Volkswagen Touareg 2019 Review

Volkswagen presented the completely redeveloped Touareg in China - the flagship of the brand. Equipped with the connectivity of a new era and a pioneering fusion of assistance, comfort, lighting and infotainment systems, the Volkswagen Touareg points the way to the future. At the same time, the exclusive SUV charges up its market segment with pure dynamism. The largest markets for what is now the third generation of the Touareg are China, Europe and Russia. Worldwide sales of the previous two generations amount to nearly one million units. The Volkswagen Touareg - as comfortable as it is dynamic - has, as the most technically advanced Volkswagen of its era, the potential to enthuse technology and design savvy drivers of premium class models of all sorts, reaching new target groups as well.

Premiere of the Innovision Cockpit

Volkswagen is presenting the fully digitalised Innovision Cockpit for the first time in the new Touareg. Here the digital instruments (Digital Cockpit with 12-inch display) and the top Discover Premium infotainment system (with 15-inch display) merge to form a digital operating, information, communication and entertainment unit that hardly needs any conventional buttons or switches. Always-on, offering intuitive control and maximum personalisation - with the Innovision Cockpit, the Volkswagen Touareg provides the blueprint for tomorrow's digital interior today.

A focus on people

Drivers use the Innovision Cockpit to adapt the assistance, handling and comfort systems to their personal tastes; the car becomes 'their' Touareg. This opens up a world in which the driver and on-board guests no longer have to adapt to the car; rather the car adapts to them. Like a new smartphone, the Volkswagen is set up and tuned to personal needs. This is made possible by a new high level of connected systems and programmes - controlled via digital interfaces and the multifunction steering wheel.

The VW Touareg is launching with the largest range of assistance, handling and comfort systems ever to be integrated into a Volkswagen. They include technologies such as the 'Night Vision' assistance system (detects people and animals in darkness via a thermal imaging camera), Roadwork Lane Assist (semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking up to 60 km/h), Front Cross Traffic Assist (reacts to cross traffic in front of the Touareg), active all-wheel steering (makes the Touareg handle like a compact car), new roll stabilisation with electro-mechanically controlled anti-roll bars and 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights' (interactive, camera-based dipped and main beam headlight control) and a 'Windshield Head-up Display' projected directly into the windscreen. The driver experiences these systems as a single unit in the new Volkswagen Touareg. They are simply there - interconnected via a new central control unit - working imperceptibly in the background and making travel safer, more convenient and more intuitive than ever.

New dimensions and reduced weight

Compared to its predecessor, the third generation Touareg is moderately wider and longer. The new dimensions have positive effects on both the vehicle's proportions and its amount of interior space. The added exterior length leads, for example, to a significantly larger luggage compartment: its capacity has increased from 697 to 810 litres (with rear bench seat up). Cargo there is hidden from onlookers by an optional electrically extending and retracting luggage compartment cover. Despite its increased length and width, the car body is 106 kg lighter because of its mixed material construction of aluminium (48 per cent) and high-tech steels (52 per cent).

Launch with V6 engines

In 2018, Volkswagen will be offering the new Volkswagen Touareg with a new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW/367 PS system power), initially in China. The exact European launch date for the Touareg with a plug-in hybrid drive is still open; in Europe, two V6 diesels with 170 kW/231 PS and 210 kW/286 PS will be offered at first. This will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW/340 PS) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW/421 PS) for many different markets.

Volkswagen Touareg drivers are sporty, active people

Around 60 per cent of all Touareg owners in Germany and 40 per cent in Europe also use their Volkswagen as a towing vehicle - these are remarkably high figures. That is why the new generation is also designed to handle trailer weights of up to 3.5 tonnes. The SUV is also often used by active, sporty people who value maximum safety, excellent seating comfort and intuitive operation. Other key aspects important to its owners are optimal connectivity and high-end infotainment. The fact is that in all of the core markets of the Touareg - as noted China, Europe and Russia - the vehicle is used by an above-average number of drivers who have their own companies or who work independently and are very tech savvy. Nonetheless, there are some slight demographic differences. In China, VW Touareg owners are 41 years old on average, while the figure is 43 for Russia and 55 for Europe. Accordingly, the share of Touareg drivers with younger children is higher in China (65 per cent) and Russia (47 per cent) than it is in Europe (31 per cent).

Volkswagen SUV campaign

The new 2018 Touareg is another milestone in the largest product campaign in the history of the Volkswagen brand. The brand's range of SUVs is also being expanded comprehensively. It currently consists of the new T-Roc, the Tiguan, the new Tiguan Allspace (Europe) and Tiguan L (China), the new Atlas (USA) and the Teramont (China), plus the now completely redesigned Touareg as Volkswagen's top SUV model. At the other end of the SUV range, Volkswagen will also be expanding its programme beneath the T-Roc with the compact T-Cross. Another model of the product campaign, which offers zero emissions driving, is also a sure thing: the I.D. CROZZ - the first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen. It will arrive on the market in 2020.

