The Touareg sells in large quantities in China, which is why Volkswagen has decided to unveil the new generation model in the People’s Republic. Besides China, Europe and Russia are the next big markets. Worldwide sales of the previous two generations amount to nearly a million units.
The 3rd generation Touareg is built on the MLB platform that also underpins Touareg’s corporate siblings. Compared to its predecessor, the new model is moderately wider and longer which translates into better interior space. The luggage capacity is up from 697 to 810 litres (with rear bench seat up).
Despite its increased length and width, the body is 106 kg lighter because of its mixed material construction of aluminium (48%) and high-tech steel (52%).
As for the design, the new Touareg looks pretty much like an Audi inside-out, except for the face and logos of course. The exterior is equipped with Matrix LED headlamps with camera-based dipped and main beam headlight control.
Interiors get ‘Innovision Cockpit’ – a combination of 12-inch Digital Cockpit and 15-inch Discover Premium infotainment system. They merge to form information, communication and entertainment unit.
There is a big list of assistance systems including technologies such as the Night Vision assistance system (detects people and animals in darkness via a thermal imaging camera), Roadwork Lane Assist (semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking up to 60 km/h), Front Cross Traffic Assist, active all-wheel steering, new roll stabilization with electromechanically controlled anti-roll bars, and a windshield Head-up Display.
Powertrains
In Europe, Volkswagen will initially offer two V6 diesel engines for the new 2018 Touareg with outputs of 170 kW / 228 bhp and 210 kW / 282 bhp. In a number of markets, this will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW / 335 bhp) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW / 416 bhp). A new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW / 362 bhp of system output) is being prepared for China, and its exact launch date in Europe is yet to be decided.
Transmission is an 8-speed automatic sending power to all four wheels via 4Motion AWD system.
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