The 2021 Volkswagen Touareg R Offers 455 HP, But It's Not Coming to the U.S.
Volkswagen has announced today its first-ever plug-in hybrid R model, the 2021 Touareg R. It packs an impressive 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque thanks to a turbocharged V-6 combined with an electric motor, and it looks sharp. Unfortunately, we won't see it on U.S. shores.
The biggest news here is the powertrain. VW has combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 making 335 horsepower to a 134-horsepower electric motor. The power and torque figures match those of the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, so we suspect the Touraeg R uses the same powertrain components.
There's a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the trunk area, allowing the Touareg R to travel at speeds up to 87 mph using purely electric power. The system sends power to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic and the company's 4Motion all-wheel drive. Neither top speed nor 0-60 mph numbers have been released, but we're betting this thing is reasonably quick.
VW has focused on making the hybrid experience as intuitive as possible, developing software to ensure electric power is deployed in the most optimal parts of every drive. From the press release:
Drivers can intuitively control the battery’s charge level using the hybrid menu in the infotainment system. It is therefore possible to reserve sufficient levels of electric energy even at the end of a long journey so that destinations in built-up areas can be reached with zero emissions. If the navigation system is active, the battery manager also looks ahead and predictively takes into account the route and topography data to the adapt battery use and thus optimize the electric range.
Visual upgrades include black exterior trim styling, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a special interior trim with Vienna leather and contrasting grey stitching.
VW dropped the Touareg from its U.S. lineup in 2018, leaving the Tiguan and the Atlas as the company's only available crossovers. A VW spokesperson confirmed that we won't see the Touraeg R here in the U.S. The rest of the world should expect to see the Touareg R hit showroom floors in the second half of 2020. It'll make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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