Volkswagen is placing an even greater stamp on its attainable performance vehicle leadership in Australia, with sales of GTI and R models increasing by 264% year on year to 5,499 sales in 2023.
Australia is the number one market for Tiguan R and T-Roc R in the world, confirming that customers in this country look overwhelmingly to Volkswagen for fast SUV models as well as the widest spread of hot hatchbacks.
The $70,000-plus drive-away, 235kW turbo all-wheel drive Tiguan R performance medium SUV led with 2,227 sales in 2023 – up from 284 in 2022.
The heroic compact performance SUV duo of T-Roc R and T-Roc R Grid Edition more than tripled sales to 1,846 – up from 566 in 2022.
The lauded new-generation Golf R, even while impacted by supply restrictions, moved from 151 deliveries in 2022, 37 deliveries in the first half of 2023, to a resurgent 309 deliveries in the second half of 2023 – for a 346 full-year total.
The 4.8-second 0-100km/h Golf R now returns to being available to order in Volkswagen showrooms, with next deliveries expected from June 2024. This means that every GTI and R model is now back on-sale for customers.
Volkswagen's iconic Golf GTI hot hatchback almost doubled volume from 370 deliveries in 2022 to 693 in 2023, with much higher volumes expected had supply eased earlier during last year.
As Volkswagen remains the only brand in Australia committed to both light and small segment hot hatchbacks, the Polo GTI more than doubled sales from 139 in 2022 to 387 in 2023. Likewise, the potential for the smallest fast GTI to sell in even higher volumes continues to be limited only by supply.
Volkswagen passenger vehicles head of product Michelle Rowney said the sales increases for the GTI and R performance vehicles emphasised how much love the respected German brand held in the eyes of Australians.
"Volkswagen's performance GTI and R models are unrivalled in the Australian market for their blend of class, speed and dynamics, and they are more highly sought after than the limited sports models offered by mainstream brands," Ms Rowney said.
"Australians understand that the Polo GTI, Golf GTI, Golf R, T-Roc R and Tiguan R are attainable performance vehicles, yet they challenge a more expensive cohort in terms of interior and driving feel, and overall ability," she said.
"The fact that Volkswagen's most premium positioned models are among the most popular in this country simply illustrates the affinity that Australians have for the brand, and how they value quality and engineering expertise."
Only during the second half of 2023 did Volkswagen begin to meet the incredible demand for the Polo GTI, Golf GTI, Golf R, T-Roc R and Tiguan R – indicating further potential to meet demand.
As the Golf R now returns to sale, the Tiguan R will also be available for deliveries into the third quarter of 2024.
The R range is complete in April with the addition of the Touareg R performance large SUV at $129,990 RRP*. More than 500 Australians have registered their interest in the performance plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) since the pricing was released to the public in December.
*Manufacturer's recommended retail price (RRP) for new vehicles, plus on-road costs, for media use only. Volkswagen Australia does not warrant the accuracy of any of this information as applicable to your particular circumstances and to the extent permitted by law is not liable for any claims or losses of any nature, including, but not limited to, damages, expenses, lost profits, punitive, special, indirect or consequential losses/damages caused by reliance on this information.