Plug-in hybrid, will go after BMW & Volvo.
The 2018 Volkswagen Touareg will be unveiled in its entirety later this year, it has been confirmed. The large SUV from the large German carmaker has grown incredibly long in the tooth, with the current model showing its age in most regards.
At the launch of the new T-Roc compact SUV in Lake Como, Volkswagen boss Dr. Herbert Diess confirmed the impending launch of the Touareg, as part of the company’s renewed offensive on SUVs. Following the recently-updated Tiguan, this would give the marque a three-pronged SUV approach, the first time that they’ve had more than two on offer.
*Current Touareg V6 TDI Adventure pictured.
In line with the continued popularity of SUVs, the company is expected to unveil a smaller, even more compact SUV to slot in beneath the Touareg sometime in 2018, likely to be sized similarly to the Polo albeit with the usual crossover concessions.
Back to the Touareg, we know for certain that motivation will come from a series of four-cylinder forced-induction engines in both petrol and diesel varieties, along with a plug-in hybrid variant offering some 285kW and 700Nm. More than just electrified power, the Touareg PHEV will also be able to offer some 80kW of electric-only range, returning a miserly 2.45L/100km fuel consumption figure (officially, at least).
The styling of the Touareg will be decidedly butch, following in the footsteps of the US-market Atlas SUV and the smaller Tiguan. While the face we have seen before, the rump remains a mystery, with sightings of test cars have them shrouded in disguise and masking, making details nearly impossible to spot.
Inside, the Touareg will feature plusher, more comfortable accommodations, employing posher materials all round along with a larger, renewed infotainment system. The focus on in-car niceties is largely due to the threat posed to the Touareg by the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5, both cars that feature strong, robust infotainment systems that have won critical acclaim across the industry.
All Touaregs will continue to be offered with 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard, and pricing is expected to see very little fluctuation compared to the outgoing car. The 2018 Touareg will go not production in November, so we don’t expect the launch to be too far off now.
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