When it was first introduced in 2002, the Touareg surprised with a 5.0-litre V10 TDI engine that delivered what was then an impressive torque of 750 Nm. The “Race Touareg” from Volkswagen Motorsport dominated the Dakar Rally for three years in succession from 2009 to 2011. Various long-distance world records followed, such as on the Pan-American Highway, where a distance of up to 23,000 kilometres was covered in just under twelve days. In 2006, the Touareg pulled a Boeing 747 weighing 155 tonnes out of its hangar and in doing so secured another world record.
In 2005, the Touareg “Stanley”, one of the first truly intelligent vehicles in automotive history, won the DARPA Grand Challenge for autonomous vehicles organised by the American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It was one of only four vehicles from the 23 that started the race to reach the finish line. Today, Volkswagen customers benefit from many years of development experience with systems such as Travel Assist and the optional Park Assist Plus with remote parking capability.
Touareg I / 2002. The first Touareg in 2002 marked the entry into a new segment and was an elegant technology carrier right from the start. The model designation of the premium SUV is a reference to the Berber Tuareg people, the nomadic inhabitants of the wild landscapes of the Sahara Desert, and emphasises the pronounced off-road suitability of the vehicle. Thanks to its numerous innovations, such as the electromechanical roll stabilisation or CDC air suspension with six level settings, the Touareg became one of the most highly regarded SUVs in its class immediately after its market launch. With this equipment, fording rivers with a depth of up to 58 centimetres and climbing gradients up to 45 degrees was no problem at all. The flagship model of the Touareg line was the Touareg V10 TDI, which was equipped with the most powerful diesel engine installed at Volkswagen at the time. The 230 kW (313 PS) 5-litre ten-cylinder engine generated an astonishing maximum torque of 750 newton metres and accelerated the 2.5-tonne Touareg to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds; the maximum speed was 225 km/h. Thanks to this top model, the Volkswagen brand has today become one of the world’s leading full-range providers, covering all important segments from small cars to high-end SUVs. The Touareg I was built from 2002 to 2009 and was one of the most successful luxury SUVs of its time with 450,000 units sold.
Touareg II / 2010. The second generation of the Touareg grew both in width and length and thus underlined its luxurious comfort. The vehicle front end emphasised the sporty elegance of the vehicle with new, aerodynamic bumpers and a newly designed radiator grille. The first hybrid vehicle from Volkswagen was launched to coincide with the market entry of the second generation. The Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TSI Hybrid was powered simultaneously by a supercharged V6 petrol engine with 245 kW (333 PS) and a 34.3 kW (46 PS) electric motor. The electric motor of the full hybrid vehicle recuperated energy during braking and fed this into the battery. The hybrid had a combined system power of 279 kW (380 PS) and produced a maximum torque of 580 Nm. This allowed the Touareg II to sprint to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, and made it possible to reach a maximum speed of 240 km/h. Its average fuel consumption was 8.2 litres of super-grade petrol per 100 kilometres. A host of new assist systems now made journeys even safer and more comfortable, also on difficult terrain. In its production period from 2010 to 2018, Volkswagen sold more than 479,000 units of the Touareg II.
Touareg III / 2018. Thanks to its modern contours, generous body trim elements and the use of weight-saving materials in the new steel and aluminium body, the third Touareg generation has a breathtakingly dynamic character. The attractive and vital look is reinforced by the increase in the wheelbase to 2.904 metres and a reduction in the vehicle height by 7 millimetres. The completely revamped cockpit features digital innovations as well as connectivity and assist systems and guarantees comfortable and safe driving in all situations. This is additionally ensured by the optimised electromechanical active roll stabilisation system, whose assist system continuously detects roll movements up to 400 times per second to ensure optimum adjustment and an absolutely safe driving experience in every terrain. Since autumn 2020, the Touareg R Hybrid has been the new flagship model as a plug-in hybrid SUV with a system power of 462 PS, a maximum torque of 700 Nm and a top speed of 250 km/h. With its reduced combined fuel consumption of 2.7 l/100 km and a power consumption of 21.1 kWh/100 km, the excellent hybrid vehicle also leads the way here in its vehicle class. More than 164,000 units of the Touareg III have already been sold worldwide since its debut in 2018.
Over one million vehicles of the three Touareg generations have been sold up to the present day. The Touareg “EDITION 20” special model continues this success story. With an authentic and dynamic SUV design and maximum everyday usability, the exclusive special-edition model brings a new driving force onto the roads – and also onto the undiscovered routes in between. The Touareg “EDITION 20” is ideal for both urban surroundings and great off-road adventures.