MOTORING CORRESPONDENT
THE HIGHLY competitive SUV vehicle market in South Africa has just got spicy and interesting.
One of the country’s leading manufacturers, VW, has produced a formidable new addition to its impressive SVU range. Say hello to the T-Roc!
The T-Roc, a compact crossover, joins the VW SUV family and now a sibling to the T-Cross, the Tiguan, the Tiguan Allspace and the Touareg.
VW says its new baby brings fresh impetus to the compact SUV class and sets a new benchmark in the SUV segment with its functionality, dynamic handling and technology. “The T-Roc, which slots above the T-Cross and below the Tiguan in the Volkswagen SUV range, offers maximum personalisation, innovative digitalisation, perfect connectivity, class-leading driver assistance systems, dynamic engines and above all a modern and expressive design,” says VW.
The new T-Roc has some exquisite exterior and interior designs. The VW says numerous design elements define the vehicle’s new five seater’s style.
“At the front it is the wide radiator grille unit with integrated dual headlights and the repositioned light signature, which make the T-Roc unmistakable even at night. The lines of the elongated silhouette are characterised by a particularly striking chrome element that runs from the A-pillars across the complete side roof line all the way into the C-pillar and is reminiscent of a coupé.
“The off-road look is enhanced by all-round, dark plastic trim, which protects the bodywork around the wheel arches and side sills, as well as the vehicle’s front and rear. The rear bumper styling is just as distinctive as the front, with the design aimed to frame the rear lid and in turn give the T-Roc a sportier look. The T-Roc will also be amongst the first Volkswagen models to display the new Volkswagen logo in South Africa.”
The T-Roc is the first Volkswagen SUV that will be available to order in two-tone paintwork with a visually contrasting roof section, including the A-pillars and exterior mirror housings.
VW says customers have a choice of pure white, red and black on the roof and exterior mirror housings. These roof and exterior mirror housings can be paired with various exterior colours, thus giving T-Roc customers 26 different colour options. The R-Line derivative will have 21 different colour options.
“The interior has been adapted to match the exterior design. It has a robust SUV feel and modern treatment of surfaces. The interplay between the Active Info Display and the specific infotainment system creates a new, digital and interactive cockpit. To further enhance the individual offering, the Design derivative, in addition to the standard limestone grey dashboard colour, has a further three interior colours to choose from, whilst on the R-Line derivative, the interior dashboard colour is Caribou Grey. Ambient lighting, which is white for the Design derivative and red for the R-Line derivative, completes the interior style design.”
The T-Roc comes standard with Composition Media radio and App-Connect. The Composition radio has an 8-inch colour touch screen with two USB ports easily located in the centre console of the vehicle.
App-Connect makes it possible to connect your smartphone to the radio system which enables you to operate selected mobile phone apps from the touchscreen.
Says VW: “The T-Roc App-Connect has been upgraded to Wireless App-Connect, meaning you no longer need to connect your smartphone to the USB port in order to get this functionality (this is only available with Discover Media system). In addition to being able to charge your phone via the USB ports, the Composition Media radio also has the option for compatible phones to be charged inductively. This mobile inductive charging function is standard on the R-Line derivative. If integrated navigation is required, Discover Media infotainment is available as an optional feature.”
The T-Roc’s safety features included are Electronic Stability Control, Park Distance Control, LED Headlights, Light and Vision Package, Blind Spot Monitor and Fatigue Detection.
In addition to these safety features, I.Q Drive technologies are also available on the T-Roc. The technologies support Volkswagen’s journey to autonomous driving and represent the relevant driver assistant systems which aid the parking, driving and security of the T-Roc. The I.Q Drive technologies included in the T-Roc are Park Assist, Emergency Assist, Front Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist.
Emergency Assist which is standard on the T-Roc uses a number of technologies in the car to assist the driver when they are unable to.
Traffic Jam Assist utilises functions from the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist to enable convenient and safe stop-and-go driving in heavy traffic situations.
Front Assist uses sensors to detect situations where the distance to the vehicle ahead is critical and it helps to shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance. In dangerous situations the system alerts the driver by visual and audible signals.
Pedestrian Monitoring, which is a new offering, is an extension of Front Assist. It utilises two sensors at the front to acquire information from the front of the vehicle. If required the vehicle will trigger an audible and visual signal to warn the driver of obstructions and could also brake the vehicle if required within system limits.
Lane Assist which is standard on the R-Line derivative is activated via the multifunction steering wheel and active from 65km/h. If the vehicle starts to depart from the lane, the Lane Assist will warn the driver by means of an audible system, vibrating of the steering wheel or corrective steering intervention.
In South Africa, the T-Roc will be available in:
- The 1.4 TSI 110kW Design.
- The 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® Design
- The 2.0 TSI 140 kW 4MOTION® DSG®
Pricing for all-new Volkswagen T-Roc announced
FOLLOWING its South African premiere on June 17 2020, Volkswagen has announced pricing of the T-Roc SUV.
The Volkswagen T-SUV range in the Southern African market now consists of the T-Cross, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and the Touareg.
The T-Roc, which slots above the T-Cross and below the Tiguan in the Volkswagen SUV range, offers maximum personalisation, innovative digitalisation, perfect connectivity, class-leading driver assistance systems, dynamic engines and a modern and expressive design.
The T-Roc, which will go on sale from November 2020, will be available in the following derivatives; 1.4 TSI 110kW Design, 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® Design and the top-of-the-range 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® R-Line.
Recommended Retail Price (VAT and emissions tax included)
T-Roc 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic Design R489 400
T-Roc 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® Design R548 300
T-Roc 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® R-Line R593 600
The Volkswagen T-Roc comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km warranty, 5 year/ 90 000km Volkswagen Service Plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000km. – AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER.