Exterior design of the Volkswagen Touareg - tailor-made for freedom

Technically, the new Touareg is based on the Group's modular longitudinal matrix (MLB); it covers models with longitudinally mounted engines and gearboxes starting with the upper mid-size class. In contrast to the previous model, the third generation is moderately wider and longer, but a little lower. The new dimensions: 4,878 mm long (+77 mm), 1,984 mm wide (+44 mm) and 1,702 mm high (- 7 mm). The gains in length and width - in conjunction with the slightly reduced height - result in much more dynamic proportions.

Alternative to the establishment

Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Bischoff, together with his team, has transferred the design of the Touareg to a new time and dimension. The car's design and technology are a perfect match for one another. That is because, with the third generation Volkswagen Touareg, Volkswagen has sharpened the positioning of its flagship to make it an exclusive all-round vehicle. It offers an alternative to the establishment with its pioneering and innovative technologies, versatility, and its excellent comfort and dynamic properties. The Touareg's highly expressive design reflects its new positioning. Klaus Bischoff: "We had an opportunity to implement our ideal vision of a large, exclusive SUV from Volkswagen. And naturally we have consistently exploited this opportunity."

Dominant flagship

While the first generation of the SUV was marked by a dominant off-road DNA, this orientation changed with the second generation and now with the new VW Touareg: towards an increasingly more progressive, contemporary and exclusive all-round vehicle. But it is still always ready to conquer the world's unpaved trails and reach any destination. Bischoff: "The design of the new Touareg makes it unmistakably clear that it is the dominant flagship of the brand. The power of this Volkswagen resides in its amiability and elegance - this car does not need to force anything."

Front end

The highly expressive front end in particular defines the Volkswagen Touareg's design. A glance at it evokes trust that is reinforced by the high quality of its detailing. The chrome of the solid grille looks as though it had been milled from solid metal, and it seamlessly weaves into the continuous lines of the light signature. Klaus Bischoff: "On this front end, we wanted to create something that had never been done before. In an intensive process, we joined the chrome elements of the front end and the Touareg's new LED lighting system, so that the transitions between design and technology would merge into a new whole." Innovative, highly expressive and inimitable. "This front end", says Bischoff," makes the new Touareg one of the most concise SUVs on the global market. Tailor-made for freedom. That was our objective - no more and no less."

Side profile

The taut side surfaces of the Volkswagen Touareg body look like sails filled with a tail wind. Accentuated wheel arches at the front and muscular shaping of the shoulder edges at the rear underscore the Touareg's confidence on any terrain. And that was the goal: to design the most confident SUV of its class. Also defining the design on the sides are the window and character lines that run counter to one another. The roof line is also striking. It ascends in a flowing manner along a distinctive side line and terminates dynamically at the C-pillar that angles well forward. The gain in dynamism is also reflected in the line-up of wheel designs for the Touareg that is completely new. Their size now starts at 18 inches as standard instead of 17 inches, and ranges up to 21 inches.

Rear section

The broad shoulders above the rear wheels, which form a recessed greenhouse, lend a superlative presence to the rear. This dominance is emphasised by LED tail light clusters. They not only underscore the large overall width of the Volkswagen Touareg but also reference the LED graphics of the front end with their L-shaped light signature. The aesthetics of form do not detract from functionality in any way. In fact, the opposite is true. Practically the entire width is filled out by the boot lid - but the boot lid is barely visible. So, the only aspect the viewer recalls is the Touareg's dynamism.

Interior concept - interior space for the digital era

Interior designers have fully conceptualised the Touareg interior anew, systematically tailoring it for the digital era. Everywhere it makes sense to do so, digital surfaces have replaced conventional indicators and controls. The dominant centre of the interior space is formed by the wide and elegant dash panel with the Innovision Cockpit that can be integrated here as an option - an alliance of digital instruments (Digital Cockpit with a 12-inch display) and the Discover Premium infotainment system (with a 15-inch touchscreen). It is the digital control centre - the Volkswagen Touareg's interactive interface, in which information and settings for all key convenience, assistance and infotainment systems blend into a matrix. Thanks to its own eSIM (offered in 13 European countries at launch), the new SUV is also "always on". The 'Innovision Cockpit' represents a watershed - because no other Volkswagen interior has ever been digitalised to such an extent, offering wider ranging connectivity to vehicle functions and the outside world.

Comfort, quality and exclusivity of the highest levels

As unyielding and demanding as the on-road and off-road may be, the interior of the Volkswagen SUV always remains a luxurious comfort zone. The screens of the Innovision Cockpit with their overlaid glass surfaces, elegant wood accents (genuine natural grain wood), vegetable-tanned leathers and aluminium and chrome details give the vehicle a look and feel that reveals its extraordinarily high quality. For example, in the new 'Atmosphere' trim line a narrow wing of 'Curved beam wood' - a curved wood accent in ash - spans the entire width of the dash panel, following its shape, and is integrated into the light design of the ambient lighting. One way to personalise the interior is by choosing one of three trim lines: 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line'. 'Atmosphere' is a new, lounge-like world, in which wood and natural colours reign. 'Elegance' stands for a new, technical world where metal and related colours dominate. Then there is the 'R-Line' package, which focuses on sportiness - as it always does at Volkswagen.

