NEW TOUAREG

VW’S LUXURY SUV NOW AVAILABLE

The third generation Volkswagen Touareg luxury SUV is now available in South Africa with the local range comprising two diesel derivatives (for now). Both the Luxury and Executive variants of the flagship SUV from Wolfsburg are powered by the familiar 3,0-litre TDI V6 characteristic of the VW Group, tuned to deliver 190 kw and 600 Nm (up from 180 kw and 550 Nm of its forebear), coupled to a 4Matic system delivering power to all four wheels. The new seven-seat Touareg is based on the MLB Evo platform already underpinning the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus. This, according to VW, allows the new model to weigh a considerable 106 kg less than its predecessor. The Touareg now measures 4,878 mm long; some

77 mm longer than the secondgeneration model. It is also 44 mm wider, and its roofline is seven millimetre lower at 1,702 mm. With the thirdrow rear seats in place, VW claims a luggage capacity of 810 litres – 113 litres more than before. Various options are offered locally, including air suspension, the fully digital “Innovision Cockpit” (comprising a 12-inch instrument cluster and a 15-inch centrally mounted display), an uprated sound system, four-wheel steering (with the air suspension), various safety features (including a head-up display and night vision) and an

R-line package – the latter is standard on the Executive model, along with Matrix LED headlamps. The Luxury model starts at R999,800 without options, while the Executive is offered at R1,088,200. This includes a five-year/100,000 km maintenance plan in addition to the threeyear/120,000 km warranty as standard.