After nearly two and a half many years on sale, the Volkswagen Touareg may stop to exist within the very near future, in accordance with a brand new report out of the UK.
Autocar says ‘insiders’ have told the publication that production of the German brand’s luxury SUV will stop in 2026, leaving the brand new Tayron SUV to fly the flag at the highest of its crossover lineup in Europe and the UK, and certain Australia.
The Touareg first went on sale in 2002, developed alongside the unique Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. Just like the Phaeton limousine, the Touareg elevated VW into the luxurious classes to compete with its own subsidiaries in addition to the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Now in its third generation, the newest Touareg stays closely related to its premium-badged cousins, and likewise shares DNA with high-end SUVs just like the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus.
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Above: All three generations of Volkswagen Touareg
In accordance with Autocar’s report, changing priorities at Volkswagen is probably going an enormous driver of the German giant’s decision to kill off its luxury SUV.
Further, the brand new Tayron costs less and has broader appeal – partly because of its available seven seats which has long been a Touareg criticism.
Should the claims be true, the Touareg name may very well be retired after a 24-year run. CarExpert has reached out to Volkswagen Australia for comment, and is yet to receive a response.
The British publication also claims the all-electric ID.5 coupe SUV also won’t make it beyond its first generation, and can likely be discontinued in 2027. Autocar’s report says this is an element of VW’s move to “streamline the range and consider high-volume models”.
It’s understood the ID.5 hasn’t taken off within the Chinese market in the way in which the German brand had hoped, and has been largely overshadowed by its more practical ID.4 sibling in Europe. It also was never sold within the States just like the ID.4, either.
Finally, Autocar’s insider-sourced report claims that previously reported plans for a sub-ID. Buzz electric MPV from the Volkswagen brand has likely been shelved, meaning an EV successor for the European-market Touran is on ice.
“Sources near Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer say,” nonetheless, that while such a vehicle “shouldn’t be a priority” for the VW brand, it could as a substitute be introduced by Czech subsidiary Skoda – an all-electric Roomster, perhaps?
“We checked out it, however the market is demanding crossovers and SUV models,” the insider source told Autocar. “That is the direction we ultimately decided to go in.”
One other reported reason, partly, is because of engineering capability at Volkswagen’s Braunschweig R&D centre in Germany being tied up with more necessary models just like the upcoming electric Golf.
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This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
