VW has twins: Say hi to the Porsche Touareg!

[Philly]

Or Volkswagen Cayenne?

We could say Volkswagen was tired of making an SUV that ended up being rather expensive – for a VW – after you stuck a few options on it. So in addition to the lost weight, the new Touareg has lost some of the four-wheel drive equipment that made the last one so spendy. This one comes standard with a Torsen limited-slip differential, and then you can order a Terrain Tech Pack that adds the differentials and serious off-road capability that once came standard. That takes fuel economy upward, an boost also helped by the increased curve and lower Cd. VW sold 500,000 units of the previous-gen Touareg and it should do even better with this one. Follow the jump for info on all the Touareg's new flavors and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

More great info here at VWVortex.

Porsche's got a lot on the Cayenne line, and having had a look at the new Hybrid and Turbo variants we don't believe they have anything to worry about. The Hybrid is the first from the automaker, but will be just one of five Cayenne trims on offer, and gets you 23-percent better mileage for what is sure to be a hefty premium. Overall system horsepower is 380 horsepower, yet often times you won't even notice it because you'll be "sailing," which is when the drivetrain is decoupled from the engine and happens at speeds up to 97 mph. Follow the jump for the skinny, and check them both out – as well as that curvaceous interior in the Hybrid – in the gallery of high-res photos below.

I'm disappointed that we're getting the hybrid over the V8 diesel. It's going to cost a lot over the rest of the lineup and probably not be that exciting. They also look like they're more geared toward on-road performance. I'm hoping that they'll still be as good off the road as the last generation was. I'm liking what I'm seeing though.

 

[YSSMAN]

The previous T-Reg was a monster off-road, so its a disappointment that it is going (kind of) away. Good on the weight loss though, and the overall look isn't halfway bad either. I'd like to have a diesel, but that may have to come later. Much later. Like it did with the current model.

 

[NotThePrez]

I didn't think it was possible to make the Cayenne look worse. VW have proven me wrong. The back is okay, but the front looks like a demented fish.

 

[a6m5]

Where I have seen those taillights on the VW before?

 

[LancerEvo7]

^It makes me think of an Audi RS6 iirc.

 

[Northstar]

Am I the only one who had no idea the Cayenne was still around? Not sure how well they sell else where but I've only seen around 4 since they started making them.


Either way I think both could look way better. I'm really not liking this new VW design thing they have going.

 

[Philly]

Am I the only one who had no idea the Cayenne was still around? Not sure how well they sell else where but I've only seen around 4 since they started making them.


Either way I think both could look way better. I'm really not liking this new VW design thing they have going.

The Cayenne is pretty much Porsche's cash cow. Go anywhere with money and they are all over the place. I could see them being fairly region specific though...

I don't think their styling translated very well onto the bigger Touareg. It looks pretty good on the smaller cars but the SUV is just too big for their styling. And that's generally the case for companies trying to make their full-size SUV look like their subcompact. And that Cayenne looks like a bloated jellybean from the back I think...

 

[a6m5]

They are everywhere in my area. Lot of semi-rich people around here!

^It makes me think of an Audi RS6 iirc.

I was thinking Audi, too. But maybe Japanese or American. Maybe even Korean. It'll come to me. Or I'll google like a madman later.

Edit: I think I was thinking of Golf taillights.

 

[Anghammarad]

Am I the only one who had no idea the Cayenne was still around? Not sure how well they sell else where but I've only seen around 4 since they started making them.

Probably see more Cayennes that Touaregs where I live.

 

[Robin]

Wow they have made the Touareg totally boring looking, I hate this new design language that VW is doing where everything looks like a fridge. Just because a certain look worked well on the Scirocco doesnt mean it translates to other models in the range.

As for the Cayenne I would say its much improved, I never had a problem with the way the original or the facelifted version looked (far more interesting than anything else Porsche do cough 911) but after loads of complaning that it looked odd if finally seems to look rather 'pretty' with its Panamera esque lights.

As for the twins thing, I dont really see the resemblance between the two models at all.

Robin.

 

[Jim Prower]

As for the twins thing, I dont really see the resemblance between the two models at all.

Robin.

Even though they share platforms, a few engines, and most of the equipment behind the engines?

 

[Boffin]

Wow. I never thought I'd say it, but that Cayenne is.......not bad.

 

[Robin]

Even though they share platforms, a few engines, and most of the equipment behind the engines?

Well I was talking soley about looks... because twins are meant to look similar.

 

[Joey D]

I really like the Touareg, VW's new corporate face is good looking. Looks modern but not over the top like a lot of manufactures are doing. Ya it's slightly boring but it's something you wouldn't grow tired of over the ownership of the car.

As for the Cayenne, I'm not a huge fan of the taillamps but that could change with seeing the thing in person. I've never really minded the Cayenne although in terms of luxury SUV's it's not the one I'd go for.

 

[homeforsummer]

Wow. I never thought I'd say it, but that Cayenne is.......not bad.

I agree, both look pretty good to me.

And both are about 200kg lighter than the outgoing models, which is good news indeed 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

Well I was talking soley about looks... because twins are meant to look similar.

Ever heard of Fraternal twins? They have the same mother and father, but can look entirely different. and be entirely different genders as well. The Touareg and Cayenne are Fraternal.

 

[Robin]

Ever heard of Fraternal twins? They have the same mother and father, but can look entirely different. and be entirely different genders as well. The Touareg and Cayenne are Fraternal.

I have heard of them, you could have said 'VW has fraternal twins' in the thread title then!

 

[Jim Prower]

I didnt' write the thread title. X3

 

[buickgnx88]

It's odd, they are apparently larger in size than their predecessors, yet they only look as big as the Tiguan!