New massage seats and variable rear seating system

The optional electrically adjustable front seats may, as a further option, include a new, pneumatic massage function which is featured for the first time in the Touareg. Users can select from eight modes. The pneumatic massage functions, which offer variable control of intensity, are implemented by individual air cushions. The rear seating system also provides 160 mm of longitudinal adjustment to create even more space at the rear. Offering additional comfort is the tilt adjustment for the rear seat backrest (three stages up to 21 degrees). The term 'long-distance vehicle' takes on a whole new quality in the Touareg with its seat system. To ensure that five people have enough space for their luggage on long trips or on a short trip to the next airport, cargo capacity is increased by 113 litres to 810 litres in the new VW Touareg compared to the previous model.

Largest Volkswagen panoramic sliding roof

Natural light enters the interior through the largest panoramic sliding roof implemented in a Volkswagen to date. The transparent roof cut-out (interior dimension) is 1,270 mm long by 825 mm wide. The front half of the roof can be opened variably via a four-way switch. It can travel up to 495 mm towards the rear by electric drive and can be tilted up. An electrically operated fabric sunshade reduces solar radiation.

Ambient light in 30 colours

The atmosphere inside the Touareg can also be personalised by ambient light. In addition, an optional 30 light colours are available, whose brightness can be variably adjusted.

Innovision Cockpit in detail - matrix of the digital world

The 'Innovision Cockpit' is celebrating its world premiere in the third generation Touareg. The majority of its buttons are integrated into the 15-inch screen (1,920 x 1,020 pixels) of the top 'Discover Premium' infotainment system, which is curved towards the driver. The cockpit also includes control of the four-zone air conditioning system and operation of seat heating, seat ventilation and massage. Meanwhile, intuitively and frequently used switches, such as volume control, were intentionally implemented as analogue controls (it is also possible to adjust volume from the infotainment system's touchscreen). To the side of the driver, the glass-covered display of the Discover Premium visually merges with the similarly glass-covered Digital Cockpit - the Volkswagen Touareg's 12-inch, high-resolution digital instrument cluster (1,920 x 720 pixels). The two screens form a uniform digital landscape in 'one-screen design' along a single visual and operating axis. Other features of the Innovision Cockpit: the 'Deluxe telephony' function, an inductive charging function for smartphones, App Connect (integrates MirrorLinkÒ, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, thereby covering all common Apple and Android smartphones), Media Control (integration of tablets), four USB ports (the two front ports interface to the infotainment system with a charging function; the two rear ports only provide charging) and a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices. An optional add-on to the Innovision Cockpit is a Head-up Display, which projects key information into the virtual space in front of the driver on the windscreen.

Infotainment system based on the 'MIB2+ High'

The centrepiece of the Innovision Cockpit is the top Discover Premium infotainment system, which serves simultaneously as a radio-navigation system, telephone, information centre and user interface for configuring various vehicle functions. It is a system based on the 'MIB2+ High'. MIB stands for the modular infotainment matrix. The Discover Premium of the MIB2+ High offered in the Touareg delivers innovations that include 'Connected Navigation' (display of extended 3D city models), 'Nav-Gen4 Routing' (computation of alternative routes under consideration of route profiles, topography and recurring traffic situations such as rush hour), self-learning navigation (based on use profiles, the Discover Premium recognises where the driver is highly likely to want to drive to and recommends the associated route), 'Hybrid Radio' (fusion of terrestrial and Internet-based radio reception) as well as an extension of mobile online services (including reading news aloud and 'Gracenote online' to supplement song information, which can be saved locally and can also be called up offline at a later time.

Home screen is multifunctional and can be personalised

The digital layout of the home screen includes a user control status bar (top of screen) that can be personalised, the line of air conditioning controls (for Climatronic and seat functions), function tiles (one large central tile and two smaller user-configurable tiles), user-definable favourite buttons (left of screen), selectable clock designs and a 3D model representation of the vehicle and seats. The all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid drive can also be visualised. Menu navigation is set up to be intuitive. For instance, the user can press the home button - a virtual button on the lower display border that is familiar from smartphones - to return to the top menu level, the home screen, from any menu with a single click. It is just as easy to also personalise the Digital Cockpit from the infotainment system's home screen.

Interactive instruments

The Digital Cockpit is a fully digitalised alternative to the standard analogue instruments of the Touareg, and it is a central component of the Innovision Cockpit. The driver can personalise the layout of the 12.0-inch display from the home screen or the multifunction steering wheel. Drivers can also vary the layouts and the type and number of indicators according to their personal tastes. Those who like a minimalist layout, for example, can limit the display to the navigation system or media library (plus digital speedometer and gear indicator). The trip meter and odometer remain active throughout and are always shown at the same positions. In addition, it is possible to integrate into the Digital Cockpit various system indicators such as instructions and/or the control of assistance systems, navigation and off-road indicators.

