Volkswagen has just unveiled a new variant of the Touareg SUV and is imposed as the flagship of the brand. This is the Volkswagen Touareg R, a rechargeable hybrid beast of 462 hp and 700 Nm that will make its debut within a few days at the Geneva Motor Show.
In the previous edition of the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen added a powerful version to the Touareg range animated by a V8 TDi of 421 hp. This year, the Touareg receives a rechargeable hybrid version that becomes the most powerful in the range. Interestingly, Volkswagen has christened it simply as Touareg R, without mentioning its plug-in hybrid technology. Well, there is an eHYBRID logo on the tailgate and that’s it.
Thus, to reduce its CO₂ emissions, Volkswagen equips the Touareg with a 340 hp V6 3.0 TSI petrol engine with a 136 hp electric motor associated with a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery (located under the boot) and a Tiptronic automatic transmission of 8 relations. Basically, it is the same system that equips the Porsche Cayenne and Panamera e-Hybrid. On the Touareg R, the traction is of the 4Motion integral type.
Together, the Touareg R develops 462 hp and delivers 700 Nm of maximum torque. Volkswagen has not yet disclosed the values of consumption or autonomy or the benefits of this mastodon.
There is talk of a 0 to 100 km / h around 5 seconds and Volkswagen has only confirmed the maximum speed of 250 km / h in hybrid mode and 140 km / h in electric mode.
In terms of autonomy in electric mode and approved CO₂ emissions we can only look at the Audi Q7 60 TFSie quattro equipped with exactly the same propulsion system, but with a larger battery (17.3 kWh). In the case of the Audi we talk about a range of 43 km and approved emissions of 75 g / km.
Semi-autonomous driving up to 250 km / h
To differentiate it from the rest of the range, the Touareg R sports a bumper with hypertrophied air intakes, while all the elements of the front, such as the air intakes or the calender, are black. Even the headlights have a black housing.
Black is also the color chosen for the rear-view mirrors, the rear bumper skirt (with a reflective red stripe) and the alloy wheels, whose diameter can vary between 20 and 22 inches, depending on the standard or optional equipment.
On board, this SUV has a specific upholstery to this version and characterized by R logos on the head restraints. For the rest, it does not vary with respect to the rest of the Touareg range, with 12-inch screens for the instrument cluster and 15 inches for the center console.
The Touareg R will equip the entire technological arsenal of driving aids, being also the first car in the Volkswagen range to have a level 2 semi-autonomous ADAS driving system that operates up to 250 km / h.
Another automated system that characterizes the Touareg is its automated parking system with trailer and baptized “Trailer Assist”. The Touareg R, which can pull a self-braking trailer up to 3,500 kg, can park without the driver intervening even with a trailer. The driver selects the hole in which he wants to leave the trailer through the central screen and the car will only go in reverse with the trailer in the indicated hole.
Its commercialization should begin in the second half of 2020.
