The third-generation Volkswagen Touareg could have solely been launched in Malaysia final yr, however globally the nameplate already seems to be to be headed the way in which of the dodo. Autocar experiences that the mass market-badged premium SUV is about to be discontinued subsequent yr with no successor deliberate, citing firm insiders.
Wolfsburg’s impending transfer will draw a line below its upmarket ambitions, the carmaker having launched the unique – twinned, let’s not overlook, with the Porsche Cayenne and (finally) the Audi Q7 – in 2002 not lengthy after the ill-fated Phaeton sedan. It additionally represents a shift in priorities for the model, which is now aimed toward a wider swath of consumers by means of extra accessible premium fashions.
The position of Volkswagen’s flagship SUV will quickly be assumed by the Tayron, basically a stretched model of the Tiguan. It’s supplied in both petrol, gentle hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants – the latter delivering as much as 100 km of all-electric vary – and comes with the added practicality of seven seats and the power to tow as much as 2,500 kg.
Whereas the Touareg will quickly be no extra, its premium-badged siblings will nearly definitely dwell on, such because the Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Q7. The final of those is after all CKD regionally assembled in Pekan, Pahang alongside the Touareg.
Volkswagen has additionally determined to axe the slow-selling ID.5, a coupé-style model of the electrical ID.4 SUV. The automotive debuted in 2021 with aspirations of conquering the Chinese language market however has failed to achieve traction there, whereas in Europe it has fallen sufferer to shrinking EV demand and consumers’ choice for its extra sensible sibling. It is going to go away in 2027 as a part of a broader consolidation of VW’s lineup with a better deal with high-volume fashions.
Future fashions have additionally been affected, with a smaller variant of the ID.Buzz MPV – beforehand mentioned inside the firm as a possible Touran alternative – being placed on the again burner. “We checked out it, however the market is demanding crossovers and SUV fashions,” stated a supply near CEO Thomas Schäfer. “That is the route we finally determined to go in.”
This determination was partly put right down to VW’s R&D capability being pushed to the restrict for the event of extra essential fashions, such because the all-electric next-generation Golf.
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