Head-up Display in detail

Information of the 'Windshield Head-up Display' is projected directly onto the windscreen. The display is located in the driver's direct visual field - this means that drivers can see all key information without having to divert their gaze from the road. The Head-up Display is the largest display of its type offered by Volkswagen with a virtual screen size of 217 x 88 mm. The driver can vary the types of information shown in the Head-up Display.

Personalisation

Personal settings - including those for the Innovision Cockpit and Head-up-Display - get saved in the vehicle system and can be automatically reactivated by use of a personal vehicle key. That is particularly practical if the Volkswagen Touareg was last driven by a colleague or another family member using a different key. Alternatively, the settings can be activated when starting up the vehicle via a menu that opens automatically. The Touareg can save a total of seven profiles for different drivers.

Optional Dynaudio sound system with 730 watts

The new Touareg is equipped with an 80 watt amplifier that is integrated into the infotainment system's central computer. The sound is transmitted by four tweeters (two in the A-pillars, two in the front door shoulders), each measuring 65 mm in diameter, and four 200-mm woofers in the front and rear doors. Optionally, a high-end sound system is available which was tuned specifically for use in the new Volkswagen Touareg together with Danish audio specialist Dynaudio. The system utilises a Dolby 7.1 amplifier with a power output of 730 watts to drive a total of fourteen loudspeakers: four tweeters in the A-pillars and the front door shoulders (each 65 mm in diameter), two mid-range speakers in the front doors (each 100 mm) and four mid-range speakers in the rear doors (each 200 mm), two effect loudspeakers in the D-pillars (each 100 mm), a centre speaker in the dash panel and a subwoofer under the luggage compartment floor.

Driver assistance systems of the Touareg

The new Touareg is one of the world's safest and most convenient cars. Making a contribution to this is its large range of driver assistance systems. 'Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist' enables semi-automated driving functions here. Also making its debut in a Volkswagen is the 'Night Vision' assistance system. The driver benefits from the interplay of assistance systems more than ever in the Touareg. Convenience and safety reach a new level based on this. An overview of the driver assistance systems:

Driving dynamics and warning systems

'Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist' (semi-automated driving up to 60 km/h)

Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring

Front Cross Traffic Assist (warns driver of cross traffic in front of the car)

Lane Assist (lane keeping system)

Side Assist (lane change and turn assistant)

Parking and manoeuvring

Trailer Assist (trailer manoeuvring system)

Park Assist (semi-automated parking and exiting from parking spaces)

Safety

Emergency Assist (vehicle control if driver is unresponsive)

Automatic Post-Collision Braking System 2.0 (automatic braking after initial collision)

Proactive occupant protection system (preconditions safety systems and closes windows and the panoramic roof before a potential accident)

Information and display

Driver Alert System (warning of driver fatigue)

Night Vision (night-time assistance)

Rear View (reversing camera)

Dynamic Road Sign Display (shows road signs such as speed limits and zones where overtaking is prohibited)

Windshield Head-up Display

Urban light: very wide light distribution, focused to the sides, active up to 50 km/h

Rural road light: dipped beam with wide light distribution towards the road shoulder

Oncoming vehicle light: continuous main beam on rural roads without dazzling other road users

Motorway dipped beam: narrower light pattern, focused on long range at higher driving speeds

Motorway main beam: narrower light pattern, focused on long range at higher driving speeds as soon as no other road users would be dazzled

Overtaking light: activation of main beam with pinpoint accuracy to avoid dazzling. The system detects when the Touareg pulls out to the side; this side zone is then illuminated more.

Main beam: manually activated main beam to purposely use all 75 LEDs of the headlights for maximum illumination. The light pattern is wider than that of the motorway main beam.

Poor weather light: reduces dazzling from the vehicle's own lights and other lights on pavement wet with rain. It is activated as soon as the rain sensor detects precipitation. The 'IQ.Light' reduces annoying light reflections directly in front of the vehicle from the headlights on wet, reflective road surfaces by reducing the light intensity in this zone.

Sign glare reduction light: partial dipping of the main beam with pinpoint accuracy on road signs, so that light reflected from the headlights does not dazzle the driver.

