German brand secures large shipment of stove-hot 221kW small SUVs for Australia
Volkswagen has come out swinging in 2023 after an appalling sales year, announcing it has secured 1500 examples of the feisty VW T-Roc R for the local marketplace.
The well-known German ‘people’s car’ brand saw its annual sales slide by more than 24 per cent in 2022, but says this was not due to lack of customer demand but tighter supplies – something it plans to address in 2023, starting with the small performance SUV.
“We can accept supply shortages of popular models or we can try to effect solutions,” said Volkswagen Australia director Michal Szaniecki, who confirmed that customer wait times for the T-Roc R will be dramatically reduced by the influx of new metal.
“Ours is a primary R market so in addition to securing extra T-Roc R production, we’ll offer a unique to Australia T-Roc R Grid Edition,” he added, confirming the latter will arrive here from February 2023.
“The result is more than 1800 examples of the T-Roc R will soon be ready for our customers, who are making the T-Roc one of Volkswagen’s defining vehicles of the 2020s and the T-Roc R comfortably our top-selling ‘R’ model,” said the VW Australia chief.
Released locally in September 2022, the Volkswagen T-Roc R is priced from $60,300 plus on-road costs and the Grid Edition from $54,300 plus ORCs.
All 2023 VW T-Roc R models are powered by a version of the EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that’s made the Golf GTI a household name over the past decade.
But in this application it out-powers the GTI by producing a more potent 221kW and 400Nm, and employs a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive to hit 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.
While the 2023 T-Roc R Grid Edition doesn’t get as much fruit as the regular model, it still features 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto-dipping high-beam, adaptive dampers, adaptive cruise control, a 9.2-inch Discover Pro central touch-screen, digital driver’s display and wireless phone charger.
The regular T-Roc R adds things like upgraded matrix LED headlights, premium LED tail-lights with strobing indicators, different 19-inch alloy wheel designs, Nappa leather seat upholstery and more.
2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R Grid Edition equipment:
- 19-inch Pretoria graphite alloys (space-saver spare)
- Black Roof Rails
- Adaptive Chassis Control with Race mode
- Progressive steering
- R exterior and interior styling
- Performance LED headlights with automatic high-beam
- Exterior ambient lighting
- Premium Metallic paint
- Keyless Access
- 9.2-inch Discover Pro navigation system with voice and gesture control
- Digital Cockpit Pro
- App-Connect including wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charging
- Electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory
- IQ.DRIVE with Travel Assist, Active Cruise Control, Lane Assist, Park Assist and Rear View Camera
- Optional panoramic sunroof ($2000)
2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R equipment (in addition to the above):
- 19-inch Estoril alloys (space-saver spare)
- IQ.LIGHT matrix LED headlights with Dynamic Light Assist
- Premium LED tail lights with dynamic indicators
- IQ.DRIVE with Side Assist, rear cross-traffic alert and proactive occupant protection system
- Electric tailgate with Easy Open and Close functions
- Nappa leather-appointed upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory
- Black Style Package: Black roof paint finish, mirrors, roof rails and roofline decorative trim, C-pillar carbon-look trim and black surrounds for the interior air vents and audio ($1200)
- Beats audio system ($800)
- Lapiz Blue matte décor inlays ($250)
- Optional panoramic sunroof ($2000)
How much does the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R cost?
T-Roc R Grid Edition – $54,300
T-Roc R – $60,300
* Prices exclude on-road costs
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Keyword: More 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R stocks coming