A forbidden fruit in the United States, the Volkswagen T-Roc is doing very well for itself in Europe. Hence, the German carmaker decided to offer a second generation. The all-new model was just spied testing on the other side of the Atlantic.
The trippy camouflage meant to make it look similar to the current one hides most of the design novelties up front. We cannot see the grille and headlamps clearly, but it is obvious they're new, just like the bumper, hood, doors, and all body panels. The back-end design is evolutionary, and we wouldn't act surprised to see a full-width light bar.
Volkswagen's design department decided to put more visual space between the new T-Roc, the smaller T-Cross, and the larger Tiguan, so it will be a crossover coupe. This is evidenced by the more sloping roofline and angled design of the rear pillars and tailgate. The front and rear overhangs have similar proportions, and it appears the car has a bit more space between the axles.
As a result, it should offer a bit more legroom for backseat occupants and at least as much space in the trunk. It's nice to see the company went for traditional door handles instead of the flush-mounted ones, yet that's likely a cost-saving measure. The interior should resemble that of the new Tiguan to an extent, and it's expected to feature a tablet-like infotainment system next to the digital cluster.
Photo: Baldauf
The current T-Roc shares its platform with the old Golf, the Mk7, the Mk3 Skoda Octavia, Audi Q2, SEAT Ateca, and others. The new one, however, might transition to the MQB Evo, which is the foundation stone of the latest Golf, Octavia, and A3, to name but some. Thus, it should be more refined, offering superior comfort and enhanced interior space.
The architecture is compatible with numerous powertrains, and we think it will feature mild hybrids, at least two plug-in hybrids, and perhaps one or more diesels. It is yet unknown whether the T-Roc R will soldier on, but if it does, then it will top the family. The current one enjoys 296 hp (300 ps/221 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) from its 2.0L four-pot, mated to a DSG and AWD.
One model that won't survive past its current generation is the Cabriolet. The open-top variant hasn't been a sales success, so Volkswagen decided against giving it another shot. We will learn more about the all-new VW T-Roc as the testing advances, and we will get to see more prototypes and, who knows, maybe even a few leaks. As for the unveiling, it is believed to be due sometime in 2025, and just like the current iteration, it won't apply for a U.S. visa.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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