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2020 Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI coming to Aus replete with 900Nm
Volkswagen’s top-of-the-line V8 Touareg will arrive in Australia in R-line guise in the fourth quarter of this year. An astonishing 900Nm of twisting force is to be dished out by a twin-turbo diesel V8, and it sounds like this brute of a Touareg will be priced below $160,000.
A range-topping, barnstorming Touareg may sound a little silly, but it’s not something new for Volkswagen; the original Touareg had a whopping great V10 hung over its front axle back in 2007.
And it promises plenty of value, too, if the indication that the new variant will start at under $160,000 is correct it will drastically undercut similarly powered rivals. That is, except for the unhinged Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk which has a frankly insane dollars to kilowatts ratio.
Of course, the Touareg V8 shares many of its underpinnings with Audi’s recently updated SQ7, including that diesel V8, there’s also the brand-new BMW X5M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S, both lither, honed, and more expensive.
Powering the range-topping Touareg is a four-litre twin-turbo diesel V8. The power output isn’t crazy at only 310kW. However, the 900Nm dollop of torque should make for swift progress.
There’s some cool tech on the Volkswagen engine, too, the larger of the two turbos gets exhaust gas diverted away, essentially shutting off below 2,200RPM to improve response.
Above that, the diverter valve re-opens, allowing the larger second turbo to come into action. Those 900Nm of torque are on tap between 1,250-3,250 RPM, and peak power arrives between 3,500-5,000RPM.
To top it off the WLTP claimed fuel consumption is 7.4l/100km, we reckon that’s pretty impressive and will surely make for an excellent highway bruiser.
We presume air-suspension – a must on other grades of Touareg – will be standard on the V8 TDI; it just makes sense. And if that is the case, our testing has confirmed the big Volkswagen to be a comfortable, surprisingly opulent beast.
And yet the V8 TDI R-Line doesn’t boast its credentials with a shouty exterior. The R-Line looks mildly more aggressive than a cooking Touareg, but there’s a pleasing absence of black trimmings so usually associated with ‘sporting’ intentions.
In fact the pictures from Volkswagen spruik the Touareg’s towing prowess, it’s even fitted with bog-standard 17-inch alloys shod in all-terrain tyres, something we’re unlikely to see in Australia.
Because if we’re honest with ourselves, does anyone really need a seven-seat SUV honed for track use? It’s undoubtedly an impressive feat of engineering, but we like the idea of a more laid-back touring Touareg with effortless torque and long legs.
Inside the Touareg expect to find Volkswagen’s fantastic digital driver display and a generous 15-inch touchscreen on Australian cars, we usually get them pretty loaded. It’s also a lovely place to spend a lot of time.
With the Touareg already proving itself a strong performer in 190TDI guise, we reckon the brawnier V8 should lend the Volkswagen even more refinement and luxury feel that may very well be enough to shake-up in-house competitors from Audi and even Bentley.
The V8 TDI arrives in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2020.
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Vokswagen Amarok 580S limited edition gets more black
Volkswagen Australia has detailed a special 580S version of the ever-popular Amarok ute; it’s loaded up with goodies inside and out, although there’s a conspicuous absence of added off-road ability.
The $70,990 ($77,507 driveaway) Amarok 580S edition commands a $6,000 premium over the $64,990 ($71,181 driveaway) 580 Highline and is available to order through Volkswagen’s online ordering platform.
Over $70,000 is an awful lot for a ‘work’ vehicle. Still, we know that Volkswagen’s current Amarok does offer a fantastic amount of everyday usability. However, its off-road chops might come into question against Ford’s Ranger, Nissan’s Navara and the venerable Toyota Hilux.
Now, we know that the dual-cab marketplace will be shaken up soon; a new Ranger and Amarok are on the way, as is an all-new Hilux.
But that doesn’t mean the 580S should be ignored; Volkswagen has thrown quite the catalogue of extras at the Amarok for this limited run of 200 units.
First and foremost is the exclusive carbon steel grey paintwork – though customers can opt for deep black pearl or candy white too. Additional lighting has been added thanks to a roof-mounted light bar sporting dual 86-watt LED lights.
More black makes an appearance on the 20-inch alloy wheels – which won’t be much good for the mud – a different body-colour front bumper, and premium black rollover protection.
Heated front seats make a welcome appearance, as does art velour upholstery, a black headliner and pillar trim.
Under the bonnet is the same class-leading turbo-diesel V6 producing the same 200kW (on over-boost) and 580Nm, a refined and surprisingly car-like powertrain. Twisting force is shared between all four wheels via an eight-speed torque converter auto as standard.
