A comprehensively updated Volkswagen Touareg is due on sale in Ireland later this year with styling changes, an update to the technology and chassis upgrades. The new Touareg is currently undergoing cold weather testing in Lapland, and VW has ‘papped’ itself to give us these images.
QR code disguise
As with the ID.7 electric saloon, the Touareg is disguised with a QR-code-based vinyl wrap, which hides some styling tweaks and changes. Mind you, the biggest exterior change is the addition of a back-lit VW logo for the rear, which now glows red between the tail-lights. Previously, light-up logos were only allowed in China or the US, but the EU has changed its regulations on such things at the beginning of this year.
Clever headlights
It's not the only new light on the Touareg. Up front are new 'IQ.Light HD matrix' LED headlights, which use 38,400 micro LEDs to, according to VW, "turn night into day and ensure significantly more brightness on the road." For all those about to complain about too many oncoming cars with painfully bright lights at night, VW says that this is all done without dazzling any other road users thanks to clever matrix lighting tech. The new lights lay: "an interactive carpet of light into the lane of the luxury SUV. This so-called "lane light" makes driving at night more comfortable and makes it easier to drive through narrow motorway construction sites in the dark, as the carpet of light optimally illuminates the lane" says VW.
Roof load sensor
The Touareg's chassis is getting some small tweaks too, including a roof-load sensor that alters the car's stability control setup if it detects you've got something heavy on the roof-rack. The two suspension setups - steel springs or an optional air suspension system - have also been generally refined and updated.
The cabin has also been updated, with more comfortable armrests in the front and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the big 15-inch 'innovision' touchscreen. The USB-C chargers in the dash are also more powerful - 45w instead of the old 15w system.
As before, V6 diesel TDI and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be offered, with the range-topping model once again being the 462hp plug-in hybrid Touareg R. The new Touareg will go on sale in the summer of 2023.