2024 Volkswagen Touareg: Full specifications confirmed ahead of release

The facelifted Volkswagen Touareg large SUV is readying to launch in April or May this year with a revamped range.

Headlined by the $129,900 (before on-road costs) plug-in hybrid R – VW's most powerful production vehicle yet – the new Touareg line-up is fuller than ever.

The R features a 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain with 340kW and 700Nm. That's enough to rocket the big SUV 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds yet still achieve 3.1L/100km in the ADR combined efficiency cycle.

At the other end of proceedings, the German brand has focused on adding value to the entry-level 170TDI with clever new headlights that feature 19,200 LEDs, a 15-inch 'Innovision' touchscreen as standard, and more.

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Volkswagen has yet to release prices beyond the Touareg R, but it has its sights set on 'myriad aspiring upstart brands' as well as mainstream names that are attempting to push into the premium space.

Think of Mazda's CX-60 and CX-90, Jeep's Grand Cherokee, and the Volvo XC90 as the Touareg's most natural rivals. The VW has an edge for recreational use, its torquey diesel mills bestowing the SUV with a 3500kg braked towing capacity.

"We really needed an entry-level car that wasn't entry-level", said general manager of corporate communications Paul Pottinger.

"The way that 170 is now specced, you have to particularly want to step up upgrade to do it. Before, you were stepped up to [210TDI] the way it was structured. Not so much now", he added.

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Wheels was informed that the $12,000 discount recently applied to the 170TDI and 210TDI run-out models might not be too far off the new Touareg's price.

A rare thing, and it means the all-wheel drive Touareg could start from around $90-95K drive-away with the current option packs included in the base price.

Beyond the 170TDI, the 210TDI is also available packaging 40 more kilowatts from the same basic 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and air suspension as standard.

The 210TDI will be offered in luxo Elegance and sporty R-Line trim, with spec differences outlined below.

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As for the flagship Touareg R, it's the brand's most powerful production vehicle ever, producing 9kW more than the Phaeton W12 (2004–2011) despite half the cylinder count.

It also boasts 51km of electric-only driving range and ships with both mode 2 (home) and mode 3 (public/wallbox) charging cables. And again, it's more affordable than the old V8 R-Line it effectively replaces.

Inside, there's blue contrast stitching on the Puglia leather upholstery and the same screen set-up as the rest of the Touareg range including the fresh digital driver's display.

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The Touareg R was to be launched this month, however, Volkswagen has chosen to hold its release until stock in the rest of the range has filled out – expect an April/May on-sale date.

We'll also know prices by then and it's looking like the Touareg may, in a rare win for consumers, effectively drop in price when it arrives thanks to the 170TDI's added specification.