THE premium end of the SUV market is a tough segment to crack and Volkswagen is renewing its efforts with its Touareg by releasing a V10 diesel-powered performance model called the R50. Taking the German giant's Toaureg to even greater heights, in terms of both performance and price, the $130,000 R50 is significantly quicker (but not that much less fuel-efficient) than the 5.0-litre V10 version upon which it is based. Despite that, in a surprise move that doesn't follow the tradition of its established German SUV rivals, it costs only $8000 more. The R50 currently accounts for no less than one-fifth of Volkswagen Australia's Touareg sales volume, indicating it could well become the shot in the arm the historic car-maker's luxury SUV so deperately needs.