We Want The New Volkswagen Tiguan R

• New facelifted 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan revealed a day ago.

• A Tiguan R is part of the lineup’s future.

• There is hope it will come to North America.

We were invited to participate in a virtual presentation on the new Volkswagen Tiguan about two weeks ago. The press package they sent us included pictures of a Tiguan R, and when the time for questions arose, we immediately asked about its potential on North American soil. The short of the answer was: We’re not saying no. We think there’s plenty of room for a Volkswagen Tiguan R in the US and Canada.

The new 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is already “known” as it will be available in Europe very shortly. There will in fact be a 2021 model year Tigger in the US and Canada but the new facelifted unit won’t be on our roads for well over a year. As far as we’re concerned, this will give those in power plenty of time to make R happen for us.

Volkswagen has revealed that the Tiguan R will be powered the group’s turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine (the EA888 evo4). Here, it will put out 235 kW, or 315 horsepower, and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. The 7-speed DSG transmission will send power to the drive wheels. An R-Performance Torque Vectoring system, with selective wheel torque control, will manipulate the Tiguan’s AWD system with the ability to split power front and back, as well as side to side. Big brakes are also expected.

Drive modes will include Comfort, Sport, Race, Individual, Offroad, Snow and Offroad Individual, not to mention a sporty Race mode accessible by pressing the blue R button on the Tiguan R’s new multifunction sports steering wheel. Other unique interior bits will include premium sport seats, VW’s digital cockpit, and more.

Physically, the Volkswagen Tiguan will be immediately identifiable thanks to huge front air intakes up front, quad tailpipes at the end of the Akrapovič exhaust system in the rear, 21-inch wheels on the side and a body that sits 10mm closer to the ground.

The Tiguan R’s only possible weakness will be its price, should it come. We think it could fetch up to $45,000 US, and an easy $50,000 in Canada.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R

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