The latest successor to the R36, a car with underrated handling

Speaking of the most value-preserving and sentimental performance car in China. The former Volkswagen Passat R36 is considered one.

Just like the BMW M and Mercedes-Benz's AMG, Volkswagen's blue R division is synonymous with performance. The latest work of the Volkswagen R department is this Touareg R eHybrid.

The current Volkswagen Touareg has average sales in China, not because the car is not good, but because there are too many competitors. Probably, the price is not particularly advantageous either. But the Touareg was once also a car with a car status.

In the history of SUVs, there are a few models that have ushered in one new era after another. Willys is the originator of all hardcore off-road SUVs, and the appearance of the BMW X5 brings road sports and luxury to the extreme for the first time.

The first generation of Volkswagen Touareg appeared that year, breaking people's perception. The original load-bearing body SUV, in addition to excellent road handling performance, can also have strong off-road performance.

But this generation of Touareg has also been on the market for several years, and it is also time to consider the next generation of models. According to "international practice", this time is the time for the "fierce material" on the current model.

The recent facelift of the Volkswagen Touareg has not only brought a new model with a redesigned appearance, but also the strongest model of the Touareg family, the Touareg R eHybrid.

The overseas version of the new Touareg includes a diesel engine with a total of five powertrains, all of which are 3.0T V6 configurations. The plug-in hybrid version of the Touareg has an output of 381 horsepower. On the Volkswagen Touareg R hybrid model, the output is increased to 340kW (462 hp).

The Touareg R uses a 3.0T V6 engine + electric combination mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive. The total output is 462 hp and the maximum torque is 700Nm.

It is equipped with a ternary lithium battery pack with a capacity of 14.3 kWh, but the all-electric range is only 44 km. Obviously, this set of PHEVs is more prepared for environmental protection and performance, and the good thing is that the small battery can control the weight of the body, after all, the Touareg R is born for performance.

The Touareg R plug-in hybrid continues the front and rear lightweight five-link independent suspension of the Touareg, all-wheel steering system and three-chamber active air suspension.

This 4MOTION constant time all-wheel drive system with asymmetrical dynamic torque distribution function of self-locking differential can transmit up to 70% of torque to the front axle and 80% of torque to the rear axle. That is, in extreme conditions, the Touareg can exhibit front-drive characteristics as needed, as well as rear-drive characteristics.

The Touareg R plug-in hybrid has clearly been upgraded from this, adding new gear assemblies and improved control system settings. Standard steel springs and air suspension have been improved to take comfort and agility to the next level.

When the new Touareg was unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in September, the exterior of all models changed significantly. With a larger front grille and a newly designed tail light cluster with continuous horizontal LED light strips, the Touareg is also the first Volkswagen model to launch in Europe with a luminous LOGO.

The high-performance Touareg R is surrounded by a more personal design, high-gloss black-style wheels. But just like the R36 and Golf R before it, blue is my favorite, especially the blue brake calipers with the R marking.

When it comes to handling performance, this generation of the Touareg uses the Volkswagen MLB EVO platform. In fact, as an upgrade of the MLB platform, thanks to more advanced weight control and layout technology, the overall weight reduction of the third-generation Touareg is as high as 50kg, bringing better handling response and fuel economy.

Since 2015, Audi and the Volkswagen Group behind it have begun to fully popularize the MLB EVO platform in high-end models. So it is often jokingly said - the Audi Q7 is another version of the Touareg, the Porsche Cayenne is the sports version, the Bentley Bentayga is the luxury version, and the Lamborghini Urus is the track version of the Touareg.

I once drove the Touareg fiercely on the mountain roads of Morocco in North Africa, and it was a car with underrated handling. And the appearance of the Touareg R, will it be a low-key Cayenne PHEV when driven?

In the environment of mediocre sales of the domestic Volkswagen Touareg, a high-performance R is needed to enhance the image of the Touareg. What's more, this is a Touareg that can get on the green card.

And the Touareg also has an advantage that its brothers on the same platform do not have, that is, its off-road performance is the best. So it can do everything, and it is also the blue Touareg R plug-in hybrid highlight.