Volkswagen has opened the UK order books for the 2021 Tiguan R, the first Tiguan to wear the high-performance R badge.

The new VW Tiguan R is priced from £45,915 and is available on a single well-appointed trim level. Standard equipment includes a set of 21-inch ‘Estoril’ wheels, Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC), matrix LED headlights, heated steering wheel and front seats, and more.

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The exterior of the 2021 VW Tiguan R features a model-specific R body kit that incorporates the more aggressive front and rear bumpers, a black rear diffuser, blue calipers at the front, matte chrome door-mirror caps, and quad exhaust pipes.

The interior of the new Tiguan R comes with a set of sports seats dressed in a blue-black ‘Sardegna’ cloth with ArtVelours outer areas, while the R-specific steering wheel with the extended shift paddles features a new ‘R’ button that lets you quickly select one of the vehicle’s seven drive modes.

“Now, the Tiguan has another feather in its cap – a genuine performance SUV model, honed for spirited drivers by Volkswagen’s respected R division, complete with the impressive R-Performance Torque Vectoring system. This makes it an even more thrilling and sporty driving experience,” said Andrew Savvas, Managing Director at Volkswagen UK.

Customers will be able to choose an Akrapovič performance titanium exhaust system, which is lighter than the standard system and further improves the sound of the turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Speaking of which, the 2021 VW Tiguan R is powered by the fourth-generation EA888 2.0-liter unit, producing 316 HP (320 PS) and 309 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque and paired to a seven-speed DSG transmission and the company’s latest 4Motion system. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) comes in 4.9 seconds, while top speed is set at 155 mph (250 km/h).

The all-wheel-drive system in the new Tiguan R comes with a new R Performance torque vectoring system, which controls not only the split between the axles but also between the rear wheels too. The Tiguan R’s 4Motion system is capable of sending up to 100 percent of the available torque to the rear wheel on the outside of a bend, making this SUV significantly more agile and less prone to understeer.