« Back Volkswagen Touareg R

VW’s R brand has been a roaring success since it was born; the Golf R taking accolades for best hot hatch ever since it came out, even in the face of tough competition, while the T-Roc R has recently added a more practical, high riding medium SUV to the stable.

Now it’s the turn of the big SUV – the Touareg to get its own R model, though this time there’s a new twist – hybrid power. The R’s powertrain comprises a 335bhp turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 mated to a 134bhp electric motor that sits between the engine and the 8-spd automatic gearbox and is powered by a 14.1kWh battery mounted beneath the boot floor.

Combined they produce 456bhp and 700Nm, which is enough for a 5.0 second sprint to 62mph and you can drive 30 miles on EV power only up to 87mph. This means you can get the benefits of power and economy – a rare thing in a large SUV.

Visually the Touareg R is far more aggressive, with all the usual chrome now in gloss black, large black alloys and larger, more aggressive intakes in the front bumper.

This is a surprising but very welcome addition to the VW R lineup and one we can’t wait to drive.

Win a new Touareg R for one week only in the BOTB Dream Car Competition!

This car comes with £50,000 cash included in the price of your ticket.