Volkswagen has unveiled the highly anticipated, updated version of the Touareg, their flagship SUV, set to launch in South Africa later this year.
The upgraded Touareg marks the first major upgrade to the model since its debut five years ago. The SUV features a restyled facade and an interior with some slight changes. The exterior sports a revamped look that closely resembles the North American Taos and gives a hint of what the future Tiguan might look like.
The upgraded model showcases Volkswagen’s latest Matrix I.Q LED headlight technology, equipped with a total of 38,432 microdiodes. These high-definition lights are designed to provide enhanced illumination without disturbing oncoming traffic, thanks to a new feature called Lane Light.
The SUV also gets a new front bumper, a black styling package for R-Line models, and standard chrome accents for mid-spec Elegance and R-Line versions. The rear makeover is less noticeable but includes a rounded bumper and a LED light bar with an illuminated Volkswagen logo.
The Touareg will also offer four new alloy wheel designs. Inside, it gets a revised Innovision Cockpit with a refined 15-inch Discover Pro Max infotainment system and a 12-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. It also features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, upgraded materials for the centre console, and a new steering wheel with physical buttons.
Other interior upgrades include improved voice recognition, illuminated touch points, new type-C USB ports, and an optional 730-watt Dynaudio sound system. Contrary to expectation, Volkswagen did not introduce a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in this update.
The revamped Touareg will exclusively use six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, a first in its 21-year history. The range will include the unchanged 3.0 TSI and 3.0 TDI in two states of tune, and the plug-in hybrid Touareg R. The 3.0 TSI petrol engine produces 250kW of power and 450Nm of torque, while the same engine in the eHybrid version produces 280kW of power and 600Nm of torque. The 3.0 TDI diesel engine is offered in two states of tune, producing either 170kW/500Nm or 210kW/600Nm. The plug-in hybrid Touareg R, combining a 3.0 TSI engine with a 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, outputs 340kW/700Nm in combined form.
The Touareg comes equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox, and various driving modes, including an E-Mode for the eHybrid. There are also optional and standard safety features such as Trailer Assist, Night Vision, Park Assist Plus, and semi-autonomous driving.
Currently available in Germany, the updated Touareg is set to launch in South Africa by the end of the year or early 2024, with only the TDI engines as options.
