2018 VW Touareg makes world premiere in Beijing

The third generation VW Touareg features a very expressive design, inspired by the VW T-Prime Concept GTE from Auto China 2016. The redesigned model is 77 mm longer, 44 mm wider and 7 mm lower than the previous generation model. These changes in the dimensions have resulted in giving the SUV much more dynamic proportions. The VW Touareg is still strictly a 5-seater. Its wheelbase has increased by only 1 mm.

At the front, the 2018 VW Touareg features a prominent chrome grille that seamlessly weaves into the continuous lines of the light signature of the headlights. Speaking of headlights, they are the new 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' with an interactive light control system which makes night-driving easier and safer. The new headlights have 128 individually activated LEDs each.

On the sides, the all-new VW Touareg features taut surfaces, accentuated wheel arches at the front, muscular shoulder edges at the rear, 21-inch wheels and wind and character lines running opposite to one another. At the rear, the SUV has sleeker LED tail lights with L-shaped light signature, wide-spaced 'Touareg' lettering in the centre and dual chrome tailpipes.

The interior of the latest VW Touareg is an equally big departure from its predecessor. The main talking point here is the dual-display setup, consisting of a 12-inch (1,920 x 720 pixels) virtual instrument cluster and a huge 15-inch (1,920 x 1,020 pixels) central display for the Discovery Premium infotainment system based on the MIB2+ High. Volkswagen calls this dual-display setup 'Innovision Cockpit'. A head-up display has also made it to the SUV now, and it projects a 217 x 88 mm virtual screen on the windshield. There's a full-width air vent on the passenger-side dashboard.

Other interior highlights include electrically adjustable front seats with a new pneumatic massage function, panoramic sliding roof – the largest in a Volkswagen to the date, LED ambient light in 30 colours, elegant wood accents, vegetable-tanned leathers and aluminium and chrome details. The cargo capacity is up by 113 litres to 810 litres.

The 2018 VW  Touareg measures 4,878 mm in length, 1,984 mm in width and 1,702 mm in height. It has a 2,894 mm wheelbase. Volkswagen will offer the MLB-Evo platform-based SUV with a new 276 kW (367 PS) plug-in hybrid system, as well as conventional V6 and V8 engines. China will get the plug-in hybrid system first. For Europe, Volkswagen is yet to decide the launch timeline of the electrified option.

Europe will initially get two V6 diesel engines, one producing 170 kW (231 PS) and 500 Nm of torque and the other 210 kW (286 PS) and 600 Nm of torque. A V6 petrol engine that delivers 250 kW (340 PS) and 450 Nm of torque and a V8 diesel engine good for 310 kW (421 PS) and 900 Nm of torque will follow later.

Volkswagen will offer the 4MOTION permanent AWD system as standard in the all-new VW Touareg. The redesigned model features the 4MOTION Active Control with multiple drive modes. Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual are the on-road drive modes, while Snow, Off-road Auto, Sand, Gravel and Off-road expert are the off-road drive modes. The long list of technical features includes 4-corner air suspension with electronic damping control, electromechanical, active roll compensation (eAWS) and all-wheel steering as well.

The new generation VW Touareg will go on sale later this year internationally