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Friday, August 31, 2018

Tiguan L PHEV unveiled at the Chengdu Auto Show 2018

Admin August 31, 2018 0

On August 31, 2018 (the 21st) Chengdu International Automobile Exhibition kicked off. Volkswagen brand world's first plug-in hybrid SUV Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version unveiled at the 5th Hall of Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, announced the start of pre-sale in eight major cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version uses leading hybrid technology, combining high performance with low fuel consumption, demonstrating the latest achievements of SAIC Volkswagen in the fields of innovation and new energy.

Eight years ago, SAIC Volkswagen took the lead in the Chinese SUV market, and debuted on the way to the SUV. To date, the Tiguan brand has been trusted by more than 1.8 million owners and has consistently won the domestic joint venture SUV market for many years. As the country's new energy policy has gradually landed, energy-saving and low-cost travel has gradually become the mainstream consciousness of the masses. SAIC Volkswagen has a deep understanding of the market dynamics, accelerating the strategic layout of the new energy market, and launching the Volkswagen brand's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid SUV in China – the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version, which brings together Volkswagen's leading new energy technologies. And the superior product gene of Tiguan, while enjoying the new energy policies provided by the state, providing new choices for consumers who consider both dynamic performance and energy conservation.

Add exclusive design to enjoy new energy identity

The exterior design of the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version continues the strong style of Tiguan L, while the changes in detail highlight its unique identity. The front face is completely renewed, and the newly designed upper grille is inlaid with a blue PHEV logo. The newly designed C-shaped LED daytime running lights are stylish and representative, representing the future new energy design direction of the public. The side lines of the new car are smooth and slender, and the PHEV logo with the prominent identity is added to the front fenders on both sides. The unique low-resistance wheel shape is cool and dynamic. The tail profile design is three-dimensional, and the delicate tail trims are encased in a sporty style that enriches the visuals of the tail. The exclusive PHEV logo emphasizes a different identity.

The interior design of the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version is exquisite, and the geometric design of the tough panel and air conditioning vents echoes the strong and tough appearance. The newly designed instrument for the PHEV model displays exclusive information such as battery life, and is stylish and feature-rich. The PHEV logo on the welcome pedal and shifting cover reveals the exquisite details of the interior. The ambient light of the whole car is LED light source, which makes the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version of the interior noble and dynamic. Panorama panoramic electric sunroof, with a glass area of 1.18 square meters, provides more light and a wide view for the occupants.

Hybrid technology hits the new energy security benchmark

Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version uses a high-performance ternary lithium battery, high-efficiency integrated motor, intelligent electronic control management system and EA211 1.4TSI high-power engine hybrid system, with DQ400e 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, comprehensive battery life The mileage is up to 862KM, of which the pure electric range is 52KM, the maximum power and maximum torque are up to 155kW and 400Nm respectively, and the maximum speed can reach 200km/h. Depending on the motor characteristics, the hybrid can output powerful torque at the start of acceleration, with an acceleration time of only 8.1 seconds per 100 kilometers and a fuel consumption of 1.9L at a comprehensive operating condition.

In terms of battery safety that consumers are most concerned about, SAIC Volkswagen implements stringent German high-level safety standards, and the battery system fully verifies the reliability of the battery through 169 extreme safety tests such as acupuncture and fire. Excellent safety performance adds safety to driving safety and sets a new safety benchmark for new energy fields.

At the same time, Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version offers a variety of driving mode options, E-mode mode is zero fuel consumption pure electric mode; hybrid mode has excellent fuel economy, excellent performance and high cruising range; battery retention mode can be Maintaining the battery power at the set value saves power and provides conditions for pure electric driving in subsequent congested conditions; the battery charging mode can charge the high-energy battery while driving, achieving “self-sufficiency”; GTE mode allows Consumers enjoy the driving pleasure.

Pre-sale hot start instantly enjoy multiple benefits

It is reported that the pre-sale of Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version will be opened in 8 cities in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Xi'an and Chengdu. Consumers can enjoy national subsidies and local subsidies, and exclusive new energy. A number of new energy exclusive privileges such as road rights, national tax exemption policy, exclusive policies for new energy licenses, Sanpower warrants and brand insurance packages. From now on to the market, consumers can complete online reservations at SAIC-Volkswagen's official mall. Successful consumers will enjoy the pre-sale privileges of new cars, including priority car picking, nationwide city tasting test drive priority invitation, pre-enjoyment Charging wall box installation instructions and survey services.

At this auto show, the Volkswagen brand's heavy new car and forward-looking technology complement each other, bringing a wonderful feast of car culture to the audience. As the first mass-produced new energy model of Volkswagen brand in China, the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version has made SAIC Volkswagen's layout in the new energy field enter a new stage.

SAIC Volkswagen Passat 430 PHEV Leaked! - Hybrid Passat for North America?

Volkswagen America

Admin August 17, 2018 0

SAIC Volkswagen Passat 430 PHEV Leaked! - Hybrid Passat for North America?

Another day and another leak from the Chinese Ministry of Information and IT!

With SAIC Volkswagen's all new Passat in PHEV guise - will it launch in North America?

The Passat will be powered by a 1.4T EA211 150hp / 110kW engine mated with a electric motor. According to Autohome China the fuel consumption will be as low as 1.4L per 100km. No power figures confirmed at time of publication. This PHEV powertrain will also be launched later in the year with SAIC Volkswagen's all new Tiguan L PHEV family.

Visually the Passat 430 PHEV is distinguished by Volkswagen's LED C-lighting for electric / hybrid vehicles (Phideon PHEV, Tiguan L PHEV, Passat GTE, e-Golf & e-up). Which starts at the fog light housing and continues with a chrome like trim running along the front bumper. The side & rear views are not that much different from the standard Passat - apart from the PHEV nameplates of course!

More on the Passat 430 PHEV as it comes to hand!

More on the 2nd generation NMS Passat https://vwnewsblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/all-new-mqb-volkswagen-passat-for-china.html

Source

https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201808/921108.html#pvareaid=102624

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The 2018 Lexus ES 300h

Lexus

Admin May 22, 2018 0

The 2018 Lexus ES 300h.

One of the hardest things to do is a smaller, reasonably-priced luxury car. Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar...they've all had swings and misses on that score. Arguably, the Lexus ES 300 originally fell into that category. It was, largely, a Toyota Camry with richer-looking paint colors, a leather interior and copious amounts of sound deadening insulation.

That changed five years ago, when the ES was moved to the Avalon platform and took advantage of the greater interior room to create a true luxury car. We've been a fan ever since. And of the available trims of the ES, our favorite is the ES 300h hybrid.

2018 Lexus ES 300h.

The price gap between a gasoline-powered ES 350 and the hybrid 300h is so small that the gas savings (40 city/39 highway for the hybrid compared to 21 city/31 highway for the gasoline version) will pay for the car in about two years.

Beyond that, there's the excellence, comfort, quiet and luxury of the ES itself. I really could picture owning one and making it the car I would drive for the rest of my life.

$41,820 is the base price for the ES 300h. That includes a list of standard equipment so long that I'm just going to let Lexus tell you about it.

2018 Lexus ES 300h interior.

The interior ambiance is a bit more sporting than previous models, but there's nothing frantic about it. If you'd asked me in the glory days of Jaguar what their interiors would look like today, I'd have described something very similar to the ES 300h cockpit.

Our tester had about $8,000 worth of extra-cost options:

Blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert ($500)
Twin projector Bi-LED headlamps ($515)
Navigation with Mark Levinson 15-speaker premium 835-watt surround sound audio system including the Lexus Enform app suite ($2,615)
One-touch power trunk ($400)
Intuitive parking assist ($500)
Ultra Luxury package...Semi-aniline leather seats, heated and ventilated in the front, wood trim, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, memory front seats, outside mirrors and steering wheel, remote keyless entry, power rear sunshade and manual rear door sunshades, power driver's seat cushion extender, ambient lighting, panoramic glass roof and power moonroof...($3,000)
Heated wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel ($450).

