Volkswagen T-Roc R, the compact SUV reaches 300 hp

SUVs like it more and more, especially those with a sports car. Looking at his cousin Cupra Ateca, Volkswagen decided to put a little spice on the T-Roc, giving him the same engine as the Golf R from 300 hp and 400 Nm of torque, all-wheel drive and seven-speed DSG gearbox. Akrapovic he also signed the titanium exhaust system.

How is it outside

From the rear it soon becomes clear that this is not just any T-Roc: this door carries a dowry i burnished headlights and i four large drains the Akrapovic titanium implant coming out of the diffuser, with the R logo on the boot lid that leaves no room for misunderstanding. Front is less recognizable, but the most attentive will notice something different: the bumper it is specific for this model, with the daytime running LED lights here that seem to enlarge the car on the road.

The appearance is generally more muscular, with the forms that are enhanced by the beautiful Lapiz Blu color of the bodywork, now a distinctive mark of the Wolfsburg sports department. To top it all there are 19 circles is skirts specific side panels.

What's inside

Few elements, in addition to the logos scattered in the cockpit, make us understand that we are on an R. The steering wheel in leather it is cut at the bottom and i seats they are enveloping but not too sporty. Everything else is shared with the standard T-Roc, ergonomics is excellent and everything is in the right place. It is intuitive, rational, it seems to have known it forever. The 8 ”infotainment screen communicates with a larger, completely customizable from 10.25 behind the steering wheel, replicating all driving information and machine parameters.

Systems on the Italian market ADAS Driving assistance is standard, as are the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces for smartphones, 19 ”wheels and full LED headlights. For the rest, the strengths are those of the T-Roc we already know, with an excellent habitability even for five people at a load capacity ranging from a minimum of 392 liters to a maximum of 1,237.

Driving pleasure

The T-Roc R is easy to drive. From confidence, it invites you to enter strong in the curve pulling the brakes to the last and climbing to the limit of the turns with the DSG double clutch seven-speed that never pulls back when called into question. It is addictive, it will be for the sound of the Akrapovic exhaust that crackles and mumbles in all situations making you smile even when you go slowly and that screams decided before entering the curve. And it is precisely here that the critical issues emerge: the weight of 1,600 kg in fact (about 100 kg more than a Golf R) you can hear everything due to the inevitably higher center of gravity.

In insertion, the T-Roc remains rather flat, but it warns the extra kg in distance or when you overdo it with gas. THE'braking system standard is the increased size of the Golf R Performance, powerful but with a rather long pedal in the race and sometimes spongy. Out of corners the 4motion four-wheel drive does all the dirty work, throwing the R on imaginary rails unloading all 300 horses delivered from the ground 2.0 TSI turbo. Despite losing in agility and speed compared to his sister Golf (0-100 in.) 4.8 seconds, maximum speed not limited to 250 km / h) the T-Roc defends itself to the great, remaining however one of the few "hot hatch" (if so we can define a B-SUV) of the segment together with the slightly larger Cupra Ateca. If there were no superbollo …

Comfort

The option is essential electronically controlled suspension ACC (Active Chassis Control) with active trim control (DCC). In this way it is possible to adapt the machine to all circumstances simply by pressing a button: in fact, there are five driving mode basic (Eco, Normal, Comfort, Sport and Individual) to which is added, on this R, the Race. In this way the machine is able to absorb holes and manhole covers in everyday driving (even if the trim is still very rigid with the 19 "wheels and 235/40 tires) and to minimize the roll in the busiest driving. the seats also for medium to long journeys.

Curiosity

The Volkswagen T-Roc R is the second "sporty" SUV in Wolfsburg after the 350 hp Touareg R50 produced between 2007 and 2009. At almost equal power then here we have much more compact dimensions. Coming soon 2 other models branded R: who knows if it is not again the Touareg, perhaps driven by the V8 used also by Audi.

How much

An engine, an equipment: the Volkswagen T-Roc R can already be ordered in Italian dealerships at the starting price of 44,000 euros. The standard equipment is already very complete with 19 wheels, ADAS driver assistance systems and full LED headlights. Do not miss the Akrapovic sports exhaust system (3,950 euros) as an option.