The Volkswagen Tiguan R has been removed from the German automaker’s local configurator, though the company tells us there’s still some stock available in SA…
Thinking of buying a Volkswagen Tiguan R new? Well, you’d better act fast because the high-performance SUV has been pulled from VW’s local configurator, effectively meaning it’s no longer available to order in South Africa. That said, VW says there’s enough stock in the country to see us into the 2nd half of the year.
We recently noticed that the Tiguan R was no longer listed on the German brand’s configurator (though the standard models remain), so asked Volkswagen Group Africa whether the 235 kW all-paw SUV was indeed still available to buyers in Mzansi.
“There is stock for the current Tiguan R until run-out in the 2nd half of 2024,” Volkswagen’s local division told Cars.co.za, confirming the model had indeed been removed from the configurator. This suggests local buyers can no longer spec a Tiguan R from the factory, instead being limited to units that have already been built.
Using the “MasterCars Finder” tool on VW’s website, we found just 7 new examples of the Tiguan R available through the German firm’s local dealer network at the time of writing. All were at dealerships in Gauteng, with 4 listed as 2023 model-year units and 3 bearing 2024 registration years. Prices ranged from R1 118 950 to R1 267 449 (including pre-selected options, of course).
Whether production of the Tiguan R has indeed ended for all markets has not been confirmed, though the Wolfsburg factory will surely already have shifted its focus to building the new-generation Tiguan range.
For the record, the 3rd-gen Tiguan – which was revealed in September 2023 – is scheduled to launch in South Africa at some point in the 2nd half of 2024. However, VW has yet to announce that it will indeed build a high-performance R derivative based on the new version (rumours, however, suggest such a model will reach production).
The outgoing Tiguan R was revealed back in July 2020 but launched in South Africa only in October 2022 (we have a certain global pandemic to thank for much of that delay), at a starting price of R999 900. The last base price we saw for this flagship derivative before it disappeared from the configurator was R1 080 200.
As a reminder, the Tiguan R’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine sends 235 kW and 400 Nm to all 4 wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Wolfsburg-based firm claims a 0-100 kph time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 250 kph.
Compared with the standard version of the SUV, the R-badged model’s suspension is lowered by 10 mm, while adaptive dampers are included as standard. Identifying exterior features include matte-chrome side-mirror caps, a high-gloss black rear diffuser, black wheel-arch extensions, 20-inch “Misano” alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof.
Inside, the Tiguan R sets itself apart with features like premium Nappa leather seats (complete with the “R” logo), a digital instrument cluster (with an integrated lap timer) and “Carbon Grey” decorative trim. There were also a number of options on offer, from an Akrapovič exhaust system and 21-inch “Estoril” rims to a head-up display, induction smartphone charging and a Harman Kardon sound system, not to mention adaptive cruise control.
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