The Volkswagen T-Roc R has been spied testing ahead of its official unveiling later this year – and its potential Australian showroom arrival in 2028 – as the new performance hero of the second-generation T-Roc small SUV lineup.
Regular versions of the new T-Roc – which will continue to rival the Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Corolla Cross and C-HR, and Hyundai Kona – were shown in August 2025, employing mild-hybrid and hybrid powertrains, and the same MQB Evo platform that underpinns the current Volkswagen Golf.
While the global reveal included a warmer, sport-focused R-Line variant, the fully fledged T-Roc R performance flagship has not been shown publicly, apart from a camouflaged prototype teased by Volkswagen late last year, ahead of production planned from October 2027.
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The test vehicle spied in these images provides further insight into the T-Roc R’s styling ahead of its expected launch, which is yet to be officially confirmed for Australia.
The outgoing T-Roc was the German brand’s best-selling SUV in Australia last year, placing second only to the Amarok ute among all Volkswagen models sold locally, and included an R range-topper.
While it’s missing the heavy camouflage – and the glass panoramic roof – seen on the second-generation T-Roc R teased in 2025, the development mule in these spy shots has the same unique front and rear bumpers and quad exhaust outlets in place of the R-Line’s hidden outlets.
It’s not as aggressive as the renderings Volkswagen released in November 2025, with the production R-car looking more bulked up, but apart from smaller-looking wheels, it does match the blue-wrapped car in the teaser.
Our spy photographers noted a “nice, throaty sound” from the test car, which is anticipated to be powered by the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine from the Golf R, in which it makes 245kW of power and 420Nm of power, potentially with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance.
Like the Golf R and the previous T-Roc R, it’s expected to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and have all-wheel drive as standard.
The previous T-Roc R sold in Australia produced 221kW/400Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo-four, claimed a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds, and was priced at $64,990 before on-road costs.
The new generation has increased in every key dimension, with a 28mm longer wheelbase bringing more second-row passenger space and boot capacity, growing from 392 to 475 litres.
The new T-Roc will once again sit between the Volkswagen T-Cross light SUV and the Tiguan mid-size SUV, a new generation of which was launched in Australia in 2025, when the Tiguan Allspace was replaced by the seven-seat Tayron SUV.
The Tayron is set to become the largest SUV in Volkswagen Australia showrooms in 2026, given the Touareg will not be replaced, with the swansong Touareg Final Edition being offered before order books close in March.