Joining the Golf R in recent years has been the T-Roc R, Arteon R and also the Tiguan R – our focus here. That’s because despite only being introduced a couple of years ago, Volkswagen has already clocked up 10,000 sales of this practical yet sporty SUV.
But for the owner taking delivery of the 10,000th Tiguan R, the handover process was rather different, as rather than collecting from the dealer, Trevor Godfrey was handed the keys to his milestone car at the legendary Brands Hatch racing circuit.
Located in Kent, the racetrack hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix on numerous occasions between 1964 and 1986 and was a perfect setup for F1 fan Trevor.
Speaking about the special handover retired British Airways employee said: “It was a surprise when they told me that mine was the 10,000th Tiguan R and that a special event was being planned for the handover. I thought it would be at the dealer, but this is great. I guess I’ve had the luck of the draw, but I’ll take it! How many people can say that the first place they drove their new car was Brands Hatch?”
The 10,000th Tiguan R was handed over by Peter Jost, head of marketing and sales for Volkswagen R, with it being especially fitting to hand the car over in the UK as this is one the largest markets for Volkswagen R vehicles.
Jost said: “This is a big milestone for us, but it doesn’t come as a surprise. The Tiguan is already Volkswagen’s most successful SUV globally and this performance Tiguan R model has been incredibly popular.
“The UK is actually one of the biggest markets for Volkswagen R vehicles, so I’m glad the 10,000th Tiguan R has found a home here and I’m delighted for Trevor that he gets to experience what this car is truly capable of on a track – the place all Volkswagen R models are developed.”
The Tiguan R is powered by Volkswagen’s well-loved 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, putting out 316bhp. That’s able to take it from 0-60mph in just 4.7 seconds and on to a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. Like all of Volkswagen’s ‘R’ models, it also comes equipped with all-wheel-drive as standard, allowing for impressive traction whatever
At the same time, this R model remains every bit as practical as the regular Tiguan, with plentiful amounts of rear passenger space, along with a large 615 litres.