Off-road light: especially powerful dipped beam focused on wide distribution so that obstacles can be seen better in off-road situations

Marker light (when using Night Vision) focused brief flash illumination of people detected by Night Vision (infrared camera) so that the driver can see them better

An overview of the on-road driving modes

'Eco' (optimised for fuel economy)

'Comfort' (optimised for comfort on long journeys)

'Normal' (well-balanced standard)

'Sport' (boosts dynamic handling)

'Individual' (parameters individually selectable)

An overview of the off-road driving modes

'Snow' (optimised for slippery roads)

'Off-road Auto' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; optimised for general off-road situations)

'Sand' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; tailored to sandy conditions, with no Hill Start Assist)

'Gravel' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; for slightly rough terrain such as farm tracks)

'Off-road expert' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; off-road parameters individually selectable)

Decorative strips on dash panel in fine wood ('fine grainy ash' or the optional 'shape-conformant grainy walnut')

Trim panel of centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver' (optional: 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver')

'Vienna' leather for basic seats

'Vienna' leather for comfort seats

'Savona' leather with design perforations

Load sill protection in stainless steel

'Deluxe' bumpers; vertical chrome stanchions

Sill panel trims with metal inserts

Additional interior lighting

Decorative window strips, bare

Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

Decorative strips on dash pad in 'Aluminium, brushed 45°' (optional: grey-dyed, 'shape-conformant fine silver birch')

Trim panel of centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver' (optional: 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver')

'Vienna' leather for basic seats

'Vienna' leather for comfort seats

'Savona' leather with design perforations

Load sill protection in stainless steel

'Deluxe' bumpers; vertical chrome stanchions

Sill panel trims with metal inserts

Additional interior lighting

Decorative window strips, bare

Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

Decorative strips on dash panel in 'Aluminium Silver Wave'

Trim panel on centre console in 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver'

'Vienna' leather for comfort seats, R-Line

'Savona' leather for comfort seats, R-Line

Load sill protection in stainless steel

Multifunction steering wheel in leather, heated, with shift paddles

R-Line bumpers, front and rear in R-styling

Radiator grille with R-Line badge

R-Line speed stripes on sides

Sill panel trim with R-Line badge

Additional interior lighting

Decorative window strips, bare

Wheel arch extensions in body colour

Wheel trims in body colour (19-inch)

Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

Exterior equipment

LED tail lights

LED number plate lighting

LED headlights

LED daytime running lights

Heat-reflecting glass

LED reflectors in front doors

Interior equipment

Trim strips on dash panel in 'Cortina Silver'

Trim panel on centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver'

Basic seats, fabric (one colour)

Storage pack

Cup holders

Window trim strips, black

Floor mats, front and rear

Luggage space cover

Glove box with LED lighting, cooling

Interior lights in footwell, front and rear

LED reading lights, front and rear

Centre armrest, front

Multifunction display (colour)

Multifunction steering wheel in leather with shift paddles

Rear bench seats have 160 mm longitudinal adjustment, tilt adjustment of rear seat backrests

Rear bench seats/backrests split, folding, with centre armrest

Leather gear lever knob

Front seats, manual height adjustment

Convenience features

Exterior mirrors, electric folding, adjustable, heated

Automatic differential lock

Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Assist

4MOTION Active Control

Electric windows

Speed-dependent power steering control

Cruise control system plus speed limiter

'Discover Pro' infotainment system with navigation (9.2-inch)

Interior mirror, automatically dimming

Steering column, axial and vertical adjustment

Personalisation

Rain sensor for wipers, front

Preparation for smartphone

Central locking system with Keyless Go (engine starting/stopping by pushbutton)

Two-zone automatic air conditioner (Climatronic)

Safety

All-weather light

Pedestrian protection features (including active bonnet, Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring)

Lane Assist

Driver Alert System

Automatic Post-Collision Braking System

Daytime running lights with auto function

Traffic sign detection

'Night Vision'

The new VW Touareg is the first Volkswagen to be available with a night-time assistance system: 'Night Vision'. Its thermal imaging camera (infrared camera) registers the infrared radiation emitted by living beings. Any people or animals it detects are highlighted in colour on a black-and-white image: green or red according to the level of risk. The image itself is relayed to the Digital Cockpit. If Night Vision detects a hazard, it actively warns the driver (by an indicator in the Digital Cockpit and optional Head-up Display). Simultaneously, the brakes and the Brake Assist System are pre-conditioned to prepare them for immediate maximum braking power. By virtue of the new, interactive 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights', the system illuminates, by a brief flash, any people in the potential danger zone to make them even more visible to the driver and to warn them. This marker light is offered exclusively in conjunction with Night Vision. The combination of Night Vision and 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights' enables much earlier awareness and reaction to hazardous situations.

Front Cross Traffic Assist

The new Front Cross Traffic Assist is a system extension of Rear Traffic Alert. Today, in many Volkswagen vehicles Rear Traffic Alert warns the driver of vehicles approaching at a 90 degree angle behind the driver's own vehicle when reversing - the classic situation when exiting from a parking space that is oriented at a right angle to the roadway. The system actively intervenes with emergency braking if the driver does not react to a detected hazard. The new Front Cross Traffic Assist in the Touareg now also warns of vehicles approaching the front of the car from the sides at intersections, driveways and parking spaces. For this purpose, two radar sensors are integrated in the front bumper, which sense at a 55 degree angle to the vehicle's longitudinal axis to monitor side traffic. Here too, the system intervenes with emergency braking if the driver does not react to a detected hazard to avoid or at least reduce the severity of an accident.