And frankly, apart from maybe the power trunk lid (I appreciate it on an SUV tailgate, but do I really need to spend $400 to have my trunk closed for me?), I'd check all those boxes. So, with delivery, processing and handling fee of $995, the bottom line came to $50,795.

That's not only a reasonable price for this level of luxury and refinement, it's also only about $3,000 more than the ES 300h we tested five years ago. It's possible to pay a lot more and get quite a bit less. The ES 300h is a winner and earns its somewhat-overdue place on the list of TireKicker's Best Cars on the right side of this page.

One More Time: The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD

Toyota

Admin May 21, 2018 0

The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD.

We are, as of this writing, about three or four months away from an all-new generation of Toyota's popular small SUV, the RAV4. So our last experience with the current-gen is likely to be the week we just completed in the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD.

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD.

The Hybrid model is something of a newcomer to the lineup, having been introduced in 2016. We drove it then, and nothing has really changed about the vehicle itself or our opinion of it. If we were going to buy a RAV4, we'd spring for the hybrid. Not much additional cost takes you from 22 mpg in the city to 34...a significant jump.

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD interior.

The base price for the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD is $32,185 and that covers a lot of standard equipment: Selectable drive modes (EV, ECO and SPORT), Toyota Safety Sense (pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, steering assist, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control), the Star Safety System (Enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology), blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. There are also 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, a height-adjustable power liftgate, a power moonroof, roof rails, and privacy glass, as well as a dual-zone climate control with air filter, an Entune audio system with a six-point-one inch touchscreen, backup camera, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, SofTex trim, heated front seats, reclining and flat-folding second row seats, smart key with pushbutton start, three 12-volt power outlets and one USB port, and SE floormats, door sill protectors and a sport shiftknob.

In fact, the equipment in standard form is so complete that our tester had just one option...a tonneau cover to keep valuables in the rear compartment out of sight. That was $90. Fold in $995 delivery processing and handling fee and the bottom line comes to a reasonable $33,270. There's strong temptation to wait for the all-new '19...but the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE would be a fine choice.

Head Held High: The 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi

Plug-in Hybrid

Admin May 05, 2018 0

The 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

The Ford Fusion will probably be the last conventional four-door sedan the Ford Motor Company builds. By now you've likely heard the news that over the next two years, Ford will end production of most of its passenger cars. The Fiesta, Focus and Fusion are goners. Market forces at work. The trend is sharply away from three-box (hood, passenger compartment, trunk) cars.

The Ford portfolio in North America will consist of the F-150 and larger (F-250, F-350, etc.) pickups, the Expedition SUV, crossovers, a crossover variant of the Focus called the Focus Active, and the Mustang.

Word is the Fusion will outlast the Fiesta and Focus by a few months, making it the last one out the door. But it will go with head held high. This generation Fusion is the best, and I'll go so far as to say the best sedan Ford has ever built.

Interior view of 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi

2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi interior.

From sleek exterior styling to a roomy, comfort-filled, nicely appointed interior, Ford's last shot at the American sedan is the one that finally hit the bulls-eye. I just happened to be spending a week in the 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi when the news of the product realignment came, making it all the more clear that, for the shrinking number of us who appreciate a truly good sedan, Ford's making one right now.

Energi is the plug-in hybrid model, giving you 20 miles of pure electric range on a full charge before switching to hybrid gas/electric mode. If you drive less than 20 miles in a day and always charge it, you could go months before an unexpected trip causes you to use a single drop of gasoline. With a 50-mile roundtrip commute and no charging station at my office, that's not me...but still, the Energi took gasoline out of the equation for 40 percent of the daily drive, and delivered stellar fuel economy (EPA estimate 42 mpg) in hybrid mode. The combined MPGe, factoring in both electric and hybrid operation, is 97.

Fusion Energis can be had for as little as $31,400 in SE trim, but our tester was the top-of-the line Platinum, which begins at $41,305. For that extra almost ten grand, you get a lot of luxury-level niceties, including:

Configurable daytime running lamps.
Auto-dimming driver's side mirror.
Bright exhaust tips.
LED fog lamps.
Automatic high beams.
LED headlamps.
Heated, manually-folding dual power mirrors with memory and turn signal indicators.
Power moonroof.
Security approach lamps.
LED taillamps.
Rain-sensing wipers.
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
Aluminium sport pedals.
Dual-zone electronic automatic climate control.
Heated/cooled 10-way power adjustable front seats with memory for the driver.
Rotary gear shift dial.
Premium leather seats.
Two smart-chargins USB ports.
Premium leather-wrapped heated steering wheel.
One-touch power windows.
A 12-speaker Sony audio system.
Blind spot information.
Enhanced active park assist.
Intelligent access with pushbutton start.
Lane-keeping system.
Rearview camera.
Remote start.
Reverse sensing system.
Smartgauge with EcoGuide.
Eight-inch touchscreen.
SYNC with Apple CarPlay.
Universal garage door opener.
Voice-activated navigation.
With that much content in the standard equipment column, the available options are few---our tested had 18-inch machined-aluminum pocket wheels ($695) and rear inflatable safety belts ($225).

2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

The only downside to the Energi? The trunk space eaten by the battery pack. Which might make it a no-go for a lot of families still interested in a sedan.

With $875 destination and delivery, the bottom line would have been $43,100, but Ford factors in a "Fusion Energi" discount of $2,000, which makes the final price of $41,100 come out $205 less than the base price.

Whatever. The car itself is terrific. If Ford's 110-plus-year run of sedans is going to end, it's going out on a high note.

Volkswagen Debuts Atlas Cross Sport Concept at the New York Intermational Auto Show

Volkswagen Group of America

Admin March 28, 2018 0

Concept previews a five-seater Atlas SUV built off the MQB platform
Production of the five-seater Atlas will start in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2019
Atlas Cross Sport concept is 7.5 inches (19cm) shorter than the Atlas, retains same wheelbase
The concept uses a plug-in hybrid drive system, with two electric motors, a V6 gasoline engine, and 355 horsepower
A conventional mild hybrid drive system would produce 310 horsepower (230kW)
Atlas five-seater shows that Volkswagen has a serious SUV strategy

Wolfsburg / New York (March 27, 2018) — Volkswagen is about to ignite the next stage of its global SUV strategy. After recently showing the new Touareg in Europe and China, Volkswagen is now debuting a new version of the Atlas SUV at the New York International Auto Show: the Atlas Cross Sport concept.

The new Atlas Cross Sport concept is a five-seat version of the midsize SUV that went on sale in the U.S. in 2017 as a seven-seater. The near-production concept car features a coupe-like profile, an even sportier stance, and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain with 355 horsepower (265kW) and an anticipated 26 miles EPA (70km NEDC) of all-electric range. Its high-performance battery can be charged either externally or while driving.

A second version of the Atlas Cross Sport has a conventional hybrid drive without an external battery charging function (HEV). This version can also be driven temporarily in an all-electric mode (electric range approx. 2.5 kilometers or 1.5 miles).

Both models have all-wheel drive (4MOTION with electric propshaft).The actual production vehicle is scheduled to be launched in the U.S. market starting in 2019, and will be built alongside the seven-passenger Atlas and the Passat sedan in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

An innovative range of SUVs is an important element in Volkswagen’s growth strategy for the U.S. market, alongside new products such as the 2019 Jetta. The latest sales figures show the importance of the new SUV models: In February, 54 percent of Volkswagen’s American customers chose a Tiguan or an Atlas. Volkswagen of America will further increase the market share of its SUV fleet with new models such as the production version of the Atlas Cross Sport concept and the all-electric I.D. CROZZ that has been announced for 2020.

Design
The concept vehicle is 190.8 inches (4846mm) long, 68.3 inches (1734mm) tall and 79.9 inches (2029mm) wide. The powerful exterior is marked at the front by a two-bar grille instead of the three bars on the seven-passenger Atlas. In both vehicles, the LED headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are an integral part of the radiator grille and a key feature of the new midsize Volkswagen SUV family. Unlike the Atlas seven-seater, the grille crossbars are also illuminated in white and operate as LED DRLs.

