Next-Gen VW Touareg Bows in China

Volkswagen AG took the wraps off the third-generation Touareg crossover vehicle, which will serve as VW’s flagship model, at an event in Beijing on Friday.

The carmaker expects China’s C-segment crossover/SUV market to double in size by 2023. There are no plans to offer the new Touareg in the U.S., where VW discontinued the current model last summer.

The 2019 Touareg rides on Volkswagen Group’s rear-wheel-drive MLB platform, which also carries the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne. Measuring 192 inches from bumper to bumper and 78 inches wide, the new Touareg is about three inches longer and nearly two inches wider than its predecessor.

Weight has been trimmed by as much as 233 lbs in some variants of the Touareg. This is achieved through a mixed-material body construction that is split between aluminum (48%) and high-strength steel (52%).

Engine choices will vary by market. The vehicle will launch this summer in Europe with a pair of 3.0-liter diesel V-6 engines. A 4.0-liter gasoline V-8 that will generate 415 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque is due laer. A plug-in hybrid system will be offered in China.

The combustion engines will be mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire capabilities. All-wheel drive and a center differential lock that can vary torque between wheels as needed will be standard.

Other tech goodies include an air suspension, four-wheel steering and roll stabilization with electromechanically controlled anti-roll bars. These are joined by a long list of available advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, driver fatigue warning, front cross-traffic assist, a head-up display, lane-keeping assist, LED matrix headlights, semi-automated steering and a thermal-imaging night vision camera.

The Touareg also introduces VW’s new “Innovision” cockpit. The system is highlighted by a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and 15-inch infotainment display.