Sorry-Looking 2022 VW T-Roc Spied Wearing Hubcaps For Brake Testing

We have already seen pretty much every version of the 2022 VW T-Roc during testing – from the base model and the sporty R-Line, and from the full-blown T-Roc R, to the two-door T-Roc Cabriolet. In this latest set of spy pics, we get to see the T-Roc in an unconventional spec, combining the R-Line body kit with 15-inch steelies and hubcaps.

As we can tell from the sticker on the tailgate and the sensors on the center of the hub caps, this sorry-looking T-Roc was used for brake testing. During development, prototypes are covering thousands of miles on public roads, changing wheel/tire combinations.

Volkswagen didn’t bother to add camouflage to any of the facelifted T-Roc prototypes roaming the streets. Maybe the engineers decided that it looked too similar to the current model so the untrained eye wouldn’t be able to spot any differences.

In fact, besides details like the redesigned headlight/taillight graphics and the slimmer grille, the most notable visual changes are appearing on the R-Line which looks sportier than before, copying the Chinese-spec R-Line. Thanks to that, a lot of people will mistake the R-Line for the R, even though the latter gets the functional quadruple tailpipes instead of decorative trim.

The facelift is also expected to bring interior updates including a standard digital cockpit, a larger infotainment screen, and probably new kinds of upholstery/materials. Finally, VW will tweak the 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 TSI engines for improved efficiency, and possibly add a new plug-in hybrid variant.

We expect the facelifted VW T-Roc to be fully unveiled before the end of 2021, marking three years after the reveal of the current model.