The profile of the Atlas Cross Sport concept combines powerful proportions with sleekly raked C-pillars, as well as short front and rear overhangs. The roof spoiler, which has black side fins, is another distinctive element. The way that the character line transitions directly into the wide, flared wheelarches serves to emphasize its power and presence.

The rear wheelarch on the driver's side features the ‘filler cap’ for connecting the charging plug for the lithium-ion battery; the one on the other side houses an actual fuel filler neck. The 22-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, which are shod with 285/40 tires, have high-gloss polished spokes for a truly premium look.

After flowing through the wheelarches, the character line transitions into an aluminum accent at the rear of the vehicle. LED taillights are positioned above this trim line. The horizontal design motif continues with an aluminum trim piece that extends laterally across the bumper, and into exaggerated tailpipe surrounds, which mirror the taillights above. The vehicle features a low sill height of 33.3 inches for ease of loading.

Interior
Inside the Atlas Sport Cross concept, the horizontal design remains dominant, emphasized by the instrument panel and infotainment screens. The infotainment system touchscreen is located high on the instrument panel and is seamlessly integrated. The driver and front passenger can manage all infotainment functions and the basic vehicle configuration via a 10.1-inch touchscreen with proximity sensors and gesture control. The layout of the graphics changes depending on which driving profile is selected— ‘Snow,’ ‘Sport,’ ‘On-road’ or ‘Off-road’.

Navigation data can be displayed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional form. In the 3D view, the user has the option of configuring an individual display layout, which can be done on three or more levels that hover above one another in virtual space. Each level shows the map and position of the vehicle, but with different information. On the top level, the driver can configure the Points-of-Interest (POI); the middle level has geographic information such as the current elevation above sea level; the lower ‘Car’ level shows the route and the position of the vehicle.

The 12.3-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit has a resolution of 1,440 x 540 pixels, enabling sophisticated and interactive graphics. These graphics change according to the selected drive mode—for instance, if you are in ‘E-Mode,’ driving on electric power. The Digital Cockpit display can be reconfigured to show information on driving, navigation and assistance functions as necessary. The driver can also transfer data shown on the touchscreen, such as telephone contact images or CD covers, to the display.

The area below the infotainment system and the Digital Cockpit is upgraded by a horizontal trim strip made of brushed aluminum, which runs across the whole width of the interior. As with the infotainment system, a touchscreen is used for climate control settings, including those for the seat heating and ventilation.

On the left-hand side of the center console, the selector lever for the 6-speed DSG® automatic transmission has shift-by-wire functionality. It is always in a central position. Short clicks activate the ‘R,’ ‘N’ and ‘D’ settings. A separate button integrated in the selector lever is used to switch to the ‘P’ position.

Behind the DSG shift lever is the 4MOTION® Active Control that offers ‘On-road,’ ‘Off-road,’ ‘Sport’ and ‘Snow’ driving profiles. This selector has a high-tech design with an HD display and transparent ‘light pipe’ elements that conduct LED light. Between the DSG selector lever, driving profile selector and cupholders are the black hard keys for ‘ESC,’ ‘E-Mode’ and ‘GTE-Mode’ and the aluminum ‘Start/stop engine’ button. Two cupholders are positioned to the right of the DSG selector lever where they are easily accessible.

There is one more functional console in the front of the cabin. In the roofline area, there are touch buttons that control the panoramic glass sunroof, a matching sunshade and interior light functions.

Powertrain
Since the Atlas is based on Volkswagen's modular transverse matrix (MQB), it can be built with all manner of drive systems, including a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. The Atlas Cross Sport concept uses the same 3.6-liter V6 FSI® engine as the Atlas, making 276 horsepower (206kW) and 266 pound-feet (360Nm) of torque. In the Cross Sport concept, this engine is boosted by two electric motors. The front motor develops 54hp (40kW) and 162 lb-ft (220Nm), and the rear motor makes 114hp (85kW) and 199 lb-ft (269Nm).

Energy for the motors is supplied by a compact 18.0 kWh lithium-ion battery housed in the center tunnel. The drive system's total power amounts to 355 hp, which potentially enables the Cross Sport concept to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. The top speed is 130 mph.

The Atlas Cross Sport concept could also feature a mild hybrid powertrain. Using the same V6 engine and electric motors, but with a smaller 2.0 kWh battery, the mild hybrid version would produce 310 horsepower and give 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 6.5 seconds. The top speed would remain at 130 mph.

The Atlas Cross Sport PHEV concept can be driven in any of five modes: ‘E-Mode’, ‘Hybrid’, ‘GTE,’ ‘Off-road’ or ‘Battery Hold / Battery Charge’.

‘E-Mode’. The Atlas Cross Sport concept always starts out in the all-electric ‘E-Mode’ provided that the battery is sufficiently charged. The all-electric driving range is up to 26 miles. In E-Mode, the vehicle’s drive power is exclusively supplied by the 114 hp electric motor at the rear axle. In all-electric mode, the gasoline engine is decoupled from the drivetrain by disengaging the clutch, and it is shut off. As soon as the V6 needs to be engaged again, it is coupled to the drivetrain in a nearly imperceptible process. A power electronics unit manages the flow of high-voltage energy from and to the battery and to the electric motors. The 12-volt vehicle electrical system is supplied by a DC/DC converter. The battery is charged via external power sources or while driving.

‘Hybrid’. As soon as the battery’s voltage drops below a certain charge, the Atlas Cross Sport concept switches to ‘Hybrid’ mode. The hybrid version would always start in this mode. Depending on the driving situation, it automatically engages the V6 and/or the rear electric motor. If the driver removes his or her foot from the accelerator or brakes when the battery is not sufficiently charged, both electric motors operate as generators and feed energy recovered from braking into the lithium-ion battery. When the gasoline engine alone is powering the vehicle, the concept car is exclusively a front-wheel drive vehicle. However, the rear axle is rapidly engaged again as soon as the driving situation demands it.

‘GTE’. The driver uses the GTE button to switch to GTE mode, which makes the throttle map, gearshifts and steering even sportier. In addition, the V6 and the electric motors work together in ‘GTE Mode’ during ‘boosting’ to access the full system output and the maximum system torque of 494 pound-feet.

‘Off-road’. As soon as the driver activates the ‘Off-road’ mode, the Atlas Cross Sport concept becomes an all-wheel drive vehicle. In this case, and when the battery's state of charge is low, the front electric motor—now supplied with energy by the V6 gasoline engine—is employed exclusively as a generator and is the energy source for the electric motor on the rear axle. Because the energy for driving the rear wheels is transferred ‘by wire’ and not mechanically, it is referred to as an ‘electric propshaft’. Due to the fact that, in Off-road mode, the gasoline engine drives the rear electric motor via electrical energy from the front electric motor, this all-wheel drive configuration is even available if the battery has a low state of charge. This gives the plug-in hybrid SUV very impressive off-road ability.

‘Battery Hold / Battery Charge’. The dual mode ‘Battery Hold’ (energy content of the battery stays constant) and ‘Battery Charge’ (battery is charged while driving) is activated from a menu in the infotainment system. It might be used, for example, to intentionally prepare for driving in the all-electric mode (‘E-Mode’), which could be required in a city of the future.

In addition to all the above modes, the 4MOTION Active Control offers seven different driving profiles in the Atlas Cross Sport concept: ‘On-road’ (‘Comfort’ and ‘Eco’ modes), ‘Off-road’ (‘Rocks,’ ‘Sludge & Sand’ and ‘Gravel’ modes), ‘Sport’ and ‘Snow’.

Leading the way – the new Touareg - World premiere in Beijing

Admin March 23, 2018 0

Leading the way – world premiere of the new Touareg

Innovision Cockpit: digital instruments and infotainment display – the largest among SUVs – merge to create the 'Innovision Cockpit'
Night Vision and 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights': Thermal imaging camera and high-end lighting turn night into day in the Touareg
Interconnected technologies: assistance, comfort and driving dynamics systems enable new levels of safety and performance
Innovative layout: aluminium-steel body of the new Touareg weighs 106 kilograms less, yet it offers 113 litres of additional luggage space

Facts in overview – the new Touareg Leading the way – the new Touareg: Volkswagen introduces a new high-tech flagship with the third generation Touareg.

