A Volkswagen Tiguan R could be arriving soon to take on the CUPRA Ateca

The era of sporty SUVs is in full swing, something that Volkswagen demonstrates with its imminent wave of R vehicles. The latest to arrive has been the Touareg R, but the Wolfsburg-based brand has not wanted to stop there. And after learning that an Arteon R is under development, we have found out that the Tiguan, the smaller sibling of the Touareg and a model that is about to receive a facelift, will also add the R badge to its rear to become a true rival to its cousin, the CUPRA Ateca.

For now, some test mules have been reason enough for us to foresee the arrival of this variant of the Volkswagen SUV. And considering that other models in the group with which it shares its platform -such as the aforementioned Ateca or the Skoda Kodiaq RS- already offer sporty versions, it would not be far-fetched for the German manufacturer to do the same with the Tiguan.

It is still early to anticipate the styling features of this future Tiguan R, but following the presentation of the Touareg R we can make out several details. Besides the new R logo on its rear, there will also be a quad exhaust outlet as seen on the CUPRA Ateca and the Golf R, along with more pronounced wheel arches and a lowered suspension.

Nevertheless, it is in the mechanical section where we will find the most changes, as it could share its heart with the future Golf R. At present, the latest version of that variant uses a 2.0 TSI engine producing 300 CV, a power output that could rise to 350 CV thanks to an electric motor. If so, we could expect both the Tiguan R and a future update of the CUPRA Ateca to adopt that mechanical layout.

But if we consider the trends of other subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group, such as Audi or Skoda, it would not be unrealistic to think that the powertrain powering this Tiguan could be a diesel engine. Models such as the Audi SQ5 or the Skoda Kodiaq RS have opted for this type of fuel, which could lead to a Tiguan R powered by a 2.0 TDI engine producing 300 CV.

Whatever the case, Volkswagen is in the middle of developing a wave of sports vehicles that nobody expected, but which we undoubtedly welcome. The Tiguan R and the Arteon R could both be unveiled during the second half of this same year, 2020, two models that are set to revitalize the segment they will compete in.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverVolkswagen Tiguan14 versions · from 36,150 €