Volkswagen Springfield Official Blog
Volkswagen reveals 2018 VW Touareg teaser images
By Product Expert | Posted in New Models & Release Dates, VW News, VW Touareg on Monday, April 18th, 2016 at 9:02 pm
2018 VW Touareg concept at 2016 Beijing Auto Show
Correction: Model revealed to be T-Prime concept
It’s been more than a month since Volkswagen revealed the T-Cross breeze in Geneva, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more up the automaker’s sleeve. VW recently revealed new concept images for a plug-in hybrid SUV, leaving up speculating at a possible 2018 VW Touareg concept at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show. As VW frequently does, the images were dropped, but we’re left to wonder exactly what to expect.
Volkswagen SUV concept specs and speculation
We’re not the only ones to speculate the concept will be of the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg, and there’s some solid reasons for this belief. VW announced its intentions to send more SUVs out to the world, with the T-Cross Breeze bringing assurance that we are talking about models set for actual production. We know the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan will have an additional version with a longer wheelbase, the T-Cross is possibly being made, plus there will be at least one more SUV we haven’t seen yet. Is it this one, or is this concept an upgrade on the Touareg? Considering it is meant to be “one of the most advanced luxury SUVs in the world,” per the VW press release, we’re left to believe it will be the next-gen Touareg.
It wouldn’t make much sense for Volkswagen to reveal a new luxury SUV, when the lineup doesn’t have an affordable option. The Tiguan, too, lands more on the luxury side than the economy one, so we’re hoping to see something more like the T-Roc or another midsize offering that targets families. Notably, the Touareg also lost its hybrid option for the 2016 model year, likely because it wasn’t as efficient as we’d expect from a hybrid. This new concept is a plug-in hybrid that is estimated to get a combined 78 mpg rating, which would make it more practical.
Other SUV Concepts: VW Tiguan GTE Active
Engine specs are also similar to the previous Touareg hybrid, returning 376 horsepower instead of 380, but boosting the torque to 516 pound-feet, rather than 428 pound-feet. All told, it can accelerate up to 62 mph in just 6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 139 mph. It also has a 31-mile range in all-electric power, which makes it great for those who don’t travel far to work.
Volkswagen hasn’t revealed many specifics aside from the powertrain figures, but it seems clear the model will follow the path of other concepts we’ve seen so far this year. The emphasis has been put on luxury and digital features, leading us to believe it will likely have gesture control features. It was also announced the interior will have a lounge-style, which sounds a bit like the L-Bench setup we saw in the BUDD-e.
All this speculation will come to a head next week, with the Beijing Auto Show starting up on April 25. Stop back here at the Napleton Volkswagen Springfield Blog for updates.