The digital way – digitalisation: Volkswagen is advancing the car interior into the future with the Touareg's 'Innovision Cockpit'.

The dynamic way – handling: all-wheel steering and active roll compensation enable new levels of SUV performance.

The intuitive way – assistance systems: drivers can intuitively use the potential of new systems like Night Vision and Front Cross Traffic Assist.
The easy way – comfort and everyday practicality: New high-end massage seats make long distances shorter.

The individual way – design and personalisation: interior of the charismatic Touareg becomes an exclusive comfort zone with the new trim lines 'Atmosphere' and 'Elegance'.

Short version – world premiere of the new Touareg

Volkswagen is presenting the completely redeveloped Touareg¹ in China – the flagship of the brand. Equipped with the connectivity of a new era and a pioneering fusion of assistance, comfort, lighting and infotainment systems, the Touareg points the way to the future. At the same time, the exclusive SUV charges up its market segment with pure dynamism. The largest markets for what is now the third generation of the Touareg are China, Europe and Russia. Worldwide sales of the previous two generations amount to nearly one million units. The Touareg – as comfortable as it is dynamic – has, as the most technically advanced Volkswagen of its era, the potential to enthuse technology and design savvy drivers of premium class models of all sorts, reaching new target groups as well.

Premiere of the Innovision Cockpit. Volkswagen is presenting the fully digitalised Innovision Cockpit for the first time in the new Touareg. Here the digital instruments (Digital Cockpit with 12-inch display) and the top Discover Premium infotainment system (with 15-inch display) merge to form a digital operating, information, communication and entertainment unit that hardly needs any conventional buttons or switches. Always-on, offering intuitive control and maximum personalisation – with the Innovision Cockpit, the Touareg provides the blueprint for tomorrow's digital interior today.

A focus on people. Drivers use the Innovision Cockpit to adapt the assistance, handling and comfort systems to their personal tastes; the car becomes 'their' Touareg. This opens up a world in which the driver and on-board guests no longer have to adapt to the car; rather the car adapts to them. Like a new smartphone, the Volkswagen is set up and tuned to personal needs. This is made possible by a new high level of connected systems and programmes – controlled via digital interfaces and the multifunction steering wheel.

Fusion of new assistance, handling and comfort systems. The Touareg is launching with the largest range of assistance, handling and comfort systems ever to be integrated into a Volkswagen. They include technologies such as the 'Night Vision' assistance system (detects people and animals in darkness via a thermal imaging camera), Roadwork Lane Assist (semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking up to 60 km/h), Front Cross Traffic Assist (reacts to cross traffic in front of the Touareg), active all-wheel steering (makes the Touareg handle like a compact car), new roll stabilisation with electro-mechanically controlled anti-roll bars and 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' (interactive, camera-based dipped and main beam headlight control) and a 'Windshield Head-up Display' projected directly into the windscreen. The driver experiences these systems as a single unit in the new Touareg. They are simply there – interconnected via a new central control unit – working imperceptibly in the background and making travel safer, more convenient and more intuitive than ever.

New dimensions and reduced weight. Compared to its predecessor, the third generation Touareg is moderately wider and longer. The new dimensions have positive effects on both the vehicle's proportions and its amount of interior space. The added exterior length leads, for example, to a significantly larger luggage compartment: its capacity has increased from 697 to 810 litres (with rear bench seat up). Cargo there is hidden from onlookers by an optional electrically extending and retracting luggage compartment cover. Despite its increased length and width, the car body is 106 kg lighter because of its mixed material construction of aluminium (48 per cent) and high-tech steels (52 per cent).

Launch with V6 engines. In 2018, Volkswagen will be offering the new Touareg with a new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW/367 PS system power), initially in China. The exact European launch date for the Touareg with a plug-in hybrid drive is still open; in Europe, two V6 diesels with 170 kW/231 PS and 210 kW/286 PS will be offered at first. This will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW/340 PS) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW/421 PS) for many different markets.

Touareg drivers are sporty, active people. Around 60 per cent of all Touareg owners in Germany and 40 per cent in Europe also use their Volkswagen as a towing vehicle – these are remarkably high figures. That is why the new generation is also designed to handle trailer weights of up to 3.5 tonnes. The SUV is also often used by active, sporty people who value maximum safety, excellent seating comfort and intuitive operation. Other key aspects important to its owners are optimal connectivity and high-end infotainment. The fact is that in all of the core markets of the Touareg – as noted China, Europe and Russia – the vehicle is used by an above-average number of drivers who have their own companies or who work independently and are very tech savvy. Nonetheless, there are some slight demographic differences. In China, Touareg owners are 41 years old on average, while the figure is 43 for Russia and 55 for Europe. Accordingly, the share of Touareg drivers with younger children is higher in China (65 per cent) and Russia (47 per cent) than it is in Europe (31 per cent).

Volkswagen SUV campaign. The new 2018 Touareg is another milestone in the largest product campaign in the history of the Volkswagen brand. The brand's range of SUVs is also being expanded comprehensively. It currently consists of the new T-Roc, the Tiguan, the new Tiguan Allspace (Europe) and Tiguan L (China), the new Atlas (USA) and the Teramont (China), plus the now completely redesigned Touareg as Volkswagen's top SUV model. At the other end of the SUV range, Volkswagen will also be expanding its programme beneath the T-Roc with the compact T-Cross. Another model of the product campaign, which offers zero emissions driving, is also a sure thing: the I.D. CROZZ – the first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen. It will arrive on the market in 2020.

Exterior design of the Touareg – tailor-made for freedom

Modular longitudinal matrix. Technically, the new Touareg is based on the Group's modular longitudinal matrix (MLB); it covers models with longitudinally mounted engines and gearboxes starting with the upper mid-size class. In contrast to the previous model, the third generation is moderately wider and longer, but a little lower. The new dimensions: 4,878 mm long (+77 mm), 1,984 mm wide (+44 mm) and 1,702 mm high (- 7 mm). The gains in length and width – in conjunction with the slightly reduced height – result in much more dynamic proportions.

Alternative to the establishment. Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Bischoff, together with his team, has transferred the design of the Touareg to a new time and dimension. The car's design and technology are a perfect match for one another. That is because, with the third generation Touareg, Volkswagen has sharpened the positioning of its flagship to make it an exclusive all-round vehicle. It offers an alternative to the establishment with its pioneering and innovative technologies, versatility, and its excellent comfort and dynamic properties. The Touareg's highly expressive design reflects its new positioning. Klaus Bischoff: "We had an opportunity to implement our ideal vision of a large, exclusive SUV from Volkswagen. And naturally we have consistently exploited this opportunity."

Dominant flagship. While the first generation of the SUV was marked by a dominant off-road DNA, this orientation changed with the second generation and now with the new Touareg: towards an increasingly more progressive, contemporary and exclusive all-round vehicle. But it is still always ready to conquer the world's unpaved trails and reach any destination. Bischoff: "The design of the new Touareg makes it unmistakably clear that it is the dominant flagship of the brand. The power of this Volkswagen resides in its amiability and elegance – this car does not need to force anything."

Front end. The highly expressive front end in particular defines the Touareg's design. A glance at it evokes trust that is reinforced by the high quality of its detailing. The chrome of the solid grille looks as though it had been milled from solid metal, and it seamlessly weaves into the continuous lines of the light signature. Klaus Bischoff: "On this front end, we wanted to create something that had never been done before. In an intensive process, we joined the chrome elements of the front end and the Touareg's new LED lighting system, so that the transitions between design and technology would merge into a new whole." Innovative, highly expressive and inimitable. "This front end", says Bischoff," makes the new Touareg one of the most concise SUVs on the global market. Tailor-made for freedom. That was our objective – no more and no less."

