What's the news?
Volkswagen will launch the third-generation Touareg with a pair of 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engines, rated at 231- and 286hp - this being a similar tactic to Audi's Mk2 Q7, which launched in 2015 with 218- and 272hp variants of the same motor. For the all-new Touareg, later in 2018 - and following on from the opening diesel salvo - there will be a 3.0-litre TFSI petrol V6, as found in the Audi SQ5, slated to develop 340hp and around 500Nm in the Touareg.
The German company is also proposing a 421hp 4.0-litre turbocharged TDI engine, this being a derivation of the unit found in the Audi SQ7 and Bentley Bentayga Diesel, and it's possible that we could see the first revival of an R-badged VW SUV since 2008's Touareg R50, based on the V10 TDI first-gen model, if this V8 variant ever makes it to Ireland. Also confirmed is a 367hp plug-in hybrid model, which will be released first in China. A precise launch date for this last drivetrain in Europe 'has not yet been set.'
Finally, on the subject of drivetrain technology, Volkswagen has confirmed that the third-gen SUV will continue to be offered with 4Motion permanent all-wheel drive across the board, with an eight-speed, 'shift-by-wire' automatic transmission that can 'transfer drive torque of up to 1,000Nm' to all four wheels; that's an intriguing number to quote, because the SQ7 engine listed above currently churns out 900Nm - so will we see even more twist from the Touareg? And all the Volkswagen's towing capability remains intact, as it can lug 3.5 tonnes of braked trailer up an eight per cent gradient, while it will come with Trailer Assist for the first time as the SUV now has electromechanical steering, instead of a hydraulic set-up.
Moving on to the underpinnings, as standard the Touareg gets a MacPherson strut set-up at the front with five-link suspension rear. Much of this is made of aluminium to keep weight down, but full air suspension will be offered, as will the active anti-roll bar set-up with a 48-volt power supply that has been used on the Audi SQ7 and Bentayga models we've already mentioned. This uses electromechanical anti-roll bars on both axles, with a central control unit managing how they operate to keep the Touareg's body stable at all times.
The optional air suspension features several different ride heights compared to Normal or Comfort settings in the Driving Mode controls: 50mm lower, for loading only when stationary; 25- to 35mm lower at speeds of 120km/h and above, to maximise fuel economy thanks to improved aerodynamics; 25mm higher in 'Off-Road' mode; and, last of all, the body gets jacked up by 70mm for the ultimate 'Special Off-Road' setting. Choosing air support for the chassis also improves the front/rear departure angles from 25 to 31 degrees, the breakover angle from 18.5 to 25 degrees, and the maximum wading depth from 500- to 580mm, so if you're a keen off-roader, you'll need the Volkswagen on air suspension.
Rear-wheel steering also makes an (optional) appearance on the Touareg for the first time, in which the rear wheels turn the opposite way to the fronts at speeds of less than 50km/h - improving agility and reducing the turning circle by one metre to 11.19m in total - while, above 50km/h, the rears turn in the same direction as the leading tyres. This makes the Volkswagen more stable as it enacts high-speed lane changes on faster roads, like motorways.
Anything else?
Let's talk lights. While LED tail lights and an impressive level of forward illumination are offered on all Touareg Mk3 models, the optional top-grade lighting choice is a full LED Matrix set-up with 75 light points. This allows for 12 different lighting functions, according to whether the Volkswagen SUV is in a brightly lit urban area or out on a dark rural road, cruising along a motorway, or even overtaking. Couple this up with Night Vision technology that can highlight pedestrians and wildlife with thermal imaging technology, and it's unlikely you'll encounter a situation after daylight hours in which the Touareg is out of its depth.
The new Volkswagen Touareg goes on sale in Ireland in June. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.
Read Dave's story on the new Touareg from its launch in China