(Mon 10 Mar 08)

The most powerful Volkswagen Touareg ever is going on sale in the UK, but numbers are limited so you may have to make a rapid visit to your local VW dealer.

The R50 uses a modified version of Volkswagen's five-litre V10 TDI turbo diesel engine, tweaked for this application to produce 346bhp rather than the usual 309bhp. That means it can reach a top speed of 146mph, and accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, which means it's only slightly slower in a straight line than the Golf R32.

Sitting 20mm lower than the standard Touareg, the R50 can easily be spotted thanks to its 21" ten-spoke alloy wheels, roof spoiler, restyled bumpers, oval exhaust tailpipe trims, wheelarch extensions, blue brake calipers, matt chrome radiator grille and honeycomb-style airdam inserts.

The R50 costs £61,885, or £3885 more than the previously range-topping Altitude V10 TDI.

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