Side profile. The taut side surfaces of the Touareg body look like sails filled with a tail wind. Accentuated wheel arches at the front and muscular shaping of the shoulder edges at the rear underscore the Touareg's confidence on any terrain. And that was the goal: to design the most confident SUV of its class. Also defining the design on the sides are the window and character lines that run counter to one another. The roof line is also striking. It ascends in a flowing manner along a distinctive side line and terminates dynamically at the C-pillar that angles well forward. The gain in dynamism is also reflected in the line-up of wheel designs for the Touareg that is completely new. Their size now starts at 18 inches as standard instead of 17 inches, and ranges up to 21 inches.

Rear section. The broad shoulders above the rear wheels, which form a recessed greenhouse, lend a superlative presence to the rear. This dominance is emphasised by LED tail light clusters. They not only underscore the large overall width of the Touareg but also reference the LED graphics of the front end with their L-shaped light signature. The aesthetics of form do not detract from functionality in any way. In fact, the opposite is true. Practically the entire width is filled out by the boot lid – but the boot lid is barely visible. So, the only aspect the viewer recalls is the Touareg's dynamism.

Interior concept – interior space for the digital era

Innovision Cockpit as control centre. Interior designers have fully conceptualised the Touareg interior anew, systematically tailoring it for the digital era. Everywhere it makes sense to do so, digital surfaces have replaced conventional indicators and controls. The dominant centre of the interior space is formed by the wide and elegant dash panel with the Innovision Cockpit that can be integrated here as an option – an alliance of digital instruments (Digital Cockpit with a 12-inch display) and the Discover Premium infotainment system (with a 15-inch touchscreen). It is the digital control centre – the Touareg's interactive interface, in which information and settings for all key convenience, assistance and infotainment systems blend into a matrix. Thanks to its own eSIM (offered in 13 European countries at launch), the new SUV is also "always on". The 'Innovision Cockpit' represents a watershed – because no other Volkswagen interior has ever been digitalised to such an extent, offering wider ranging connectivity to vehicle functions and the outside world.

Comfort, quality and exclusivity of the highest levels. As unyielding and demanding as the on-road and off-road may be, the interior of the Volkswagen SUV always remains a luxurious comfort zone. The screens of the Innovision Cockpit with their overlaid glass surfaces, elegant wood accents (genuine natural grain wood), vegetable-tanned leathers and aluminium and chrome details give the vehicle a look and feel that reveals its extraordinarily high quality. For example, in the new 'Atmosphere' trim line a narrow wing of 'Curved beam wood' – a curved wood accent in ash – spans the entire width of the dash panel, following its shape, and is integrated into the light design of the ambient lighting. One way to personalise the interior is by choosing one of three trim lines: 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line'. 'Atmosphere' is a new, lounge-like world, in which wood and natural colours reign. 'Elegance' stands for a new, technical world where metal and related colours dominate. Then there is the 'R-Line' package, which focuses on sportiness – as it always does at Volkswagen.

New massage seats and variable rear seating system. The optional electrically adjustable front seats may, as a further option, include a new, pneumatic massage function which is featured for the first time in the Touareg. Users can select from eight modes. The pneumatic massage functions, which offer variable control of intensity, are implemented by individual air cushions. The rear seating system also provides 160 mm of longitudinal adjustment to create even more space at the rear. Offering additional comfort is the tilt adjustment for the rear seat backrest (three stages up to 21 degrees). The term 'long-distance vehicle' takes on a whole new quality in the Touareg with its seat system. To ensure that five people have enough space for their luggage on long trips or on a short trip to the next airport, cargo capacity is increased by 113 litres to 810 litres in the new Touareg compared to the previous model.

Largest Volkswagen panoramic sliding roof. Natural light enters the interior through the largest panoramic sliding roof implemented in a Volkswagen to date. The transparent roof cut-out (interior dimension) is 1,270 mm long by 825 mm wide. The front half of the roof can be opened variably via a four-way switch. It can travel up to 495 mm towards the rear by electric drive and can be tilted up. An electrically operated fabric sunshade reduces solar radiation.

Ambient light in 30 colours. Night-time drives are made more pleasant by a newly developed form of LED ambient light. The atmosphere inside the Touareg can also be personalised by ambient light. In addition, an optional 30 light colours are available, whose brightness can be variably adjusted.

Innovision Cockpit in detail – matrix of the digital world

One-screen design. The 'Innovision Cockpit' is celebrating its world premiere in the third generation Touareg. The majority of its buttons are integrated into the 15-inch screen (1,920 x 1,020 pixels) of the top 'Discover Premium' infotainment system, which is curved towards the driver. The cockpit also includes control of the four-zone air conditioning system and operation of seat heating, seat ventilation and massage. Meanwhile, intuitively and frequently used switches, such as volume control, were intentionally implemented as analogue controls (it is also possible to adjust volume from the infotainment system's touchscreen). To the side of the driver, the glass-covered display of the Discover Premium visually merges with the similarly glass-covered Digital Cockpit – the Touareg's 12-inch, high-resolution digital instrument cluster (1,920 x 720 pixels). The two screens form a uniform digital landscape in 'one-screen design' along a single visual and operating axis. Other features of the Innovision Cockpit: the 'Deluxe telephony' function, an inductive charging function for smartphones, App Connect (integrates MirrorLink^Ò, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, thereby covering all common Apple and Android smartphones), Media Control (integration of tablets), four USB ports (the two front ports interface to the infotainment system with a charging function; the two rear ports only provide charging) and a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices. An optional add-on to the Innovision Cockpit is a Head-up Display, which projects key information into the virtual space in front of the driver on the windscreen.

'Discover Premium' in detail

Infotainment system based on the 'MIB2+ High'. The centrepiece of the Innovision Cockpit is the top Discover Premium infotainment system, which serves simultaneously as a radio-navigation system, telephone, information centre and user interface for configuring various vehicle functions. It is a system based on the 'MIB2+ High'. MIB stands for the modular infotainment matrix. The Discover Premium of the MIB2+ High offered in the Touareg delivers innovations that include 'Connected Navigation' (display of extended 3D city models), 'Nav-Gen4 Routing' (computation of alternative routes under consideration of route profiles, topography and recurring traffic situations such as rush hour), self-learning navigation (based on use profiles, the Discover Premium recognises where the driver is highly likely to want to drive to and recommends the associated route), 'Hybrid Radio' (fusion of terrestrial and Internet-based radio reception) as well as an extension of mobile online services (including reading news aloud and 'Gracenote online' to supplement song information, which can be saved locally and can also be called up offline at a later time.

Home screen is multifunctional and can be personalised. The digital layout of the home screen includes a user control status bar (top of screen) that can be personalised, the line of air conditioning controls (for Climatronic and seat functions), function tiles (one large central tile and two smaller user-configurable tiles), user-definable favourite buttons (left of screen), selectable clock designs and a 3D model representation of the vehicle and seats. The all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid drive can also be visualised. Menu navigation is set up to be intuitive. For instance, the user can press the home button – a virtual button on the lower display border that is familiar from smartphones – to return to the top menu level, the home screen, from any menu with a single click. It is just as easy to also personalise the Digital Cockpit from the infotainment system's home screen.

'Digital Cockpit' in detail

Interactive instruments. The Digital Cockpit is a fully digitalised alternative to the standard analogue instruments of the Touareg, and it is a central component of the Innovision Cockpit. The driver can personalise the layout of the 12.0-inch display from the home screen or the multifunction steering wheel. Drivers can also vary the layouts and the type and number of indicators according to their personal tastes. Those who like a minimalist layout, for example, can limit the display to the navigation system or media library (plus digital speedometer and gear indicator). The trip meter and odometer remain active throughout and are always shown at the same positions. In addition, it is possible to integrate into the Digital Cockpit various system indicators such as instructions and/or the control of assistance systems, navigation and off-road indicators.

Head-up Display in detail

Ideally placed in the driver's visual field. Information of the 'Windshield Head-up Display' is projected directly onto the windscreen. The display is located in the driver's direct visual field – this means that drivers can see all key information without having to divert their gaze from the road. The Head-up Display is the largest display of its type offered by Volkswagen with a virtual screen size of 217 x 88 mm. The driver can vary the types of information shown in the Head-up Display.

