The center console is dominated by a huge 15-inch touchscreen.
Volkswagen’s teaser video featuring its new Touareg was released just a few minutes ago. Now the luxury SUV is in the news again. We’re dealing with something much more substantial this time, as Wolfsburg has been kind enough to release some images showing a large portion of the revamped cabin.
You might think that the Touareg’s cabin would be similar to the European Passat’s or Arteon’s interior, but this is not true. The Touareg ‘s all-new features an “Innovision Cockpit,” which is a combination of a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 15-inch display for the infotainment systems. Automotive News heard from someone close to the company that the new virtual cockpit could trickle down to Arteon. However, nothing is yet official.
You can’t see the touchscreen in this teaser photo because it is angled heavily towards the driver. VW promises sleek design as the two screens are integrated into the instrument panel so that they form a single piece. The interior will have a luxurious feel thanks to the dual-screen layout. Real aluminum and wood accents will also be used. The Phaeton is no longer available in China so the new Touareg will be VW’s flagship model in Europe. However, it won’t be sold in the United States because it’s not being made anymore.
Traditionalists will be pleased to know that, although most functions are built into the touchscreen, volume control remains a knob. Andreas Reckewerth, 2019 Touareg head designer, said that “We fought passionately for that.”
VW also released images of partially camouflaged prototypes. However, these are not exactly the most exciting photos considering that the luxury SUV was seen without disguise quite some time ago.
The 2019 Touareg will be able to use the MLB Evo platform. This means that it will share many similarities with other SUVs in larger leagues. These include the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga. Finally, the Lamborghini Urus, The vehicle will have rear-wheel steering, which will make it more agile. However, it will still be a large and heavy SUV.
The SUV is almost as large as the Golf’s, and has a similar turning radius. This is an incredible feat. An optional air suspension with electromechanical active roll stabilization will be available for maximum comfort. An upgraded night vision system that projects a thermal imaging view of the road is another interesting feature. This is a first for a VW model.
The redesigned VW Touareg will be unveiled in Beijing on March 23rd. However, the market launch is scheduled for the end of June or early July. The production will be at the same Bratislava plant, Slovakia where it will continue sharing the assembly line with Q7 and Cayenne.