Filed under: SUVs, Volkswagen
High performance R-badged Touareg on its way
According to AutoTelegraaf, a loose-lipped V-dub employee spilled the beans that the German automaker is developing an R-badged high-performance version of the Touareg SUV. Unlike current gas-powered R variants such as the R32 Golf and upcoming R36 Passat, the R-badged Touareg will likely be based on the 4.9L V10 TDI model. Motor Authority reports that aftermarket tuners have gotten this engine to produce upwards of 625 ft-lbs. of torque and 365bhp, which bodes well for this SUV's potential. According to VW's naming convention, the new model will likely be called the R50. In terms of appearance, it's thought the R50 will resemble the R-line Touareg (shown) that can be built by outfitting your SUV with parts from the VW Individual customization program. Unfortunately, there's no word on whether this speculation includes the U.S. as a possible market for the R50. Currently, we're only promised the presence of the R32, which isn't even here yet (you can preorder one of the 5,000 earmarked for the States here), so chances are the R50 is not in our immediate future.
[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
spaceweasel 6:10PM (2/19/2007)
I've said it before, the no-longer-available V10 Touareg was one of the best cars I've ever driven. An "R" version makes me a little weak in the knees.
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Dj 6:22PM (2/19/2007)
Screw this, give me the Q7 concept with this engine.
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ruggels 6:26PM (2/19/2007)
You can purchse the V10 t'reg, right now, I'm not sure where you're coming from, try vw.com to build one and locate a dealer.
The Q7 will get a more powerful and more fuel efficient v12 TDI, I'm not sure why we would ask audi to go with something weaker.
This has as much chance being released (in R form) at US dealers as the Nardo supercar, aka zero.
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NoNameDenton 6:54PM (2/19/2007)
With the price for that thing, I would could buy a luxury filled Ford, like a King Ranch or Harley Davidson and still have enough money to get perfroamnce parts
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ruggels 7:20PM (2/19/2007)
lmao, luxury filled ford, king ranch, bwahahahaha. give me a call when there is a cayanne equivelent based off the king ranch ;)
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NoNameDenton 7:43PM (2/19/2007)
Cayenne is based on the Toureg, but not the same thing ruggels, nice try though
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ruggels 8:06PM (2/19/2007)
lol alright, that's the f*cking point, there is no luxury product based of the king ranch. The cayanne is totally not the same thing as the toureg, to be the same it would have to be built in the same factory and like share an engine... like it's base v6... oh wait wait.. it is built in the same factory, it does share the same v6... just like the king ranch and the... ugh... king ranch? I'd be more impressed if my boss wasn't on his second king ranch and it wasn't currently at the ford dealer and hadn't been there a week as their diesel tech has been 'out' lmao.
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ruggels 8:08PM (2/19/2007)
I do love it when ford people attempt to schold me on the politics of VAG products, remind me again why so many parts inside the cayanne have VW logos on them? Ever driven one? Ever driven a t-reg? Ever looked inside the engine bay? Ever looked at those hoses? lmao. Man, next you'll tell me that Audi engineers didn't have a huge part in the development of the Bugatti Veyron or that Audi and VW don't share powerplants, ahhh the mondays, such exciting times.
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NoNameDenton 8:19PM (2/19/2007)
Ruggels, you have some serious issues mentally to be acting like a dick over the net
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NoNameDenton 8:23PM (2/19/2007)
Ther interiors are not the same ruggels, and the suspension tuning are different, not to mention the engine options are different for the Toureg and the Cayenne, you want to say that is similar?
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chewy 8:52PM (2/19/2007)
I think this would get an updated V10 TDI with hardware from the V12 TDI. If that was the case this could have like 415 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque with increased fuel economy, something with 20+ mpg. Awesome.
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ruggels 9:10PM (2/19/2007)
lol ur right noname, the cayanne clearly does not offer the same v6 as the touareg in europe:
http://www.porsche.com/germany/models/cayenne/cayenne/
The interriors are not the same? what is this, the eight grade? oh ok. Well the q7's interrior looks different so clearly it's not the same platform either.
my point stands, the t-reg has substantial luxury cars based off it, the king ranch has jack shit
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NoNameDenton 9:13PM (2/19/2007)
Ruggels, you continue to prove ignorance is bliss
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ruggels 9:44PM (2/19/2007)
lol yeah, i keep saying the cayanne is based off the t-reg, even using it's same base engine (it does), and that nothing which rivals it is based off the king ranch and you keep bring up all these troves of evidence to counter me... oh.. yeah... i'm ingnorant.. yes. Do we still call you a troll even though this isn't a forum? i'm thinking yes, and i'm thinking i should stop feeding you. bad troll, no donut. lmao. I bet you'd rather have a ford 500 then a porsche panamerica right? lmao.
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NoNameDenton 9:49PM (2/19/2007)
Ruggels, you are stupid, I never said that the Cayenne was not based off the Toureg, I said they have differences that are important enough to not compare them, and by the way idiot, I drive a American made pick up truck, made in America by and American company, I do not slobber over German vehicles like you seem to
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NoNameDenton 9:50PM (2/19/2007)
And by the way genius, I would rather buy a Caddy with a V8, like the upcoming CTS-V then a Porsche
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Will 10:17PM (2/19/2007)
guys, keep fighting! one of you will win eventually!
Anyway, while i think it's cool, it makes one wonder at the price point, considering the t-reg is already so danged expensive.
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NoNameDenton 10:20PM (2/19/2007)
Good point Will, the price is excessively high
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Ricardo 8:58PM (2/20/2007)
Looks kinda like a Saab 9-7 with ground effects and a VW badge. from the front.
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