Personalisation. Personal settings – including those for the Innovision Cockpit and Head-up-Display – get saved in the vehicle system and can be automatically reactivated by use of a personal vehicle key. That is particularly practical if the Touareg was last driven by a colleague or another family member using a different key. Alternatively, the settings can be activated when starting up the vehicle via a menu that opens automatically. The Touareg can save a total of seven profiles for different drivers.

Sound systems in detail

Optional Dynaudio sound system with 730 watts. The new Touareg is equipped with an 80 watt amplifier that is integrated into the infotainment system's central computer. The sound is transmitted by four tweeters (two in the A-pillars, two in the front door shoulders), each measuring 65 mm in diameter, and four 200-mm woofers in the front and rear doors. Optionally, a high-end sound system is available which was tuned specifically for use in the new Touareg together with Danish audio specialist Dynaudio. The system utilises a Dolby 7.1 amplifier with a power output of 730 watts to drive a total of fourteen loudspeakers: four tweeters in the A-pillars and the front door shoulders (each 65 mm in diameter), two mid-range speakers in the front doors (each 100 mm) and four mid-range speakers in the rear doors (each 200 mm), two effect loudspeakers in the D-pillars (each 100 mm), a centre speaker in the dash panel and a subwoofer under the luggage compartment floor.

Standard and optional equipment

Three optional equipment worlds. Along with the basic equipment, three optional trim lines are available for the new Touareg: 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line'. 'Atmosphere' is a warm interior world, in which wood and natural colours reign. 'Elegance' stands for a technical interior world where metal and related colours dominate. 'R-Line', on the other hand, focuses entirely on sportiness. Spoilers and side sills in body colour are provided with the 'Atmosphere', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line' trim lines
('R-Line' also has wheel arch extensions in body colour). Furthermore, additional chrome elements upgrade the exterior in the areas of the bumpers, windows and radiator grille as do exclusive tailpipe trims for the exhaust system (trapezoidal design; standard for V8 TDI). An overview of key features of the trim lines:
'Atmosphere' (warm world)

Decorative strips on dash panel in fine wood ('fine grainy ash' or the optional 'shape-conformant grainy walnut')
Trim panel of centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver' (optional: 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver')
'Vienna' leather for basic seats
'Vienna' leather for comfort seats
'Savona' leather with design perforations
Load sill protection in stainless steel
'Deluxe' bumpers; vertical chrome stanchions
Sill panel trims with metal inserts
Additional interior lighting
Decorative window strips, bare
Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

'Elegance' (technical world)

Decorative strips on dash pad in 'Aluminium, brushed 45°' (optional: grey-dyed, 'shape-conformant fine silver birch')
Trim panel of centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver' (optional: 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver')
'Vienna' leather for basic seats
'Vienna' leather for comfort seats
'Savona' leather with design perforations
Load sill protection in stainless steel
'Deluxe' bumpers; vertical chrome stanchions
Sill panel trims with metal inserts
Additional interior lighting
Decorative window strips, bare
Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

'R-Line'

Decorative strips on dash panel in 'Aluminium Silver Wave'
Trim panel on centre console in 'High-gloss black' and 'Silver'
'Vienna' leather for comfort seats, R-Line
'Savona' leather for comfort seats, R-Line
Load sill protection in stainless steel
Multifunction steering wheel in leather, heated, with shift paddles
R-Line bumpers, front and rear in R-styling
Radiator grille with R-Line badge
R-Line speed stripes on sides
Sill panel trim with R-Line badge
Additional interior lighting
Decorative window strips, bare
Wheel arch extensions in body colour
Wheel trims in body colour (19-inch)
Design tail pipe trims, trapezoidal

Overview of standard equipment of the Touareg base version (V6 models; partial list, examples for Germany):
Exterior equipment

LED tail lights
LED number plate lighting
LED headlights
LED daytime running lights
Heat-reflecting glass
LED reflectors in front doors

Interior equipment

Trim strips on dash panel in 'Cortina Silver'
Trim panel on centre console in 'Matt Black' and 'Silver'
Basic seats, fabric (one colour)
Storage pack
Cup holders
Window trim strips, black
Floor mats, front and rear
Luggage space cover
Glove box with LED lighting, cooling
Interior lights in footwell, front and rear
LED reading lights, front and rear
Centre armrest, front
Multifunction display (colour)
Multifunction steering wheel in leather with shift paddles
Rear bench seats have 160 mm longitudinal adjustment,
tilt adjustment of rear seat backrests
Rear bench seats/backrests split, folding, with centre armrest
Leather gear lever knob
Front seats, manual height adjustment

Convenience features

Exterior mirrors, electric folding, adjustable, heated
Automatic differential lock
Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Assist
4MOTION Active Control
Electric windows
Speed-dependent power steering control
Cruise control system plus speed limiter
'Discover Pro' infotainment system with navigation (9.2-inch)
Interior mirror, automatically dimming
Steering column, axial and vertical adjustment
Personalisation
Rain sensor for wipers, front
Preparation for smartphone
Central locking system with Keyless Go (engine starting/stopping by pushbutton)
Two-zone automatic air conditioner (Climatronic)

Safety

All-weather light
Pedestrian protection features (including active bonnet, Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring)
Lane Assist
Driver Alert System
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
Daytime running lights with auto function
Traffic sign detection

Colours. The third generation Touareg has a range of 13 exterior colours. Three of these paints are new in the programme: 'Aquamarine Blue', 'Tamarind Brown' and 'Juniper Green' (all metallic). Other colours are 'Pure White' and 'Black' (both monochrome), 'Antimony Silver', 'Sand Gold', 'Quartzite Grey', 'Reef Blue', 'Moonlight Blue' and 'Malbec Red' (all metallic) as well as 'Deep Black' and 'Oryx White' (both pearl effect).

Driver assistance systems of the Touareg

Automated safety and convenience. The new Touareg is one of the world's safest and most convenient cars. Making a contribution to this is its large range of driver assistance systems. 'Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist' enables semi-automated driving functions here. Also making its debut in a Volkswagen is the 'Night Vision' assistance system. The driver benefits from the interplay of assistance systems more than ever in the Touareg. Convenience and safety reach a new level based on this. An overview of the driver assistance systems:

Driving dynamics and warning systems

'Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist' (semi-automated driving up to 60 km/h)
Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring
Front Cross Traffic Assist (warns driver of cross traffic in front of the car)
Lane Assist (lane keeping system)
Side Assist (lane change and turn assistant)

Parking and manoeuvring

Trailer Assist (trailer manoeuvring system)
Park Assist (semi-automated parking and exiting from parking spaces)

Safety

Emergency Assist (vehicle control if driver is unresponsive)
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System 2.0 (automatic braking after initial collision)
Proactive occupant protection system (preconditions safety systems and closes windows and the panoramic roof before a potential accident)

Information and display

Driver Alert System (warning of driver fatigue)
Night Vision (night-time assistance)
Rear View (reversing camera)
Dynamic Road Sign Display (shows road signs such as speed limits and zones where overtaking is prohibited)
Windshield Head-up Display

New driver assistance systems in detail
'Night Vision'. The new Touareg is the first Volkswagen to be available with a night-time assistance system: 'Night Vision'. Its thermal imaging camera (infrared camera) registers the infrared radiation emitted by living beings. Any people or animals it detects are highlighted in colour on a black-and-white image: green or red according to the level of risk. The image itself is relayed to the Digital Cockpit. If Night Vision detects a hazard, it actively warns the driver (by an indicator in the Digital Cockpit and optional Head-up Display). Simultaneously, the brakes and the Brake Assist System are pre-conditioned to prepare them for immediate maximum braking power. By virtue of the new, interactive 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights', the system illuminates, by a brief flash, any people in the potential danger zone to make them even more visible to the driver and to warn them. This marker light is offered exclusively in conjunction with Night Vision. The combination of Night Vision and 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' enables much earlier awareness and reaction to hazardous situations.