For the 200 units, it’s clear Volkswagen have prioritised the Amarok’s pulling card – it’s on-road manners – instead of the trend for gnarlier off-road kit like the Navara N-Trek Warrior.
That certainly bucks the current trend, but it makes total sense in our book. And we know the Amarok is capable enough to handle what most will throw at it off the beaten patch.
Conjecture runs rife about the next-gen Amarok, with indications there will be a Ranger Raptor style ‘super-ute’ to come. We await more news on that, though.
For now we reckon the limited edition 580S looks purposeful in its black-on-black colourway, and Volkswagen says the special edition is selling fast on the new online sales platform.
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Three unique colours for final 2020 VW Golf R send-off
The Volkswagen Golf R will be sent off from seventh-generation form in style in May, with the brand commissioning 150 examples in Final Edition trim in one of three exclusive, hand-painted colours: Victory Blue, Viper Green, and Violet Touch.
Head of product marketing at Volkswagen Australia Jeff Shafer claimed that “no other mass volume manufacturer could offer such a bespoke finish.”
The 150 brightly-hued examples will be the most sought after of the Mk 7.5 Golf R’s final model year – but they will also be joined with a more substantial run of cars in the more familiar palette of Pure White, Lapiz Blue, and Deep Black.
Priced at $57,990 – with a $300 impost for the three custom colours – the Golf R Final Edition sees specification fiddled compared with last year’s model, which cost $55,490.
Regardless of exterior colour, all Final Edition Rs will sport black-painted double five-spoke 19” Pretoria alloys, and black-painted mirror caps, while a Final Edition badge will also distinguish the vehicles outside. Inside, carbon-effect black nappa leather is the order of the day – with heating in the front alongside electric adjustment and memory for the driver.
A Dynaudio premium stereo is retained, along with cornering LED headlights, satellite navigation, and tinting on the rear and rear-side windows.
Like all Mk 7.5 Golf Rs, the Final Edition is motivated by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘EA888’ petrol engine, producing 213kW of power and 380Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels via a 4MOTION Haldex-style all-wheel-drive system.
Options for 2020, the Mk 7.5 Golf R’s final model year, will be limited to the three ‘Concept’ colours at $300, and a panoramic sunroof priced at $1,900.
2020 Volkswagen Golf R price in Australia
2020 Golf R Final Edition: $57,990
Key options
Colour Concept special colours: $300
Panoramic sunroof: $1,900
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New Volkswagen T-Cross city SUV priced for Australia
Volkswagen this week announced that its highly anticipated Polo-based SUV, the T-Cross, will arrive in Australia in April – with pricing starting under the expected $30,000 mark.
Two varieties of T-Cross will be available at launch, with a third, more powerful variant, to arrive later in June. First up to land on our shores will be a pair of turbocharged three-cylinder models: the 85TSI Life, which lists for $27,990, and the 85TSI Style, which costs $3,000 more.
Jason Bradshaw, director of customer experience and marketing at Volkswagen Australia, says the T-Cross arrives to disrupt a segment that “previously Japanese and Korean brands have had…to themselves.” Indeed, the T-Cross’s main competition will be vehicles like the Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-3 – but also the Volkwagen Group’s own Skoda Karoq, and the larger Volkswagen T-Roc SUV that arrives in the same month.
The twin 85TSI models make use of an 85kW/200Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that also does service in the new Volkswagen Polo. Unlike in that hatch, though, the T-Cross SUV will pair the three-pot engine exclusively to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with no manual on the cards.
The $27,990 85TSI Life will roll on 16-inch alloys – no steelies here – while packing wireless smartphone charging, four USB ports, and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A leather steering wheel is included, as it is on all Volkswagen passenger vehicles, and there are automatic halogen headlights and wipers. On the safety front, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection joins lane keep assist and driver fatigue detection.
Upgrade to the $30,990 85TSI Style and specification is boosted with larger 17-inch alloys, chrome roof rails and and LED headlights outside, plus paddle shifters, sports front seats and carpet mats inside. The Style also benefits from proximity access and start, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and automated parking.
Following the initial drop of the 85TSI models in June will be the arrival of a 110TSI Style grade, which upgrades to a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 110kW/250Nm.
Volkswagen did not initially plan on offering a four-pot T-Cross in Australia, indicating in early 2019 that larger engines would be reserved for the Golf-sized T-Roc SUV that also launches in April. However, a late change of heart will see the flagship T-Cross utilise a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbo four that is a development of the 1.4-litre used in the outgoing Golf Mk 7.
