The second-generation of the Touareg is bigger but lighter than the outgoing model, losing about 208kg in weight. The Touareg 2010 is based heavily on the upcoming new Porsche Cayenne, and features the familiar Volkswagen family front look that has already been seen on the Golf and Polo. The Touraeg 2010 features a lower roofline and curvier lines compared to the old model. The steel body adopts an edgier look with tauter surfacing, more defined feature lines and squared-off wheel arches. The front is characterized by Volkswagen's latest corporate grille, while the rear updates the look of the old model with a large single-piece tailgate carrying distinctive LED-enhanced taillights.
Inside, Volkswagen has loaded the Touareg with a whole host of new features, such as a pushbutton parking brake, stop-start system, and what Volkswagen claims to be the largest panoramic sunroof of all SUVs. The Touareg is also more spacious, with the rear bench now 160mm longer and having an adjustable backrest. The seats can also be folded down at the press of a button, increasing the boot capacity to 1642 litres. The other standard features are a radio-CD infotainment system that comes with a 6.5-inch touch-screen display, multi-directional camera system, 6-disc CD changer, and nine air bags.
Despite the reduced weight, the new Touareg is said to have five percent more torsional rigidity than the old model. Volkswagen will offer three engines at the launch of the new Touareg, with two turbo diesels and the new petrol-electric hybrid. All three engines come with an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard.
The base powerplant is the 3.0-litre TDI V6 unit that produces 240bhp and 549Nm of torque. It combines a version of Audi's 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission with a built-in electric motor. Next is the 4.2-litre TDI V8 which has 335bhp and 800Nm of torque. The most exciting one however, is the hybrid model, which has a 3.3-litre supercharged V6 TSI petrol engine that produces 330bhp and 359Nm of torque, mated to a 46bhp electric motor, for a combined power output of 376bhp and 580Nm of torque. The Touareg Hybrid can be driven up to a speed of 50km/h in pure electric mode, and can go from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds.
All Touaregs get Volkswagen 4Motion all-wheel-drive systems as standard, with a Torsen limited-slip differential and an "Off-road driving programme", which tunes the ABS, EDS and ASR for off-roading, activates Hill Descent Assist and adjusts the automatic gearshift points, at the press of a button.
The Touareg can also be ordered with a "Terrain Tech Packet" as an option instead of the standard system, which has an even more rugged transfer case designed for off-road duty. It includes reduction gearing and centre and rear differentials, each with up to 100 percent locking.
Like the previous generation Touareg, the new one features a rotary switch that allows the driver to adapt the car to specific duty conditions over five levels, On-Road, Off-Road, Low, Addition of centre differential lock, and Addition of rear differential lock.
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