Front Cross Traffic Assist. The new Front Cross Traffic Assist is a system extension of Rear Traffic Alert. Today, in many Volkswagen vehicles Rear Traffic Alert warns the driver of vehicles approaching at a 90 degree angle behind the driver's own vehicle when reversing – the classic situation when exiting from a parking space that is oriented at a right angle to the roadway. The system actively intervenes with emergency braking if the driver does not react to a detected hazard. The new Front Cross Traffic Assist in the Touareg now also warns of vehicles approaching the front of the car from the sides at intersections, driveways and parking spaces. For this purpose, two radar sensors are integrated in the front bumper, which sense at a 55 degree angle to the vehicle's longitudinal axis to monitor side traffic. Here too, the system intervenes with emergency braking if the driver does not react to a detected hazard to avoid or at least reduce the severity of an accident.

Proactive occupant protection system. The proactive occupant protection system has been further advanced for use in the new Touareg. It bundles all PreCrash functions into one comprehensive action strategy and recognises even more accident types. Its basic functionality: if the proactive occupant protection system detects a potential accident situation – such as by the initiation of hard braking via an activated brake assist system – the seat belts of the driver and front passenger are automatically pre-tensioned, and the electric seat functions are preset to ensure the best possible protection by the airbag and belt systems. If a highly critical and unstable driving situation is detected – such as severe oversteer or understeer with ESC intervention – the side windows are closed (except for a small gap) as is the panoramic sliding roof. With the windows and roof nearly closed, the head and side airbags are able to provide optimal support and thus achieve their best possible effectiveness. Automatic door locking and the hazard warning lights are also activated. As noted, the proactive occupant protection system now bundles these basic PreCrash functions with the parameters of 'PreCrash front', 'PreCrash side', 'PreCrash rear', 'rollover' and 'multiple collision'. In addition, the system utilises available sensors to detect potential accidents in advance.

Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist. One option being offered at the market launch is the 'large driver assistance system package'. It consists of Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist, the Lane Assist lane keeping system (standard in Europe), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC; with stop-and-go function), Emergency Assist (controlled stopping if the driver is unresponsive), the new Front Cross Traffic Assist, Side Assist lane change system with Rear Traffic Alert and the proactive occupant protection system. This fusion of many different systems enables drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for a limited time when Traffic Jam Assist including Roadwork Lane Assist automatically assumes longitudinal and lateral guidance (braking, accelerating, steering).

Trailer Assist. 'Trailer Assist' relieves drivers of the complicated re-thinking otherwise required while reversing with a trailer, namely having to turn the steering wheel to the left to get the trailer to turn to the right – and vice versa. Another overall goal was to make reversing straight back over longer distances easier and more precise. Trailer Assist is now able to do this almost automatically by itself. To reverse a Touareg with a trailer into a driveway or parking bay from the street, all the driver needs to do is stop at a suitable spot and engage reverse gear. The system is activated by pushing a button. Then the current driving angle and possible angles are visualised in the instrument cluster. These are computed by image processing algorithms based on data from the rear-view camera system, which monitors and analyses the articulation angle between the car and the trailer. By using the mirror adjustment switch, which serves as a sort of joystick, the driver can adjust the desired driving direction of the car-trailer combination. The Touareg executes the steering commands entered by the driver, who only needs to operate the accelerator pedal and the brake. The driving direction of the car-trailer combination is set by automatic control of the electromechanical power steering.

Automatic Post-Collision Braking System 2.0. Around 25 per cent of all accidents involving personal injury are secondary collisions which occur after the initial collision. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which is included as standard, can avoid such secondary collisions or at least minimise their severity. After an initial collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System automatically initiates a braking action – within system limits – even before the driver can react. Generation 2.0 of the automatic Post-Collision Braking System is now being used in the Touareg. The system now brakes the vehicle to a standstill. At the same time, the preventive safety measures of the proactive occupant protection system are activated. In addition, the intensity of the stabilising hard braking is increased to as much as 1g.

'IQ.Light – LED Matrix headlights' and LED tail light clusters

Interactive LED matrix headlights. In collaboration with the German automotive supplier HELLA, Volkswagen has developed one of the world's most advanced headlight systems for the third generation Touareg: the optional 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights'. Where they impress most noticeably is with their interactive light control system which makes driving at night easier and safer. Volkswagen designers and engineers, together with the team from HELLA, have also succeeded in fully merging the three-dimensionally designed LED lighting system – consisting of headlights, daytime running lights, indicators and cornering lights – with the Touareg's dominant and charismatic front section and creating an unmistakable day and night light design.

128 LEDs per headlight. The LED headlights use a matrix of light points – light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be individually activated. The matrix of the dipped beam headlight is formed by a PC board with 48 LEDs, while the PC board for the main beam contains 27 LEDs; the LEDs in the dipped and main beam module are arranged like the squares on a chess board. In addition to the 75 LEDs of the dipped and main beam headlights, there are various other LEDs. Each headlight has a total of 128 LEDs when one includes those for close-range illumination and what are referred to as signalling functions (daytime running lights, cornering, position lights and animated indicators). This means that, in total, the Touareg utilises the power of 256 LEDs in the various segments of the left and right headlights to make night-time bright as day and safer.

Intelligent light functions. A number of intelligent light functions can be activated by the Touareg's electronics via the 75 LEDs of the dipped and main beam headlights, seven close-range illumination LEDs (in five reflector chambers) and three cornering LEDs. Within fractions of a second, the control processor utilises signals from the front camera, digital map data from the navigation system, GPS signals, steering wheel angle and current driving speed to activate specific LEDs individually for the best possible lighting. The driver can use Dynamic Light Assist to activate the continuous main beam function. Other functions – such as dipping, returning to main beam, urban light, optimal motorway light or off-road light – are looked after by the Touareg itself. As the new matrix headlights are camera-based and extremely bright at all times, they make people, objects, other vehicles and animals visible which could not be recognised as quickly or as well with conventional headlight systems in the dark at night. The gains in lighting power and optimised illumination are clearly perceptible. Worth noting: when the already very good xenon headlights of the previous model are compared to the LED system of the new Touareg, in main beam mode the 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' increase the illumination range by more than 100 metres. The interactive headlights already operate like those in a car with an autonomous driving mode. For instance, the front camera detects brightly lit up areas as 'residential'; in this case the Touareg switches automatically from main beam to dipped beam. Based on the navigation data and GPS signals, the Touareg with 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' also recognises when there is a switch from right-hand traffic to left-hand traffic. When travelling from Dover, England, to Calais, France, for instance, the system automatically modifies the light distribution upon landfall. The light functions of the 'IQ.Light – LED matrix headlights' in detail:

Urban light: very wide light distribution, focused to the sides, active up to 50 km/h
Rural road light: dipped beam with wide light distribution towards the road shoulder
Oncoming vehicle light: continuous main beam on rural roads without dazzling other road users
Motorway dipped beam: narrower light pattern, focused on long range at higher driving speeds
Motorway main beam: narrower light pattern, focused on long range at higher driving speeds as soon as no other road users would be dazzled
Overtaking light: activation of main beam with pinpoint accuracy to avoid dazzling. The system detects when the Touareg pulls out to the side; this side zone is then illuminated more.
Main beam: manually activated main beam to purposely use all 75 LEDs of the headlights for maximum illumination. The light pattern is wider than that of the motorway main beam.
Poor weather light: reduces dazzling from the vehicle's own lights and other lights on pavement wet with rain. It is activated as soon as the rain sensor detects precipitation. The 'IQ.Light' reduces annoying light reflections directly in front of the vehicle from the headlights on wet, reflective road surfaces by reducing the light intensity in this zone.
Sign glare reduction light: partial dipping of the main beam with pinpoint accuracy on road signs, so that light reflected from the headlights does not dazzle the driver.
Off-road light: especially powerful dipped beam focused on wide distribution so that obstacles can be seen better in off-road situations
Marker light (when using Night Vision) focused brief flash illumination of people detected by Night Vision (infrared camera) so that the driver can see them better

LED tail light clusters. LED technology is also used for the tail light clusters. The lights produce an unmistakable visual signature at the back of the vehicle courtesy of their design and LED contours. Also strikingly visible both night and day are the brake lights. They are optionally available with a signalling function and concise switching of the LED surfaces (click-clack effect). In the top version, the rear indicators are also designed to have an animated lighting scenario ('wiping').

