| Price announcement | VW Touareg R50 |
The Volkswagen Touareg R50 takes the German SUV's 5.0-litre turbodiesel and upgrades it to 345bhp and 627lb.ft of torque. That's 36bhp and 74lb.ft up on the standard V10 TDI model to make the R50 the most potent model in the Touareg range.
It covers 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 146mph, though VW points out that economy and emissions remain unchanged from the standard Touareg V10's 22.4mpg and 333g/km of carbon dioxide emissions.
The R50 sits 50mm lower than the standard model for a sportier stance and improved handling. It has 21-inch alloy wheels unique to the R50 model, while a body kit made up of a roof spoiler, reshaped bumpers, wheel arch extensions, new grille and oval exhaust pipes sets the R50 apart. There's also leather upholstery and front sports seats for the interior.
Also setting the R50 apart is its £61,885 price tag and only a limited number of Touareg R50s will be sold in the UK.
Alisdair Suttie - 10 Mar 2008