What's all this about?
Volkswagen has confirmed we're getting a hot range-topper for the attractive T-Roc crossover. It will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Is it definitely confirmed for production?
Yes. Well, sort of. Kinda. Definitely. Yes.
Are you going to give me a straight answer, please?
Sigh. OK, the car you can see in the pictures is described as a 'near-production concept car', but - as the images rather clearly betray - it looks incredibly polished and 'showroom-ready', so you can pretty much take it as read that this is the finished creation. And, even though we approve of it, the T-Roc R is as predictable as night following day.
In what way?
Look elsewhere to the Volkswagen Group's wider portfolio and you'll see machines with similar hardware that have broken cover in recent months. SEAT decided to make Cupra a standalone brand with its high-speed Ateca, while Audi has already confirmed a rapid SQ2 is inbound. It is only logical that the T-Roc would therefore follow suit, although how long we'll be waiting for a 300hp Skoda Karoq with a vRS badge is anyone's guess.
So we're talking a 300hp EA888 TSI in the T-Roc R, then?
Got it in one. With that aforementioned output backed up by 400Nm, the T-Roc R can fire itself from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, before hitting a speed limiter at 155mph. It achieves these stats courtesy of a seven-speed DSG twin-clutch transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive, while Volkswagen also cites a lowered, sports chassis, Progressive Steering, 17-inch brakes, 18-inch 'Spielberg' alloys as standard with 19-inch 'Pretorias' as an option (both seen on the Golf R previously), a 'Race' mode for the drive settings and all the usual exterior and interior styling accoutrements. Such as quad exhausts, a silver-framed grille, gaping air intakes, vertical daytime running lights, R-logoed sports seats, a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifts, black roof headlining and Crystal Grey contrast stitching.
Matt Robinson - 25 Feb 2019