Turbocharged engines, all-wheel drive and maximum trailer weight

Plug-in hybrid drive, V6 and V8. Volkswagen will be offering the Touareg with a new plug-in hybrid drive (270 kW/367 PS system power) in China initially. The exact European launch date for the Touareg with a plug-in hybrid drive is still open; in Europe, two V6 diesels with 170 kW/231 PS and 210 kW/286 PS will be offered at first. This will also be followed by a V6 petrol engine (250 kW/340 PS) and a V8 turbodiesel (310 kW/421 PS) for many different markets. The 231 PS TDI develops a maximum torque of 500 Nm, while the 286 PS TDI develops 600 Nm. The TSI reaches a maximum torque of 450 Nm, and the V8 develops a hefty 900 Nm. These power output and torque ranges guarantee the largest maximum trailer weights in the segment.

4MOTION all-wheel drive. The new, third generation Touareg continues to be equipped with permanent all-wheel drive (4MOTION) as standard. The all-wheel drive is coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox (with 'shift by wire' and a selector lever position indicator in the instrument cluster), likewise as standard, which can transfer drive torques of up to 1,000 Nm. A centre differential lock with asymmetrically dynamic torque distribution acts as the transfer box between the front and rear axles. A maximum of 70 per cent of drive torque can be applied to the front wheels and up to 80 per cent to the rear wheels.

4MOTION Active Control. The new Touareg, which comes with all-wheel drive as standard, has 4MOTION Active Control with driving mode selection. The system is operated via the 4MOTION Active Control switch on the centre console. The driver uses it to activate four higher-level modes and various pop-up menus. The driver turns the rotary switch to the left to access the on-road profiles. When the switch is turned to the right, the off-road profiles are accessed. 4MOTION Active Control adapts all relevant assistance systems to the driving situation in just seconds. Also included as standard: driving mode selection. Here, the driver can individually control – according to the standard and optional equipment installed – parameters for the automatic gearbox, automatic air conditioner, steering, various assistance systems, 4-corner air suspension, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and the throttle response of the engine.
Driving mode selection in detail. The five standard and four optional driving modes can be selected from the relevant menu in the infotainment system and/or 4MOTION Active Control.
An overview of the on-road driving modes

'Eco' (optimised for fuel economy)
'Comfort' (optimised for comfort on long journeys)
'Normal' (well-balanced standard)
'Sport' (boosts dynamic handling)
'Individual' (parameters individually selectable)

An overview of the off-road driving modes

'Snow' (optimised for slippery roads)
'Off-road Auto' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; optimised for general off-road situations)
'Sand' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; tailored to sandy conditions, with no Hill Start Assist)
'Gravel' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; for slightly rough terrain such as farm tracks)
'Off-road expert' (optional with 'Off-road pack'; off-road parameters individually selectable)

Off-road pack. The optional driving modes for the Touareg are available in conjunction with the Off-road pack that may be specified as an option. Along with the additional driving modes, it includes such features as two towing eyes, a larger fuel tank whose capacity is increased from 75 to 90 litres and an underbody protection system with a radiator guard, reinforced underbody protection, a guard element for the 12-volt battery, very rugged aerodynamic underbody fairing, tank guard and stone impact protection.

3.5 tonne maximum trailer weight and new towing bracket. The new Touareg is one of just a few passenger cars designed to tow loads of up to 3.5 tonnes (braked, up to eight per cent grade). The Touareg confidently masters towing such large loads based on its running gear configuration, permanent all-wheel drive and high-torque V6 and V8 engines. As was the case for the previous model, it is expected that a high percentage of new Touareg vehicles will be configured and ordered with a towing bracket. It has been re-developed and now offers maximum convenience, because the ball neck of the towing bracket extends and retracts from the vehicle floor. Thanks to a new towing bracket system, it is now possible to mount bicycle carriers for up to four instead of three bicycles.

Running gear with active roll compensation and all-wheel steering

Lightweight aluminium in running gear. The running gear of the new Touareg has largely been re-engineered to further perfect its comfort and dynamic properties. As an option, Volkswagen will again be offering 4-corner air suspension with electronic damping control for the Touareg. Its design has been considerably advanced. Active roll compensation with electro-mechanically adjustable anti-roll bars is a completely new feature. Another new development is all-wheel steering, which makes this large SUV agile and nimble like a compact SUV. Five-link suspensions in lightweight aluminium and steel construction are used, front and rear.
Active roll compensation. Another new development is adaptive roll compensation. From now on, due to its construction and design, it will be referred to as 'electromechanical, active roll compensation' (eAWS). The two most important components of eAWS are the anti-roll bars at the front and rear axles. Conventional running gear is fitted with a steel anti-roll bar, front and rear; each bar spans from one side of the axle to the other. When cornering (or when just one side runs over relatively large bumps) the two ends of the anti-roll bar twist counter to one other. The kinematics involved here reduce the vehicle's tendency to roll during cornering. Active roll stabilisation (eAWS) does this even better.

Electromechanical anti-roll bars. To extend the limits of motoring physics, the Touareg fitted with eAWS has electromechanical anti-roll bars at the front and rear axles. A central control unit coordinates their use. The two ends of the respective anti-roll bar are joined to one another via an actuator motor here. Depending on the driving situation, the two halves of the anti-roll bar are twisted counter to one other (stiffened) or decoupled. The high voltage of 48 volts needed to activate the strong electric motors is built up briefly by what are known as 'super caps' (storage capacitors). These active anti-roll bars significantly reduce the Touareg's side lean when cornering. On roads that are uneven on one side, directional stability also improves considerably. When driving off-road, meanwhile, electromechanical decoupling of the anti-roll bars enables improved articulation of the axles which, in turn, improves traction.

All-wheel steering. Another new Volkswagen feature is the optional all-wheel steering. With this, all four wheels are turned simultaneously according to the driving situation. All-wheel steering contributes to the Touareg being one of the most agile large SUVs. Essentially, all-wheel steering has effects during two driving states: at driving speeds below 37 km/h and speeds above 37 km/h. At speeds up to 37 km/h, the rear wheels automatically turn in a direction opposite to that of the front wheels. This makes the vehicle more agile and manoeuvrable. Especially when manoeuvring, the turning circle with all-wheel steering is quite noticeable – it has been reduced by one metre from 12.19 to 11.19 metres. When the speed increases to more than 37 km/h, as the driver steers the rear wheels automatically turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This makes handling appreciably smoother, because all-wheel steering stabilises lane changes – such as when overtaking quickly. The same applies to sudden evasive manoeuvres.

Advanced 4-corner air suspension. The new generation of 4-corner air suspension not only improves comfort; it also improves the Touareg's aerodynamics and rough terrain driving performance. The new, open air suspension system works both quickly and silently; it is not affected by fluctuations in temperature or outside air pressure (e.g. at mountain altitudes). The air suspension offers the 'Normal' or 'Comfort' level settings as standard. Available in addition to those two levels are the 'Off-road' level (25 mm higher) and 'Special off-road' level that raises the suspension by a total of 70 mm. At speeds of 120 km/h and above, the running gear is automatically lowered by 15 to 25 mm ('Low' levels) via the air suspension to reduce air drag and improve handling. Last, but not least, a 'Loading' level is available (40 mm lower), which makes loading and unloading the luggage compartment easier.

Air suspension optimises off-road parameters. Off-road parameters vary depending on the suspension. The maximum climbing ability (60 per cent) and banking angle (35 degrees) are identical for both the steel and air suspension systems. Meanwhile, the approach and departure angles increase with air suspension from 25 to as much as 31 degrees. The ramp angle also goes up: from 18.5 to a maximum of 25 degrees. As ground clearance can be increased with air suspension, the maximum fording depth also increases (from 490 to 570 mm). The manually adjustable levels of the air suspension are activated by a rotary push-button in the centre console.