German brand reduces price and flags potential spec change for hot new mid-size SUV before it arrives
Volkswagen Group Australia has reduced price of the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan R by $1000 before first deliveries take place in Australia around mid-2022.
Mirroring the $1000 price reduction for the Volkswagen Golf R and Golf R Wagon earlier this month, the German car-maker’s Australian arm confirmed today that the alteration has been made because the Tiguan R is subject to temporary unavailability of Harman Kardon audio systems.
As such, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R is now priced at $68,990 plus on-road costs Down Under.
Buyers will still be able to order a Harman Kardon audio system in the go-fast SUV, but it is now listed as a $1000 option and could result in a longer wait.
Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles brand director Michal Szaniecki said the decision was made pre-emptively to allay potential customer disappointment.
“The majority of the more than 7000 expressions of interest and the 1000 paid deposits for our new R range [including the T-Roc R and Golf R] have so far been for the Tiguan R,” Szaniecki said.
“To keep the lines running, Harmon Kardon becomes optional on the Tiguan R as it is with the Golf. Harman Kardon Tiguan Rs are still being built, so too will be versions with the standard eight-speaker audio system familiar from the rest of the Tiguan range.”
Volkswagen’s first Tiguan R model will launch here around the same time as the Golf R Wagon, just weeks after the new Golf R’s launch in April.
All three R models will deliver 235kW of power from Volkswagen’s EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
But while the Golf R Wagon will produce 420Nm of torque, both the Tiguan R and Golf R hatch are limited to 400Nm due to the fact Australia’s initial allocation of those variants won’t come with a petrol particulate filter (PPF), which is essential for Euro 6 emissions compliance in Europe and demands premium 98-octane unleaded petrol in Australia.
More broadly, Volkswagen says it is slowly getting on top of the semi-conductor related shortages with its popular Tiguan range, thanks in part to the imminent arrival of upgraded Allspace variants.
“Because our customers typically select the top-end variants, semi-conductor constraints have especially affected the Tiguan 162TSI R-line,” Szaniecki said.
“Fortunately, the refreshed Tiguan Allspace arrives in May.
“In addition to a third row of seating or the extra storage space this model provides, we’ve ensured the Allspace has extra specification to more than ameliorate the sight price premium over the five-seat Tiguans.”
Keyword: Volkswagen Tiguan R pricing reduced