Proactive occupant protection system

The proactive occupant protection system has been further advanced for use in the new Touareg. It bundles all PreCrash functions into one comprehensive action strategy and recognises even more accident types. Its basic functionality: if the proactive occupant protection system detects a potential accident situation - such as by the initiation of hard braking via an activated brake assist system - the seat belts of the driver and front passenger are automatically pre-tensioned, and the electric seat functions are preset to ensure the best possible protection by the airbag and belt systems. If a highly critical and unstable driving situation is detected - such as severe oversteer or understeer with ESC intervention - the side windows are closed (except for a small gap) as is the panoramic sliding roof. With the windows and roof nearly closed, the head and side airbags are able to provide optimal support and thus achieve their best possible effectiveness. Automatic door locking and the hazard warning lights are also activated. As noted, the proactive occupant protection system now bundles these basic PreCrash functions with the parameters of 'PreCrash front', 'PreCrash side', 'PreCrash rear', 'rollover' and 'multiple collision'. In addition, the system utilises available sensors to detect potential accidents in advance.

Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist

One option being offered at the market launch is the 'large driver assistance system package'. It consists of Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist, the Lane Assist lane keeping system (standard in Europe), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC; with stop-and-go function), Emergency Assist (controlled stopping if the driver is unresponsive), the new Front Cross Traffic Assist, Side Assist lane change system with Rear Traffic Alert and the proactive occupant protection system. This fusion of many different systems enables drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for a limited time when Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist automatically assumes longitudinal and lateral guidance (braking, accelerating, steering).

Trailer Assist

'Trailer Assist' relieves drivers of the complicated re-thinking otherwise required while reversing with a trailer, namely having to turn the steering wheel to the left to get the trailer to turn to the right - and vice versa. Another overall goal was to make reversing straight back over longer distances easier and more precise. Trailer Assist is now able to do this almost automatically by itself. To reverse a Touareg with a trailer into a driveway or parking bay from the street, all the driver needs to do is stop at a suitable spot and engage reverse gear. The system is activated by pushing a button. Then the current driving angle and possible angles are visualised in the instrument cluster. These are computed by image processing algorithms based on data from the rear-view camera system, which monitors and analyses the articulation angle between the car and the trailer. By using the mirror adjustment switch, which serves as a sort of joystick, the driver can adjust the desired driving direction of the car-trailer combination. The Volkswagen Touareg executes the steering commands entered by the driver, who only needs to operate the accelerator pedal and the brake. The driving direction of the car-trailer combination is set by automatic control of the electromechanical power steering.

Automatic Post-Collision Braking System 2.0

Around 25 per cent of all accidents involving personal injury are secondary collisions which occur after the initial collision. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which is included as standard, can avoid such secondary collisions or at least minimise their severity. After an initial collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System automatically initiates a braking action - within system limits - even before the driver can react. Generation 2.0 of the automatic Post-Collision Braking System is now being used in the Touareg. The system now brakes the vehicle to a standstill. At the same time, the preventive safety measures of the proactive occupant protection system are activated. In addition, the intensity of the stabilising hard braking is increased to as much as 1g.

Interactive LED matrix headlights

In collaboration with the German automotive supplier HELLA, Volkswagen has developed one of the world's most advanced headlight systems for the third generation Touareg: the optional 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights'. Where they impress most noticeably is with their interactive light control system which makes driving at night easier and safer. Volkswagen designers and engineers, together with the team from HELLA, have also succeeded in fully merging the three-dimensionally designed LED lighting system - consisting of headlights, daytime running lights, indicators and cornering lights - with the Touareg's dominant and charismatic front section and creating an unmistakable day and night light design.

128 LEDs per headlight

The LED headlights use a matrix of light points - light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be individually activated. The matrix of the dipped beam headlight is formed by a PC board with 48 LEDs, while the PC board for the main beam contains 27 LEDs; the LEDs in the dipped and main beam module are arranged like the squares on a chess board. In addition to the 75 LEDs of the dipped and main beam headlights, there are various other LEDs. Each headlight has a total of 128 LEDs when one includes those for close-range illumination and what are referred to as signalling functions (daytime running lights, cornering, position lights and animated indicators). This means that, in total, the Volkswagen Touareg utilises the power of 256 LEDs in the various segments of the left and right headlights to make night-time bright as day and safer.