The 110TSI Style includes the bigger engine and also adds 18-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, black door mirrors and a unique black/grey cloth on the seats and dashboard. Pricing has not been announced for the 110TSI Style, but expect it to land around the $34,990 mark. Notably, integrated satellite navigation is not standard on any grade – it is part of an option pack described below.
Options for the T-Cross include premium paints, including a suite of metallics – Energetic Orange, Limestone Grey, Reflex Silver, and Reef Blue, which cost $600, while the halo T-Cross hue, Makena Turquoise metallic, will cost $800. White and ‘Dark Petrol’ will be free colours.
A Sound and Vision package can be added to any model for $1,900, adding satellite navigation, Volkswagen’s digital gauges, and a 300-watt Beats stereo.
The base 85TSI Life can be optioned with a Driver Assistance package for $1,200, adding the Style’s additional safety tech in the form of adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and automated parking, plus power folding door mirrors.
Meanwhile, the two Style grades will be able to be optioned with an athletic R-Line package for $2,500 ($1,900 for the 110TSI engine). This pack includes a different design of 18-inch wheels, ‘dark body accents’, tinted rear windows, a sports steering wheel, carbon-flag cloth for the seats, aluminium pedals and R-Line scuff plates.
2020 Volkswagen T-Cross price in Australia
T-Cross 85TSI Life: $27,990
T-Cross 85TSI Style: $30,990
T-Cross 110TSI Style: TBA
Key options
Metallic paint: $600
Turquoise metallic paint: $800
Sound and Vision package: $1,900
Driver Assistance package (Life only): $1,200
R-Line package (85TSI Style): $2,500
R-Line package (110TSI Style): $1,900
Volkswagen T-Roc priced for Australia as online sales kick off
Volkswagen this morning announced pricing for its highly anticipated T-Roc small SUV – and also confirmed that between now and April this year, the Golf-sized crossover will be sold online for three months, starting this Thursday.
The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc will arrive nationwide in VW dealerships in April, but Australians wanting to get ahead of the crowd will be able to deposit $500 to secure one of the earliest allocations of the two-strong launch range.
Priced at the premium end of the small SUV market, the $40,490 T-Roc in 140TSI Sport trim will sit above the smaller, Polo-based T-Cross which arrives in the Australian market around the same time. The T-Cross, which starts at $27,990, will offer a more affordable way into a small Volkswagen crossover.
With the pair not as different in size as one might expect, the rationale for purchasing the T-Roc will mainly revolve around its standard-fit all-wheel-drive and its punchier engine. The sole motor for the Australian-spec T-Roc will be a 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘EA888’ unit, sending torque to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. We reviewed the T-Roc 140TSI in New Zealand last year, which you can watch and read here.
In addition, the Sport trim arrives highly specified as standard with the brand’s more athletic R-Line exterior styling package, with 18-inch wheels, rather than the more pedestrian look that is fitted by default in Europe. Inside, the brand’s Active Info Display is standard-fit along with an eight-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
Keyless entry and start is standard, along with automatic wipers and LED headlights, a variable steering ratio, customisable drive modes, all-speed AEB, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.
Six colours will be offered – white or red are standard, while the four metallic or pearl options cost $600. Two option packages can be selected, boosting spec further. The $2,000 Sound and Style package adds 19-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloys (familiar from the Tiguan R-Line), adaptive dampers, and a 300-watt Beats stereo. The $3,500 Luxury package adds leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a power tailgate.
A loaded T-Roc hits a lofty $46,590 – higher than a (less powerful) new Audi Q3 – but a limited-time special edition, called the T-Roc X, will be offered for $42,990, bundling black-coloured 19-inch Suzuka alloys, adaptive dampers, the Beats stereo, power tailgate, and black-and-red sports cloth seating.
The T-Roc X will be available in two colours that recognise Volkswagen’s long-standing sponsorship of the Sydney Swans: white with a red roof, or red with a black roof.
2020 Volkswagen T-Roc pricing for Australia
T-Roc 140TSI Sport: $40,490
T-Roc X Special Edition: $42,490
Key options:
Sound and Style package: $2,000 (140TSI Sport only)
Luxury package: $3,500 (140TSI Sport only)
Metallic/pearl effect paint: $600 (140TSI Sport only)
Panoramic sunroof standalone option: $1,900 (T-Roc X only)