Can you just tell us it’s coming already?
German carmaker Volkswagen are selling more T-Roc compact SUVs than they can make, and yet the one that’s undoubtedly on the minds of many a car enthusiast, a hotter, faster T-Roc R, remains unconfirmed. The vehicle remains in development despite no confirmation from the company, with European publications stating that at least two different development models have been spotted out and about, doing the usual rounds of testing.
We find it odd that VW hasn’t yet stated unequivocally that the T-Roc R is coming, considering they’ve gone to the length of confirming a T-Roc cabriolet that isn’t arriving for another 2-years or so. But nothing on the T-Roc R.
According to Autocar, there have been hints at the T-Roc R setting new standards for agility and driving fun, with chassis development genius Karsten Schebsdat (who led the development of cars like the Golf GTI Clubsport S) on the team. Schebsdat has even hinted in the past about what a T-Roc R might be capable of.
“I think the standard T-Roc with 4Motion and the DCC chassis with 19-inch wheels is the most agile SUV in that [compact] class. If there will be a T-Roc R, it will definitely be even more fun.” — Karsten Schebsdat, Head of Chassis Tuning, Volkswagen
Interestingly, a sister-car for a T-Roc R has already surfaced and is also currently undergoing testing ahead of launch. The Seat Ateca Cupra has already been confirmed to offer about 228kW of power, will be built off the same platform as the Volkswwagen T-Roc, and will use the same engine as the T-Roc R. So why hasn’t VW confirmed the R?
That engine that’ll be shared is a familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder mill, as employed by the Golf R already. That said, the T-Roc R is expected to offer more than the 228kW offered by the Seat Ateca Cupra, as the T-Roc is predicted to be more expensive than the Seat. Also different will be the styling, with the T-Roc R expected to remain subtle and unassuming, in typical VW R fashion.
As the T-Roc uses Volkswagen’s endlessly-scaleable MQB-A platform, built to accommodate a plethora of different powertrain setups, the T-Roc may eventually gain GTE and GTD variants, offering a variety of performance models for buyers to choose from. While an electrified GTE model is all but definite at this point, the fate of a GTD is less certain, given the popularity of diesel in recent times.
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