 

[homeforsummer]

Clever styling trickery. The Touareg is now styled very similarly to the Tiguan - more agressive, fewer curves, and a scaled-up version of the grille VW are now putting on everything. It works quite well. Giving it a bigger "face" makes the rest of the car look smaller. Likewise, the Cayenne has become a bit less bulbous, and that rear end certainly works better.

I think another styling trick they've used is given the cars a more raked back end. I've already mentioned the Cayenne but the Touareg is less like the back of a bus now too.

 

[Philly]

Wow they have made the Touareg totally boring looking, I hate this new design language that VW is doing where everything looks like a fridge. Just because a certain look worked well on the Scirocco doesnt mean it translates to other models in the range.

Click on the VWVortex link to see some pictures under studio lighting. The Touareg looks a little better when you can see the entire design.

Also, I like the new VW styling direction. VW said that they wanted to make their cars look a little more economical and less flashy. And I agree with this sort of 'downgrade' or direction. What it means is that you can get a simple but elegant design on the car (and it can be adapted to many different cars) that isn't completely overstyled like some other cars are.

It's great to see some new cars that are good enough to be pleasing but not so styled that it polarizes the market for having too much going on.

 

[homeforsummer]

Also, I like the new VW styling direction. VW said that they wanted to make their cars look a little more economical and less flashy. And I agree with this sort of 'downgrade' or direction. What it means is that you can get a simple but elegant design on the car (and it can be adapted to many different cars) that isn't completely overstyled like some other cars are.

It's great to see some new cars that are good enough to be pleasing but not so styled that it polarizes the market for having too much going on.

I agree. VW's designs are much more subtle than a lot of other makers, and perhaps more traditionally good-looking. They age so much better than most other companies' designs.

It's a curious statement to say they're making their vehicles "look" more economical though. How on Earth do you make something "look" more economical? Unless they're referring to economy of design - using as few lines as possible, not using little "flourishes" that will date the car quickly etc. If that's the case, then VW have been doing that for years anyway. A Mk3 Golf doesn't look very old, for example, even though the earliest ones are approaching 20 years now. Indeed, the current Polo isn't dissimilar from the Mk3 Golf - similar proportions, solid "beltline" running the length of the car just under the window line, the lower line on the Polo echoes the rubbing strip half way down the Mk3's door, square rear lights etc... okay, so they don't look the same, but there are similarities and there's always a solidity to their lines.

 

[GTjazzabrandy]

I like both of them. The Cayenne looks like a nice translation of the Panamera, the Touraeg has a great interior and I hope the next Q7 looks as good as these!

 

[Philly]

It's a curious statement to say they're making their vehicles "look" more economical though. How on Earth do you make something "look" more economical? Unless they're referring to economy of design - using as few lines as possible, not using little "flourishes" that will date the car quickly etc. If that's the case, then VW have been doing that for years anyway. A Mk3 Golf doesn't look very old, for example, even though the earliest ones are approaching 20 years now. Indeed, the current Polo isn't dissimilar from the Mk3 Golf - similar proportions, solid "beltline" running the length of the car just under the window line, the lower line on the Polo echoes the rubbing strip half way down the Mk3's door, square rear lights etc... okay, so they don't look the same, but there are similarities and there's always a solidity to their lines.

I had read somewhere that after the MKV they were going to try to go 'back to basics' and avoid fancy designing. Probably something like trying to design cars so they aren't all that flashy and pretty subtle like the old MKIIIs and MKIVs. I don't think they were too successful on that front though. While I love their more simple design, I don't think they did a very good job of understating the cars with the design.

 

[Robin]

Click on the VWVortex link to see some pictures under studio lighting. The Touareg looks a little better when you can see the entire design.

I had a look and it does look slightly better but it still has nothing on the Tiguan in my opinion, the proportions are so much better and its got a more curvy look because it had the 'VW transition' styling that the Passat coupe also had before the Scirocco changed everything in the range.

Still its a decient effort but its lost some of the uniqueness / bling-ness whereas the Porsche seems to have run with it even further. You have to look at the market that these things sell to and it often involves lots of chrome .

Robin.

 

[homeforsummer]

I had read somewhere that after the MKV they were going to try to go 'back to basics' and avoid fancy designing. Probably something like trying to design cars so they aren't all that flashy and pretty subtle like the old MKIIIs and MKIVs. I don't think they were too successful on that front though. While I love their more simple design, I don't think they did a very good job of understating the cars with the design.

It depends on the model I think. I'm not a big fan of the MkV/VI Golfs nor the Jetta - the Mk4 cars were better looking in my eyes. I don't like the Passat either. In contrast, the current Polo is so much a better looking car than the car it replaced, which in turn wasn't as nice a car as the one that preceded that... and the previous again was a bit more staid (the four shown below for comparison).

(Left to right, top to bottom - Polos V, IV, III facelift, III)​

Most of the current VWs are fairly successful designs though I reckon. The Scirocco is brilliant, the Passat CC is very nice too, the Tiguan and Touareg look good, and the Phaeton (which I've only just discovered is still on sale) looks like a big Bora, which to me is a good thing. Their vans and the new Amarok look good too. I think VW has found a corporate face that works pretty well.

 

[Turbo]

Third-generation Touareg to be released in April at the Beijing Auto Show. Presumably, it will sell in other markets than just China.

Official design sketch:



http://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/vw-tipped-to-reveal-new-touareg-at.html

 

[Turbo]

Redesigned Touareg confirmed for Spring 2018.

http://www.carscoops.com/2017/12/redesigned-vw-touareg-confirmed-for.html