The facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan R has much more going for it than the lackluster R-Line spec, but the latter has the undisputable advantage of being available in the USA. James Orr, from Colorado, has found a way to make it look exciting.
The car bears a rather pretentious-sounding title that goes “Tiguan SE R-Line Black RiNo Concept”. You will be forgiven for failing to recognize it under the massive pile of aftermarket mods. For us, the most notable change is the coilover-induced drop in ride height, which makes it look more like a hatchback than a crossover. Matte grey wheels fill out the low arches perfectly wrapped in tires 2 inches (50 mm) wider than stock.
Other exterior highlights include six-piston front calipers, enlarged side sills, and Borla quad exhaust tips in the back along with as many as three spoilers and a bike rack on top of that.
Inside, there is a dedicated niche for a bike helmet, an aluminum gear knob and a versatile air compressor. The trunk area is illuminated for convenience.
Orr has around two dozen of exotic Volkswagens in his garage, so there is no doubt this one is expertly built and trimmed. Watch the video for a full coverage.