New 2018 Volkswagen Touareg: UK launch prices and specs revealed
New range-topping Volkswagen Touareg SUV is now on sale in the UK, costing from £51,995
Volkswagen has revealed that the new third-generation Touareg is now on sale in Britain, priced from £51,595 for the Touareg SEL 3.0-litre V6 TDI, with R-Line and R-Line Tech models heading out the range.
The basic SEL model rides in 19-inch wheels as standard, plus navigation and a seven-inch touchscreen display. Adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and taillights, Bluetooth the smartphone link apps, and a wide range of driver assistance features are equipped as standard.
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The R-Line model is priced from £55,905, boasting a sportier look, a glass panoramic roof and 20-inch wheels. A reversing camera is standard fit but the display stays at seven inches in size.
The only car equipped as standard with the Touareg's eyecatching new Innovision infotainment setup, comprising of a giant 15-inch display alongside a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel is the R-Line Tech car, from £58,195. Just one engine - that 282bhp 3.0-litre diesel - is available right now.
VW says the new Touareg is now more practical than before, debuts the brand’s latest 15-inch Innovision Cockpit infotainment system and is more efficient thanks to a range of new V6 and V8 engines. A fuel sipping plug-in hybrid model is on the way, too.
Now based on the same MLB platform as the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, the latest Touareg has benefited from a significant growth spurt. Against the tape measure the SUV is 44mm wider and 77mm longer but marginally lower than the model it replaces. As a result boot capacity has increased by 113 litres to 810 litres with the rear seats in place.
At the same time VW has managed to reduce the weight of the car by 106kg through more liberal use of lightweight aluminium in its construction. This is said to be a key factor in improvements to the new Touareg’s performance and fuel economy.
New VW Touareg: engines and performance
Initially, UK Touareg buyers will be offered the choice of a single engine: a 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, which sends power through VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
In the autumn, two additional engines will be launched: a lesser-powered 228bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel and a 336bhp 3.0-litre turbo petrol. Towards the end of 2018 VW will introduce a flagship 417bhp 4.0-litre V8 turbodiesel but no date has yet been set for the arrival of the plug-in hybrid Touareg model.
Other new tech includes the arrival of rear-wheel steering, which is designed to improve maneuverability at low speed and stability at high-speed. Air suspension has also been added for the first time, which can increase the Touareg’s ride height by 70mm to further improve off-road performance. A new off-road pack is a further option and this adds extra driving modes, a larger fuel tank and under body protection. Meanwhile, the Touareg’s maximum wading depth has also increased by 80mm to 570mm.
VW says around 40 per cent of Touareg owners in Europe use the model as a towing vehicle and latest model has been developed and tested to tow up to 3.5 tonnes via a new retractable tow bar.
New VW Touareg: interior and design
Arguably the most radical change on the latest Touareg is on the inside, where VW has completely redesigned the cabin and infotainment system. The Touareg debuts a new system VW calls Innovision Cockpit, which comprises VW’s now familiar 12.3-inch digital instrument display with a huge 15-inch touchscreen mounted on the dash. The two screens act together to create a completely digital control interface that’s fully customizable with menus and displays that can be tailored to suit individual tastes.
The Touareg’s Innovision Cockpit is used to control all of the car’s major functions and replaces virtually every physical button on the dashboard. It’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and features a WiFi hotspot that allows up to eight devices to be connected at one time. A driver’s head-up display can be added as an option.
Visually the new Touareg adopts many of the design cues that first appeared on the T-Prime concept car back in 2016. The chrome grille dominates the front end and blends into the new LED Matrix headlamps, which each house 128 individual LEDs.
More SUVs on the way
The Touareg is the first in a long line of new SUVs on the way from VW; a new baby crossover, designed to rival the SEAT Arona, called the T-Cross, is also confirmed for production. It’s set to arrive towards the end of the year priced from around £16,000.
VW will also dive into the world of convertible SUVs with the T-Roc cabriolet, which will arrive in showrooms in 2020. Bosses are also mulling over the idea of a performance-based T-Roc R.
A production version of the I.D Crozz concept will roll into showrooms in 2020 as VW’s first fully electric SUV. It will offer a range of up to 373 miles bosses have confirmed.
Which cars are the best for towing? We’ve listed our favourites for 2018 here…