Intelligent light functions

A number of intelligent light functions can be activated by the Touareg's electronics via the 75 LEDs of the dipped and main beam headlights, seven close-range illumination LEDs (in five reflector chambers) and three cornering LEDs. Within fractions of a second, the control processor utilises signals from the front camera, digital map data from the navigation system, GPS signals, steering wheel angle and current driving speed to activate specific LEDs individually for the best possible lighting. The driver can use Dynamic Light Assist to activate the continuous main beam function. Other functions - such as dipping, returning to main beam, urban light, optimal motorway light or off-road light - are looked after by the Touareg itself. As the new matrix headlights are camera-based and extremely bright at all times, they make people, objects, other vehicles and animals visible which could not be recognised as quickly or as well with conventional headlight systems in the dark at night. The gains in lighting power and optimised illumination are clearly perceptible. Worth noting: when the already very good xenon headlights of the previous model are compared to the LED system of the new Volkswagen Touareg, in main beam mode the 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights' increase the illumination range by more than 100 metres. The interactive headlights already operate like those in a car with an autonomous driving mode. For instance, the front camera detects brightly lit up areas as 'residential'; in this case the Touareg switches automatically from main beam to dipped beam. Based on the navigation data and GPS signals, the Touareg with 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights' also recognises when there is a switch from right-hand traffic to left-hand traffic. When travelling from Dover, England, to Calais, France, for instance, the system automatically modifies the light distribution upon landfall.

The light functions of the 'IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights' in detail:

LED tail light clusters

LED technology is also used for the tail light clusters. The lights produce an unmistakable visual signature at the back of the vehicle courtesy of their design and LED contours. Also strikingly visible both night and day are the brake lights. They are optionally available with a signalling function and concise switching of the LED surfaces (click-clack effect). In the top version, the rear indicators are also designed to have an animated lighting scenario ('wiping').

Plug-in hybrid drive, V6 and V8

Volkswagen will be offering the VW Touareg with a new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW/367 PS system power) in China initially. The exact European launch date for the Touareg with a plug-in hybrid drive is still open; in Europe, two V6 diesels with 170 kW/231 PS and 210 kW/286 PS will be offered at first. This will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW/340 PS) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW/421 PS) for many different markets. The 231 PS TDI develops a maximum torque of 500 Nm, while the 286 PS TDI develops 600 Nm. The TSI reaches a maximum torque of 450 Nm, and the V8 develops a hefty 900 Nm. These power output and torque ranges guarantee the largest maximum trailer weights in the segment.

4MOTION all-wheel drive

The new, third generation Touareg continues to be equipped with permanent all-wheel drive (4MOTION) as standard. The all-wheel drive is coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox (with 'shift by wire' and a selector lever position indicator in the instrument cluster), likewise as standard, which can transfer drive torques of up to 1,000 Nm. A centre differential lock with asymmetrically dynamic torque distribution acts as the transfer box between the front and rear axles. A maximum of 70 per cent of drive torque can be applied to the front wheels and up to 80 per cent to the rear wheels.

4MOTION Active Control

The new Touareg, which comes with all-wheel drive as standard, has 4MOTION Active Control with driving mode selection. The system is operated via the 4MOTION Active Control switch on the centre console. The driver uses it to activate four higher-level modes and various pop-up menus. The driver turns the rotary switch to the left to access the on-road profiles. When the switch is turned to the right, the off-road profiles are accessed. 4MOTION Active Control adapts all relevant assistance systems to the driving situation in just seconds. Also included as standard: driving mode selection. Here, the driver can individually control - according to the standard and optional equipment installed - parameters for the automatic gearbox, automatic air conditioner, steering, various assistance systems, 4-corner air suspension, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and the throttle response of the engine.

Driving mode selection in detail

The five standard and four optional driving modes can be selected from the relevant menu in the infotainment system and/or 4MOTION Active Control.

Off-road pack

The optional driving modes for the Volkswagen Touareg are available in conjunction with the Off-road pack that may be specified as an option. Along with the additional driving modes, it includes such features as two towing eyes, a larger fuel tank whose capacity is increased from 75 to 90 litres and an underbody protection system with a radiator guard, reinforced underbody protection, a guard element for the 12-volt battery, very rugged aerodynamic underbody fairing, tank guard and stone impact protection.

3.5 tonne maximum trailer weight and new towing bracket

The new Touareg is one of just a few passenger cars designed to tow loads of up to 3.5 tonnes (braked, up to eight per cent grade). The Touareg confidently masters towing such large loads based on its running gear configuration, permanent all-wheel drive and high-torque V6 and V8 engines. As was the case for the previous model, it is expected that a high percentage of new Volkswagen Touareg vehicles will be configured and ordered with a towing bracket. It has been re-developed and now offers maximum convenience, because the ball neck of the towing bracket extends and retracts from the vehicle floor. Thanks to a new towing bracket system, it is now possible to mount bicycle carriers for up to four instead of three bicycles.

Lightweight aluminium in running gear

The running gear of the new Touareg has largely been re-engineered to further perfect its comfort and dynamic properties. As an option, Volkswagen will again be offering 4-corner air suspension with electronic damping control for the Touareg. Its design has been considerably advanced. Active roll compensation with electro-mechanically adjustable anti-roll bars is a completely new feature. Another new development is all-wheel steering, which makes this large SUV agile and nimble like a compact SUV. Five-link suspensions in lightweight aluminium and steel construction are used, front and rear.

