2019 Volkswagen Touareg debuts with 15-inch display

2019 Volkswagen Touareg debuts with 15-inch display

China is Volkswagen’s largest market, and the Middle Kingdom has a voracious appetite for SUVs. It’s no surprise, then, that Wolfsburg has unveiled the latest version of its Touareg in Beijing, the first time the company has ever held a world premiere in the country.

Sitting on the new MLB Evo platform shared with the latest Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga, the third-generation Touareg debuts a suite of new technologies hiding under its sharp suit. On the outside, the brand’s latest design language is clear to see, with a chrome-laden version of Volkswagen’s wide grille; the headlight graphics blend seamlessly into the horizontal slats.

Along the side, there are fake front fender vents like on the Arteon, plus a crisp shoulder line and a prominent rear haunch. The rear receives wide two-piece tail lights, a full-width reflector and twin tailpipes.

2019 Volkswagen Touareg debuts with 15-inch display

The new Touareg is longer, wider and slightly lower than before, measuring 4,878 mm long, 1,984 mm wide and 1,702 mm tall, with a 2,894 mm wheelbase. Despite the increased dimensions, the car is 106 kg lighter than before, thanks to a mixed-material construction featuring 48% aluminium and 52% high-tech steels.

Inside, the dashboard is dominated by the novel Innovision Cockpit – this seamless display setup combines the 12-inch Digital Cockpit instrument display with a massive 15-inch (!) centre touchscreen of the range-topping Discover Premium infotainment system. Together, they form a digital operating, information, communication and entertainment unit that dispenses with most of the hard buttons or switches.

Volkswagen says that the increased dimensions have benefitted interior space, with the boot having been expanded significantly from 697 litres to a massive 810 litres – and that’s with the rear seats up. There’s an optional power-retracting and extending cargo cover to keep prying eyes away.

2019 Volkswagen Touareg debuts with 15-inch display

Additions to the Touareg’s safety arsenal include Night Vision, Front Cross Traffic Assist, active all-wheel steering, roll stabilisation with electromechanical anti-roll bars (à la Bentayga) and a head-up display. There’s also Roadwork Lane Assist that features semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking at speeds of up to 60 km/h, along with IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights.

At launch, the engine range in Europe will consist of just two V6 turbodiesels putting out 231 PS and 286 PS, with 340 PS turbo petrol V6 and a 421 PS V8 turbodiesel available in selected markets. A plug-in hybrid version with a total system output of 367 PS is being developed for the Chinese market, but Volkswagen has yet to provide a timeframe for the petrol-electric Touareg’s introduction in Europe.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • polla on Mar 26, 2018 at 11:31 am

    Finally, Touareg more premium then Cayenne & Q7.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
    • Autobahn on May 13, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      231ps…hmm suddenly the new santa fe and sorento with 200ps sounds a lot more sensible

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Looks better than Cayenne and Q7.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Moving the aircon to the passenger side like HRV frees up space in middle to maximise screen to humongous size. Now rear passengers can watch TV on the screen.

    With semi-auto piloting, driver too can watch TV.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Daikin on Mar 26, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      Centre still got air cond la it’s just positioned quite low below the screen

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • Oh… hidden so well. Kinda pointless if so low thou..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
      • Tristar on Mar 26, 2018 at 2:28 pm

        Its not the positioning really that matters. Its the blower capability. I remember driving a Japanese SUV (no need to mention name) that has perfect body level air con louvres. But the blower somehow doesnt get the wind at optimum capacity. So no matter what you do on a hot day, you still feel warm

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Nice!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • heybadigol (Member) on Mar 26, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    Design is subjective, but to these eyes the new Touareg looks better than the more upmarket Audi Q7. Great job done by VW there. Makes you question why buy a Q7, other than needing extra seats in the Q7’s 3rd row. Dash looks really sleek. Like how the dash is centred around the driver, just like BMW. But that sleekness does necessitate having the AC vents rather low down, below the huge central screen. Not sure how effective that is. Nobody has properly reviewed the car yet (on the road) , so we’ll have to wait until then to find out if its as good to drive as it is to look at.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • any owner wants to share previous experiences with the old touareg? im considering one when it reaches here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • heybadigol (Member) on Mar 27, 2018 at 11:54 am

      Sat in the rear seats of a 1st gen Touareg for a long distance drive, more than 10 years ago. It was really plush. Its a great car I would say, but terribly overlooked here in Malaysia. Its like a less stiff Cayenne (less handling ability, but makes up for it with a smoother ride). But despite costing less than the Porsche, its still quite expensive brand new, then depreciates a lot.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Can Paul Tan check with VW Malaysia when it will be available for sale in Malaysia and how much? Will trade in my ML to buy this.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • 12yrsold on Mar 26, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      Mercedes made millions of good vehicles & their RV are usually better than average but sad to say, your ML will not fetch a good price as it is one of the less sold model in MB stable hence U will not get good value for it.

      The Best SUV & value for $$$ currently is the Volvo XC90 & U don’t have to wait if U really needed one. Go test drive one & U will agree with most who own one. Cheers…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 9
  • Afeeq (Penang, MY -> Texas, USA) on Mar 26, 2018 at 1:29 pm

    Wow the car looks gorgeous! Good job to the designers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • The front grille looks very similar to the current Nissan Elgrand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
  • 12yrsold on Mar 26, 2018 at 1:41 pm

    When will this Touareg come here ? Nobody know. This SUV looks promising but lets face facts. If it come here, it will have to compete against the mighty XC90 on price & equipment/performance. john famous word – Dead on Arrival(DOA)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 9
  • Rajoo Selvam on Mar 26, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    This is one great SUV packed with lots of technologies and performance!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • 2019 – is vw touareg 3rd generation coming to Malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • is vw touareg 3rd generation coming to malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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