The motto and purpose of the new T-Roc SUV is to "Make a sporty statement and leave a lasting impression right from the start." Fashionable yummy-mummies and other trendy urbanites are the target market for the sexy new T-Roc.
Where does the T-Roc fit into the local Volkswagen SUV line-up?
The 4.23-metre T-Roc is longer than the T-Cross and slightly shorter than the Tiguan. The T-Roc is decidedly heavier than the T-Cross too, weighing in at a hefty-ish 1400 kilos. The overall appearance of the T-Roc, says Volkswagen, is determined by "its striking design with sporty coupé silhouette and off-road elements."
Related: 30 days with the new T-Cross
There will also be a plethora of individual design options available, including two-tone paintwork for the roof, A-pillars, and exterior mirrors, as well as some vibrant and youthful colour choices and trims for the interior. (I love the yellow accents in the photo below.) You can also expect a multitude of digital interfaces, and a host of standard driver assistants.
Related: The new VW T-Cross will knock off your socks
Will it have off-road credentials?
Volkswagen reckons the optional 4MOTION all-wheel drive will enable the T-Roc to venture off-road, but I can't imagine that this stylish city SUV would want to stray too far away from a dirt or gravel surface in fair condition.
Engines?
Engine choices overseas include a de-tuned turbo-petrol 2.0-litre Golf GTI engine with a meaty 140kW and 320Nm. The rest of the engine line-up will probably look similar to what the Tiguan has on offer in SA.
Related: Which Volkswagen Tiguan is better, diesel or petrol?
Available space?
The T-Roc's five-seater interior is said to be more spacious than the T-Cross. The luggage compartment is bigger than its smaller sibling's, offering a voluminous 455 litres which can be increased to fit 1 290 litres' worth of luggage, if you fold the rear seats flat.
Pricing...
Pricing for the least expensive T-Cross in the UK is just over 21 000 GBP, which translates to around R481 000. Our weak Rand will probably result in the T-Roc costing more or less the same; we expect pricing to fall within the R400 000 - R600 000 range, since the entry-level VW Tiguan 1.4TFI Trendline costs from R458 100.
Overseas markets will also be receiving the sexy new T-Roc Cabriolet for topless-SUV fun. I contacted Volkswagen SA to find out whether the cabrio would be coming to SA, but the answer was a definite "no", for now. The performance-orientated T-Roc R, however, may just find itself on South African soil at a later stage.
More details to follow! In the meantime, feast your eyes by scrolling through the extensive T-Roc gallery at the top of the page.
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