Volkswagen is about to spice up its compact SUV lineup with a proper performance version. Spy shots reveal the first-ever Tiguan R, almost ready for its debut.
The prototype, spotted heading to the Nürburgring, shows a Pure White body with no camouflage.
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It features a more aggressive front bumper, larger cooling intakes, quad exhaust tips, and an R badge near the headlights.
One styling element might not please everyone: the fake mesh on the lower rear bumper. However, the real quad exhaust outlets below help compensate.
Golf R Heart, SUV Body
The big news is under the hood.
Volkswagen is expected to transplant the Golf R's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine into the Tiguan, delivering around 329 hp (333 PS).
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A seven-speed DSG and 4Motion all-wheel drive will be standard. The torque-vectoring rear differential from the Golf R is also likely to appear.
Since the Tiguan shares the MQB platform with the Golf, this performance SUV should offer a more engaging drive than rivals like the Toyota RAV4 GR Sport, which uses a hybrid CVT setup.
Unfortunately, North American buyers may miss out.
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The US Tiguan is actually based on Europe's Tayron, making a direct transplant of this R model unlikely.