Active roll compensation

Another new development is adaptive roll compensation. From now on, due to its construction and design, it will be referred to as 'electromechanical, active roll compensation' (eAWS). The two most important components of eAWS are the anti-roll bars at the front and rear axles. Conventional running gear is fitted with a steel anti-roll bar, front and rear; each bar spans from one side of the axle to the other. When cornering (or when just one side runs over relatively large bumps) the two ends of the anti-roll bar twist counter to one other. The kinematics involved here reduce the vehicle's tendency to roll during cornering. Active roll stabilisation (eAWS) does this even better.

Electromechanical anti-roll bars

To extend the limits of motoring physics, the Touareg fitted with eAWS has electromechanical anti-roll bars at the front and rear axles. A central control unit coordinates their use. The two ends of the respective anti-roll bar are joined to one another via an actuator motor here. Depending on the driving situation, the two halves of the anti-roll bar are twisted counter to one other (stiffened) or decoupled. The high voltage of 48 volts needed to activate the strong electric motors is built up briefly by what are known as 'super caps' (storage capacitors). These active anti-roll bars significantly reduce the Volkswagen Touareg's side lean when cornering. On roads that are uneven on one side, directional stability also improves considerably. When driving off-road, meanwhile, electromechanical decoupling of the anti-roll bars enables improved articulation of the axles which, in turn, improves traction.

All-wheel steering

Another new Volkswagen feature is the optional all-wheel steering. With this, all four wheels are turned simultaneously according to the driving situation. All-wheel steering contributes to the Touareg being one of the most agile large SUVs. Essentially, all-wheel steering has effects during two driving states: at driving speeds below 37 km/h and speeds above 37 km/h. At speeds up to 37 km/h, the rear wheels automatically turn in a direction opposite to that of the front wheels. This makes the vehicle more agile and manoeuvrable. Especially when manoeuvring, the turning circle with all-wheel steering is quite noticeable - it has been reduced by one metre from 12.19 to 11.19 metres. When the speed increases to more than 37 km/h, as the driver steers the rear wheels automatically turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This makes handling appreciably smoother, because all-wheel steering stabilises lane changes - such as when overtaking quickly. The same applies to sudden evasive manoeuvres.

Advanced 4-corner air suspension

The new generation of 4-corner air suspension not only improves comfort; it also improves the Touareg's aerodynamics and rough terrain driving performance. The new, open air suspension system works both quickly and silently; it is not affected by fluctuations in temperature or outside air pressure (e.g. at mountain altitudes). The air suspension offers the 'Normal' or 'Comfort' level settings as standard. Available in addition to those two levels are the 'Off-road' level (25 mm higher) and 'Special off-road' level that raises the suspension by a total of 70 mm. At speeds of 120 km/h and above, the running gear is automatically lowered by 15 to 25 mm ('Low' levels) via the air suspension to reduce air drag and improve handling. Last, but not least, a 'Loading' level is available (40 mm lower), which makes loading and unloading the luggage compartment easier.

Air suspension optimises off-road parameters

Off-road parameters vary depending on the suspension. The maximum climbing ability (60 per cent) and banking angle (35 degrees) are identical for both the steel and air suspension systems. Meanwhile, the approach and departure angles increase with air suspension from 25 to as much as 31 degrees. The ramp angle also goes up: from 18.5 to a maximum of 25 degrees. As ground clearance can be increased with air suspension, the maximum fording depth also increases (from 490 to 570 mm). The manually adjustable levels of the air suspension are activated by a rotary push-button in the centre console.

Three optional equipment worlds

Along with the basic equipment, three optional trim lines are available for the new Touareg: 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line'. 'Atmosphere' is a warm interior world, in which wood and natural colours reign. 'Elegance' stands for a technical interior world where metal and related colours dominate. 'R-Line', on the other hand, focuses entirely on sportiness. Spoilers and side sills in body colour are provided with the 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line' trim lines ('R-Line' also has wheel arch extensions in body colour). Furthermore, additional chrome elements upgrade the exterior in the areas of the bumpers, windows and radiator grille as do exclusive tailpipe trims for the exhaust system (trapezoidal design; standard for V8 TDI). An overview of key features of the trim lines:

'Atmosphere' (warm world)

'Elegance' (technical world)

'R-Line'

Overview of standard equipment of the Volkswagen Touareg base version (V6 models; partial list, examples for Germany):

Colours

The third generation VW Touareg has a range of 13 exterior colours. Three of these paints are new in the programme: 'Aquamarine Blue', 'Tamarind Brown' and 'Juniper Green' (all metallic). Other colours are 'Pure White' and 'Black' (both monochrome), 'Antimony Silver', 'Sand Gold', 'Quartzite Grey', 'Reef Blue', 'Moonlight Blue' and 'Malbec Red' (all metallic) as well as 'Deep Black' and 'Oryx White' (both pearl effect).