It may look like an Audi Q7 but pictured here is actually a very early test mule for the third-generation Volkswagen Touareg, which we expect on market in the second half of 2017, as a 2018 model.
It may look like an Audi Q7 but pictured here is actually a very early test mule for the third-generation Volkswagen Touareg, which we expect on market in the second half of 2017, as a 2018 model. The current Touareg was all-new for 2011 and received a mid-cycle update for 2015.
We know the test mule is a VW because of the interior, which features a number of VW-badged items. The vehicle’s license plate data also reveals that it is registered with the city of Brunswick, Germany, which is close to VW’s main R&D center. Other tell-tale signs that this is a test mule include ill-fitting body panels, a makeshift exhaust system and a slightly shorter wheelbase compared to the standard Q7.
The new Touareg will ride on the SUV version of VW’s flexible MLB Evo platform, albeit a shortened version of the platform. The new platform debuts in the 2017 Audi Q7 and will eventually appear in numerous other models from Audi as well as some from Bentley and Porsche. In fact, the development of the new Touareg will be closely aligned with that of the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, which we’re also expecting to be introduced for the 2018 model year.
Not much is known about the new Touareg but expect the styling to follow an evolutionary path, with elements borrowed from the latest Passat model sold overseas. It’s likely lighter weight, new tech goodies and more efficient powertrains will also be thrown into the mix.
It’s too early to talk specifics but we could see four-cylinder engines introduced as the base option in the U.S. A plug-in hybrid option is also likely, and we could also see a 10-speed DSG dual-clutch gearboxintroduced. New tech goodies should include a digital gauge cluster as well as a multitude of driver assist systems and perhaps even some semi-autonomous tech.
Look for a reveal of the new VW Touareg in late 2016 or early the following year. The first prototypes should starting hitting the road sometime next year. Note, before the new Touareg arrives, VW will start selling a new seven-seat SUV that will be built in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This model will be sold alongside the Touareg, meaning the new 2018 model is likely to be positioned as a more premium offering to make space for the U.S.-built SUV.
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