wheels via the brand’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system, system output is unchanged at 462 hp (metric) and 700 Nm. This allows the performance SUV to sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds, and achieve a top speed of 250 km/h.
As before, the Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid rides on air suspensions all around, which the company says has been further developed to “ensure greater stability and precision” in all driving conditions.
Volkswagen has also added something called a roof load sensor, which basically detects if there’s any additional weight on the roof (it’s an SUV after all), and will adjust the suspension and stability control settings to help improve driving safety.
Changes to the interior of the new 2023 Volkswagen Touareg R, meanwhile, are comparatively much more subtle. Still sporting Volkswagen’s Innovision Cockpit design, the Volkswagen Touareg R is equipped with a 15-inch central touchscreen, matched to the digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Like before, there is the Vienna leather upholstery with Crystal Grey stitching, as well as blue accents around the interior.
Features that come as standard with the Volkswagen performance SUV include sill panel mouldings with an illuminated R logo, and a key fob with the R logo and a leather-covered cap. A panoramic sliding sunroof and a 4-zone air conditioning system are both included as well.
Volkswagen R Head of Marketing and Sales, Peter Jost said, “The Touareg R eHybrid is our absolute top model. No other model offers as much performance, travel comfort, driving dynamics and customised equipment as this model. In addition, it impresses with its off-road capabilities and, with a trailer weight of 3.5 tonnes, it is the perfect towing vehicle for demanding tasks.”
Already open for order, the Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid is retailed in Germany at a starting price of EUR93,870 (approx. RM476,020).
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