Even though it’s pretty much the same SUV, the overseas and North American next-generation Touareg will be essentially different. While the Europeans can expect to see the crossover later this year at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the U.S. fans will have to wait until the beginning of the next year. However, what’s far more important, the U.S.-specs 2018 Volkswagen Touareg will offer totally different engine options and won’t get the third-row of seating.
About the seven-seat layout. Well, it’s not needful simply because the carmaker introduced the three-row Atlas a few months ago. As for the 2019 VW Touareg, it’s going to offer to seat for five and four people. Even though we haven’t actually sat inside, we are pretty sure it’s going to offer plenty of space for both front- and rear-seat passengers. That’s due to a new MLB Evo architecture, which won’t enable additional inches, yet it will definitely provide better configuration inside of the cabin
In addition, the platform will also shed some pounds from the crossover, but what’s more important, it will enable the use of new engine options. The U.S. buyers will likely get a new V6 engine. In place of today’s 3.6-liter V6, the SUV will feature a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with 333 horsepower. The second option will be the 2019 Touareg plug-in hybrid. This unit will combine a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 252 hp and a single electric motor. Both options will be mated to an all-wheel-drive, which will get power via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to some rumors, the carmaker is reconsidering a high-performance option, so-called 2019 VW Touareg R. If the topper actually arrives, it will likely use a 4.4-liter twin-turbo which is capable of stretching all the way to 520 horsepower. Still, don’t expect all the power beneath the Touareg R. Instead, the crossover should be limited to 420 horsepower.
2019 VW Touareg US specs
The U.S.-specs new-generation Touareg will probably be introduced at the 2018 NAIAS. If not, you will have to wait until the 2018 New York auto show. The price should start somewhere at $50,000.
