2022 Volkswagen Touareg R: VW’s first plug-in hybrid confirmed for Australia

The 2022 Volkswagen Touareg R has been confirmed for Australia – making it the first plug-in hybrid model sold here by the manufacturer.

With the Volkswagen providing up to 47 kilometres of electric-only driving range (on the WLTP test cycle), the new Touareg offers buyers a combination of zero-emissions driving, as well as ‘R’ street cred – the single letter denoting the company's performance models.

Powered by a 14.3kWh battery, an electric motor accompanies a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engine to produce a total output of 340kW and 700Nm – making it the most powerful production Volkswagen ever made.

But while it does have the most power, the Touareg R is 0.2 seconds slower than the turbo-diesel V8-powered Touareg 310TDI R-Line it replaces due to a torque deficit of 200Nm.

The turbo-petrol V6 sends power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, taking the Touareg R to 100km/h from a standstill in a claimed 5.1 seconds.

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Fuel economy has yet to be certified for Australia, however it’s likely the MY23 Touareg R will be similar to overseas models claiming 2.7L/100km (WLTP cycle).

Volkswagen says the SUV can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours using either a 7.2kW AC wallbox, or a standard 10-amp domestic power point.

The Touareg largely borrows its PHEV powertrain from another member of the Volkswagen Group family – the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid. The latter uses the same 250kW/450Nm petrol engine, but in the Touareg it is matched to a slightly more powerful 100kW/400Nm electric motor.

The new Touareg R is based on Volkswagen Group’s MLB Evo architecture – a platform also shared with the Bentayga, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Lamborghini Urus.

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Earlier this year, as first reported by Wheels, the Touareg R was tipped to be coming to our shores – but it almost didn't happen.

“The Touareg R was not destined for Australia because Volkswagen PHEVs and [electric vehicles] are naturally prioritised for markets with emissions targets,” Volkswagen’s general manager of passenger vehicle Marketing, Ralph Beckmann, said.

It’s understood Australia’s commitment to improving fuel quality and NSW Government policies to encourage the uptake of electrified vehicles helped Volkswagen’s local arm make a viable business case for the Touareg R.

“Australia has typically been the third biggest R market, behind only Germany and the UK in actual sales,” Beckmann said, suggesting our preference for performance vehicles helped to secure the model.

Pricing and full details of the 2022 Volkswagen Touareg R will be announced next month, along with the wider model range, while deliveries are expected to begin in late 2022.