- the europe-market volkswagen touareg suv is adding an r variant.
- it has a plug-in-hybrid powertrain with a total of 456 horsepower.
- the touareg r will debut at the geneva auto show but won't be sold in the u.s.
volkswagen dropped the touareg suv from its u.s. lineup a few years ago, but it lives on elsewhere—and it now has a high-performance r variant. with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain producing a total of 456 horsepower, the touareg r looks the part thanks to a sharp exterior treatment with black trim and 20-inch wheels, even if it isn't quite on the same performance level as the golf r hot hatch.
powering the touareg r is a 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter gasoline v-6 that pairs with a 134-horsepower electric motor. an eight-speed automatic transmission is on hand, as is all-wheel drive, and vw claims that the car can go up to 87 mph in electric mode. there's no estimate for all-electric driving range available yet, but the battery pack measures 14.1 kwh.
we never got this third-generation touareg body style in america. it looks particularly good in this bright-blue exterior color, and the interior appears particularly luxurious, too, with its large display screens, black leather upholstery, and blue stitching.
but we're fairly certain that this touareg r will remain forbidden fruit, unfortunately, as vw has effectively replaced this model with the less-luxurious but more spacious three-row atlas on our shores. given that the touareg can cost upwards of $70,000 in europe, maybe we're not missing out on that much.
