SPY PICS: Volkswagen T-Roc R and Golf R 420

Revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, the new Volkswagen T-Roc has a funky name and a funky design.

Now it seems it will come with a funky engine too, which will give the pint-size SUV even more sizzle if it gets the green-light for production.

Seen here undergoing testing at the Nurburgring in Germany, the hot T-Roc in question is the 'R' performance model, according to our spy photographers.

This stands to reason, as the T-Roc features a sportier front bumper and the same exhaust outlets as the 213kW VW Golf R.

It also follows recent comments made by Volkswagen Group Australia's product marketing manager, Jeff Shafer, who recently told us he'd "…love to see Golf R spread to other models and I think that applies equally to passenger cars as well as SUVs".

This particular T-Roc R photographed about to enter the Nurburgring road course could be powered by the high-output version of VW's EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which in Europe generates 228kW – detuned to 213kW in Australia due to our "hot weather" status.

Either way, the all-wheel drive T-Roc R would be fast and furious, with suspension and brake upgrades to manage the power hike. Volkswagen Australia is already on board too.

"I think that would be an awesome car and I'd be first in line to put my money down for that sort of concept," said Shafer.

"Both of those trends are very much part of the Australian market – the SUV but also that performance appeal.".

It's not a slam-dunk to reach production at this stage, however.

The T-Roc R's future may hang in the balance, with sources suggesting the future of the hot compact SUV and several other performance models including the Golf R 420 also seen testing during the same event, are under the microscope of Volkswagen's decision makers. If they like them, all good. If not, they're axed.

Now, the Golf R 420 prototype is powered by an extreme version of the EA888 2.0-litre engine pumping out a wild 310kW, which would enable the production version to bloody the nose of Mercedes-AMG’s skull-cracking A 45 hot-hatch.

Pictured here with Audi RS-inspired oval exhaust pipes, the Golf R 420 runs bigger stoppers, stiffer springs and likely a minimalistic interior fit-out to suit its hard-core track-orientated attitude.

If – and it's a big if – the Golf R 420 gets the nod, Australia will be a key market with sales of Golf R models in this country continuing to defy expectations.

Volkswagen Australia has introduced a new cut-price Golf R Grid Edition, which is unique to this country, so you can be sure the importer will be keen to land an AMG-killing hero Golf to top off the range.