The new VW Touareg is headed for South Africa, with the first models expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The SUV is currently undergoing its final testing phase all the way out in the Arctic Circle, but teaser images of the car decked out in a QR-code camouflage have been released giving us a glimpse of what we can expect when the car makes an official landing later this year.
What we know
The new Touareg, which is the most expensive SUV in the German automaker’s line-up, will feature IQ.Light Matrix LED headlights much like the upcoming Amarok, complemented by a new horizontal light strip stretching across the front.
The rear has seen changes of its own, as the Touareg will be the first VW in Europe to come with a new illuminated rear logo – a feature that has been available in other markets like the US but was delayed in its continental rollout due to EU regulations.
Additionally, the chassis has been overhauled to make better use of the brand’s all-wheel-drive system, which has also enabled the addition of functions like a roof load sensor which adjusts the stability control of the car whenever a loaded roof box is installed.
The manufacturer has also reworked the setup of the optional two-chamber air suspension so as to give an even greater response for comfort or performance driving.
Inside, the VW has been fitted with an HD “Innovision Cockpit” operated via a digital driver’s display and 15-inch central touchscreen, which offers improved voice assist, on-board navigation, lane assist, and integrated App Connect for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The seats and various body panels have also been given an improved soft texture finish – something that was done based on customer feedback, said Volkswagen.
No concrete details have been given regarding the engine thus far, though the Wolfsburg carmaker has stated that a “performance model Touareg R eHybrid remains the highlight in the product line” – a reference to the plug-in units found overseas, though unfortunately, South Africa does not have this drivetrain.
The local models, therefore, are equipped with a 3.0-litre, V6, turbo-diesel engine that produces 190kW and 600Nm mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic box, and it seems a safe bet to assume that the next-gen vehicles will feature something akin.
In light of the host of high-end SUVs from several manufacturers that were updated with mild-hybrid engines just in the last few months – think BMW X5/X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Volvo XC40 – it’s not impossible that VW will follow suit by electrifying its flagship with a similar setup, however, nothing has yet been confirmed by the manufacturer itself.
The current Touareg has a South African starting price of R1,331,800, and the new one will probably be priced north of its predecessor. More details will undoubtedly be announced closer to the vehicle’s introduction later in 2023.
Next-generation VW Touareg
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