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14<br />
Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>13</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
T-Roc R adds to VW’s performance line-up<br />
GET IN quick is my advice.<br />
That is if you want a performance<br />
car with a high output<br />
internal combustion engine. The<br />
automotive world is changing<br />
quickly, hybrids, electric vehicles<br />
and models with low emission<br />
engines will soon dominate the<br />
global new car market.<br />
At least for the time being,<br />
Volkswagen is catering for those<br />
who want power and performance<br />
and in a standout package.<br />
Sure, there’s the quintessential<br />
Golf GTi, but Volkswagen<br />
is marketing heavily the R series<br />
of performance models – Golf R,<br />
Tiguan R and T-Roc R (R meaning<br />
Race).<br />
The T-Roc sits in the smaller<br />
side of the sport utility vehicle<br />
range, it’s sort of a crossover really,<br />
but what it lacks in stature it<br />
certainly makes up for in practicality<br />
and honesty, it will easily<br />
cater for the small family and has<br />
already established itself as a success<br />
in the global marketplace.<br />
The T-Roc here is priced from<br />
$43,490, there are four models<br />
(including the R), the latter sits<br />
at $71,990, which if you stack it<br />
beside other performance hatchbacks<br />
and sedans around the<br />
same size it is competitive, but<br />
bear in mind the Government<br />
will also have its hand out for a<br />
$1660 fee to subsidise low emission<br />
vehicles.<br />
True to its R stablemates, the<br />
T-Roc gets a 2-litre turbocharged<br />
engine. I mentioned the Golf<br />
GTi, well, the R series engines<br />
in all three variants get a similar<br />
engine as the GTi but with even<br />
greater power outputs. In R form<br />
the four-cylinder unit has power<br />
outputs of 221kW and 400Nm.<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
The engine is an absolute belter<br />
with a strong mid-range surge<br />
and dynamics which encourage<br />
vigorous throttle use. That’s<br />
because this engine has sound,<br />
I’m not saying it is noisy, it’s<br />
not, but it does emit shrieks and<br />
howls under urgency that is a joy<br />
to listen to.<br />
Drive is channeled to all four<br />
corners using Volkswagen’s<br />
4-Motion system, the transmission<br />
is a seven-speed direct shift<br />
system which you simply treat<br />
like any automatic. As you would<br />
expect, there are paddle shifters<br />
on the T-Roc, and if you still like<br />
to hang onto a gearshift, manual<br />
changes can also be carried out<br />
at the main shifter itself.<br />
When I refer to the entire<br />
Volkswagen R series models as<br />
being race ready, well, effectively<br />
they are. Sure, you can’t go to a<br />
track and start racing, but you<br />
can have a decent amount of fun<br />
in a closed circuit situation.<br />
Hot hatchback buyers are<br />
spoilt for choice with a plethora<br />
of lively yet functional performance<br />
models scattered freely<br />
across several brands in New<br />
Zealand. Volkswagen has not<br />
made a choice easy, choosing<br />
between any of the three R<br />
variants would simply come<br />
down to the practical aspect of<br />
what each delivers, the T-Roc<br />
also has the benefit of a sizeable<br />
load area.<br />
However, it’s what’s at the<br />
other end that makes the R<br />
models so special, let’s hope that<br />
Volkswagen (and other car makers)<br />
can continue building their<br />
performance engines for many<br />
years to come. I know that’s a<br />
difficult ask when the world is<br />
demanding lower emissions to<br />
combat climate change, but I’m<br />
forever the optimist.<br />
• Price – Volkswagen T-Roc<br />
R, $71,990<br />
• Dimensions – Length,<br />
4236mm; width, 1819mm;<br />
height, 1559mm<br />
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,<br />
four-wheel-drive,<br />
1984cc, 221kW, 400Nm,<br />
seven-speed direct shift<br />
automatic<br />
• Performance –<br />
0-100km/h, 4.9sec<br />
• Fuel usage – 9.3l/100km<br />
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