Volkswagen will be presenting today its Touareg R50 at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. With a power of 258kW/350 PS at 3,500 rpm position the new Touareg as one of the most powerful SUVs in the world.

Volkswagen’s R50 is available in Germany and priced at 88,260 Euro. It will be introduced in the US market this coming November.

The characteristics of its engine set the Touareg R50 distinct from its competition. Its V10 TDI engine helps it to produce an enormous power at 850 Nm at a low 2,000 rpm. The turbo diesel was based from the well-known ten cylinder with 230 kW/313 PS. Moreover the adjustments done on its turbo charging and modified engine management enabled a 28 kW/37 PS increase in power plus a 100 Nm increase in maximum torque. With such added power the SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in a matter of 6.7 seconds with top speed at 235 km/h.

Despite the engine power and vehicle size, the fuel consumption of the production ten-cylinder diesel equipped with a particulate filter is a moderate 9.6 liters per 100 km and 12.6 liters per 100 km. this is far better than the fuel consumption of the Touareg V10 TDI.

To maximize the performance potential of the R50, Volkswagen has created new exterior and interior features basing on the R philosophy. Outside, the new Touareg R50 is made distinct by its 21-inch Omanyt type alloy wheels and size 295 tires, blue painted brake calipers, discrete wheel well flares, side skirts and distinctive bumpers (part of the Sport Design Package), and a modified radiator grille offered in a matte finish chrome.

The Biscay Blue car color is exclusively offered on the Touareg R50 which is typical of the high powered R models starting off with the introduction of the Golf R32 in the year 2002. The optional colors offered for the Touareg R50 includes Capanella white, Reflex silver, Black magic, and Atacam gray.

The other extensive features of the R50 include an air suspension sport chassis and the so-called Driving dynamics package with adaptive roll compensation and a twenty millimeter lowered chassis that supplements the Sport mode of the manually or automatically controlled air suspension to achieve a stiffer spring rate.

Inside the R50 SUV is a sport-seating system available in anthracite-colored Nappa leather with R50 logo integrated in the headrests. The logo is also incorporated in the stainless steel tread plates. And still in keeping with the sporty character of the Touareg is the light-colored engine spin décor of the interior which is a metallic structure similar to the ones used on race cars. There are also metal worked caps for the accelerator and brake pedals.

The same R50 logo also adorns the gearshift lever of the six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. In terms of standard features the R50 has a winter package that includes seat heating for the rear seats, the Premium Memory Package comprised of electrically adjustable seats, steering column and seatbelt height, net partition behind the rear seats and a ski sack.