It's produced since 2002 and it's the model that should show as much as possible of the skills of the VW engineers. Almost a million of them are manfactured in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, just behind Vienna. As you can see from the presentation in Beijing, the main sales market is now in China.

It is 7.7 cm longer, 4.4 cm wider and 1 cm lower, is also said to have lost 150 kg in total and 105 kg body weight. Instead of the hope of a twelve-cylinder one may again expect a V8 with 310 kW (421 hp). For starting, there are two V6 Diesel with 170 kW (231 hp) and 210 kW (286 hp). There will a more powerful V6 gasoline engine with 250 kW (340 hp).

Atmosphere, Elegance, Airline and of course R-Line are the options next to the base configuration. In general, the key to capture the full potential with the Touareg lies in the extras. After all, LED light is series, but more exciting is the matrix light called 'IQ Light' with more than 120 light LED sources. The wide strip of daytime running lights turns into a blinker strip which moves outwards.

Significantly more LEDs are involved in dipped-beam position, which not only activated more lights for design but, depending on the driving situation, provides the best possible illumination. It is helpful when turning and knows exactly when you are leaving the city and enter the highway. Important here, you do not have to take care by yourself. The night vision shows the risky situations in the display and illuminates them specifically. High beam is able to switch off blinding LEDs.

In addition, there is possibly a headup display projected far away from you into the street you are driving. So in your optional digital 12"-display you can completely switch over from speedometer and tachometer to the navigation. The best thing is the enormous 15-inch touch screen in the middle, slightly facing the driver. Here are all selectable functions combined, except the additional operable volume, suspension and drive adjustment.

The VW people are probably particularly proud of this very intuitive-to-use display. A longer push of a button and the corresponding tile can be replaced, wiping and moving tiles as usual with the smartphone. despite its size, fitted very harmoniously into the dashboard. The direct-dial buttons can be used quickly, e.g. coping with the change in climate setting, even the dashboard and door trim ambient lighting are easily adjustable in color and intensity.

You still have to drive, but it has never been so comfortable in the Touareg. Normal are 18 inches, maximum possible 21 inches of the rims, standard is air suspension will make its contribution. In terrain, an additional 7 cm ground clearance, 1.5 less or 2.5 mm from 225 km/h in sport mode are possible. The steering of the rear axle is dedicated to a smaller turning circle, nothing to be heard about advantages in normal curves.

It seems that the luggage space benefits of the additional length, but the back seats can be moved by 160 mm, by the way, with adjustable back rests. In normal position the load volume has grown by 100 to 810 liters, 1,800 in folded back seats position. The tailgate is no longer opened by the VW logo, but by mechanism under its lower edge. Here it was obviously easier to integrate the new function 'spraying water' to clean the camera eye.