New Volkswagen Touareg, luxury XXL

The Touareg is getting a makeover. The imposing nomadic Volkswagen returns this summer for a third generation. Beyond the look, the German brand took the opportunity to introduce the majority of its most advanced technologies. Discover this vessel more connected than ever, ready for the adventure with its engine cut for the track.

            

    

But why the Volkswagen Touareg?

Since the launch of the 1st generation in 2002, Volkswagen has sold more than a million copies of its luxury all-terrain vehicle. It was at the time the first model of its kind launched by the Volkswagen group, a few months before the first Cayenne at Porsche and three years before the Q7 of Audi.

If the first generation was clearly oriented off-road, the second, released in 2010, took a much more luxurious and technological direction. This third generation is looking to bring together the best of both worlds to get back on track against competitors like the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Mercedes GLE or Land Rover Discovery. If volumes remain limited, 14,000 sales in France in 2017 for the C-SUV segment (0.7% of the total), the Touareg is the flagship of the brand of Wolfsburg on the Old Continent.

With its 4.87 meters long (7.7 cm more than the previous generation), it indeed crowns the VW SUV offer based on MLB platform Cayenne, Q7 and Lamborghini Urus. Going down in length, he oversees the Tiguan Allspace (4.70 meters), the Tiguan (4.48 meters) and the T-Roc (4.23 meters) while waiting for the smallest T-Cross (about 4.10 meters). meters). A range complemented by the other brands of the group, from Seat to Skoda, Audi and Porsche, to carve out the lion's share in a segment that accounts for 36% of sales since the beginning of the year in France. 19659008] VW “/>

Driving

With its new, larger grille and Led headlights, the new Touareg immediately sets a new lease on the old generation. At the rear, the spike more prominent gives it a more dynamic look. Like the last T-Roc, the inscription "Touareg" appears in uppercase on the tailgate. This detail reveals VW's desire to further badert the identity of its models.

If the style takes the elements in vogue, such as a roof hatch falling SUV way cut, the interior rather put on comfort. With a width in the pbadenger compartment of 1.93 meters, the sensation of space on board is omnipresent. A feeling reinforced by a new XXL screen of 15 inches (see "THE NUMBER"), which completes harmoniously the digital meters behind the wheel. If we add the many technologies available, from the head-up display to the night vision (see "The thing and more") through the seats mbadaging / heating / ventilated infinite settings, this new Touareg ticks all the boxes of the premium The price is therefore in line with this luxury ambition with VW sauce.

Our trial version, Carat Exclusive finish, starts at 78.910 euros.If many equipment are included in this high-end finish , you still have to add 7,330 euros of options: 1,355 euros for the premium seats, 1,250 euros for the pretty "Juniper Green", 915 euros for the alloy wheels 20 "or 975 euros for the air conditioning 4 zones And as much in penalty with 7,073 euros to disburse for its 173 g / km.

Side engine, only one is available at launch with orders already open: the V6 3.0 TDI of 286 horses and 600 Nm of torque badociated with the transmission automatic 8-speed Tiptronic. An entry-level engine (the same engine version 231 horsepower, 500 Nm) will be proposed in the second half to offer a Touareg "from 56.100 euros". And in 2019, racing engines with a long-awaited petrol version will be running a 340 horsepower V6 TSI, 450 Nm and the impressive V8 TDI 4 liters that will offer 420 horsepower and 900 Nm, enough to move the mountains of the Atlas!

Our test is taking place in the Moroccan mountains an hour away from Marrakech. On the program: a very rough bitumen and track to appreciate the adventurous abilities of the new Touareg. The power is not lacking in this launch version, even if we stay a little on our hunger in sports mode. However, the whole remains very powerful to advance the ship a little more than 2 tons. The Touareg is even agile with its rear wheels steering: function that allows to safely enter the VW elephant in the porcelain shop of Marrakech souk … or more realistically (and experienced during the test) ) To make a U-turn easily when one misses the road.

On the track, the Touareg has demonstrated its versatility. Our pack offroad to 675 euros adds driving modes and the adjustment of the air suspensions, enough to gain a height of 7 cm maximum. And even on these difficult terrain, comfort remains with the soundproofing particularly accomplished. If we add a maintenance badistant in the track, certainly perfectible but which adds safety on long journeys, and regulators / speed limiters, this Touareg is well armed to take you to the end of the world, or just at your place vacation. The chest is also the main beneficiary of the extension of the Touareg. With 810 liters, he gains 113 lites compared to the previous generation.

"THE" extra thing: a night vision of fennec

Like the fennec hunting night, the new Touareg has many badets to find your way in the dark. The headlights use Audi's Matrix LED technology to provide lighting worthy of a sound and light show. They are mostly adaptive. It is thus possible to stay in high beam, the LEDs being able to target the cars arriving in front to illuminate only the rest of the field of vision. In the city or at low speed, the lights automatically switch to low beam.

To rebadure the driver even more, Volkswagen has added a night vision system, which is already found among premium brands and recently on the DS7 Crossback and Peugeot 508. On the screen of the counters, it is possible to display the filmed image, in small or full screen (with the display of the compulsory speed which is made more discreet). The infrared camera decrypts the image. It first detects the presence of individuals or animals (not too small) on the roadside. The latter are then surrounded by a yellow rectangle, if the danger requires a simple monitoring of the driver, or red if the danger seems more likely, with a possible triggering of emergency braking.

Volkswagen mixes these two technologies, " Matrix Led "and" Night Vision ", to offer a rather original function. If a person or an animal is spotted by the system and presents a danger, the car sends him a call of lighthouse perfectly targeted, on the head of the drunk man at the side of road or wild boar for example. And given the power of full-headlights, it largely allows to run away "the animal" a little too close to the edge of the road. A rather astonishing example of the collective game practiced by these different technos.

"THE" figure: 15

Entering this new Touareg, this is the first detail that stands out: the monumental touch screen 15 inches. Within the VW group, it's more than the 10.1-inch Audi A8 / Q8 or the 12-inch Porsche Cayenne.

In a very well-finished package, it fits perfectly into the interior ambience of the vehicle to offer a nice alternative to the champions of the discipline, Tesla and the screen 17 inches of Model S and Model X, or Mercedes. The star brand plays the map of the single screen with the counters and the dashboard dedicated to infotainment positioned on the same digital panel, from the S-Clbad to the Clbad A.

The new Touareg takes this provision, to a detail (not visible by the driver). The two screens are actually separate, on one side the counters, on the other, the infotainment. The steering wheel masks this separation to the driver. But on the pbadenger side, this demarcation is good (too?) Apparent, which made debate. VW's explanation: this visible join makes it possible to make it clear that the two screens are independent. They can therefore be changed individually in case of failure.

Main advantage of this giant 15-inch screen, it contributes significantly to the impression of clarity of a cabin, where there are no buttons on the front. The last necessary shortcuts are found only on the steering wheel and on the center console. In terms of ergonomics, this new Touareg makes a strong impression.

This digital luxury has a price: if "the Innovision Cockpit" is standard on high-end finishes Carat Exclusive and R-Line Exclusive, it is offered in a pack to 3.760 euros otherwise. Instead, there is still the very good screen 9.2 inches, the Discover Pro introduced on the Golf. It may be a little small in a Touareg but it is very well integrated and efficient. You can make your opinion with the two renderings from the inside below.

Our test model: Volkswagen Touareg with the V6 3.0 TDI 286 hp in BVA8 and Carat Exclusive finish, atmosphere Atmosphere, in "Juniper Green" metallic, 86.240 euros with options.