2022 Volkswagen Golf R and Tiguan R: 400Nm engine detune explained
Volkswagen's new Golf R hot small hatch and Tiguan R medium SUV won't be as potent as initially anticipated – though the mild engine detune has allowed for a shorter wait time, according to the company.
The first batches of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch and 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R will arrive in Australia with less torque and slower 0-100km/h times than their European counterparts – but there's hope on the horizon for future customers.
Confirmed today, the new Golf R hatch, Golf R wagon and Tiguan R SUV will share a 235kW version of Volkswagen's familiar 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine.
But while the wagon will pack the full 420Nm tune offered in Europe – and will be fitted with an emissions-busting petrol particulate filter (PPF) – the hatch and SUV will develop 400Nm, and come without a petrol particulate filter.
The reduced torque output increases 0-100km/h times to 4.8 seconds for the Golf R hatch (up 0.1 seconds) and 5.1 seconds for the Tiguan R medium SUV (up 0.2 seconds).
For some enthusiasts, the detune will bring back memories of previous-generation Volkswagen and Skoda products in Australia, which had as much as 15kW stripped away (versus Europe) to comply with Australia's former designation within the Volkswagen Group as a 'hot and dusty' climate – later removed in 2019, in favour of a lesser 'moderately hot' classification.
While previous engine downgrades have been forced upon Volkswagen Australia, the company says the 400Nm tune was adopted for the "initial production run" of the hot Golf hatch and Tiguan to get the vehicles in local showrooms "in a timely manner", following more than 6300 claimed reservations of interest in Volkswagen's new R performance range.
The Golf R wagon, meanwhile, is exempt as the "niche" long-roof body style "is producible only with the filtered 420Nm engine", according to Volkswagen Australia – while the 400Nm engine variant without a petrol particulate filter is "not an option" on this model.
The last-minute adoption of the 400Nm tune – the deletion of the petrol particulate filter – saw Volkswagen Australia trim the price of the Golf R hatch by $1000 just before launch.
Last week, Volkswagen Australia initially indicated a list price of $67,990 before on-road costs with the 420Nm tune. It is now $66,990 plus on-road costs.
Despite the price adjustment, the 2022 VW Golf R hatch is still $11,000 more expensive than the model it replaces (detailed in full here) – with the wagon increasing the price gap to $12,000.
The Tiguan R's $69,990 plus on-road costs price is unchanged following the late adoption of the 400Nm tune, as it was "a marked reduction over the brand’s initial forecast" and "remains a pricepoint that is uniquely competitive," Volkswagen Australia claims.
In a statement, Volkswagen Australia's recently-appointed Director of Passenger Vehicles, Michal Szaniecki, said: "Volkswagen has been the brand most transparent with its customers about the unprecedented production situation. There are as of this week more than 6300 expressions of interest in our incoming R range with a sizable number of deposits made even before the announcement of pricing."
"The brand is doing everything possible to meet demand for all models. In order to get our Golf R hatchback and Tiguan R SUV to customers in a timely manner, initial production features the 400Nm, unfiltered version of Volkswagen’s benchmark EA888 engine.
"As these two Rs will be by far the most numerous – at least until T-Roc R becomes available later in 2022 – the best course is to run with the engine tune immediately available. It’s possible that there are to those who might possibly be disappointed by that 20Nm and 0.1 second; if so deposits will be refunded," Szaniecki added.
However, the 235kW/400Nm engine won't continue on in the R duo forever, as Drive understands the full 235kW/420Nm tune and petrol particulate filter will make their way to Australian-delivered Golf R hatch and Tiguan R models at a later date. Exact timing is yet to be finalised, however a local introduction is possible as soon as 2023.
Government filings indicate the petrol particulate filter-equipped wagon (click here for more details on the impact of a PPF) will mandate 98RON premium unleaded fuel – the same requirement as the outgoing, unfiltered Mk7.5 Golf R, suggesting buyers won't need to dig deeper into their wallets for more expensive fuel when refilling up a new Golf R at the pump.
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