Volkswagen Touareg updated for 2015
German giant lifts prices and upgrades equipment for its large SUV, but leaves Euro 6 efficiencies in EuropeAustralian Volkswagen dealers are already taking orders and offering test drives for the 2015 Touareg, but don't expect price cuts for the LCT-free 'green car' technology on board the upgraded large German SUV.
That's because the Euro 6 emissions-compliant variants fitted with an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) converter and a coasting function for the eight-speed automatic transmission are not being sold here.
Despite complying with the Euro 6 emissions standard in left-hand drive markets, the revised Touareg, which was first revealed at the Beijing motor show in China last April, has arrived in Australia powered mostly by carry-over Euro 5 engines.
That means, in essence, no sub-7.0L/100km green car dispensation from the Luxury Car Tax, which costs you the customer an extra 33 per cent of every cent charged above the current threshold of $61,884.
Europe's greener Touareg (pictured) posts fuel consumption figures as low as 6.6L/100km in the NEDC (New European Drive Cycle) combined-cycle test thanks to the new SCR-DPF catalytic converter module that uses AdBlue, as well as the transmission coasting function, low rolling resistance tyres, idle-stop and a battery regeneration system.
In Australia, without the fuel-saving and emission-cutting features, the Touareg posts local fuel consumption figures of 7.2L/100km for the entry-level 150 TDI model, and 7.4 for the 180kW models (which now produce 193kW in Europe). The Touareg remains exclusively diesel-powered, with a 4.2-litre V8 topping the range.
The issue was first brought to the attention of motoring.com.au by a reader who made enquiries with his local Volkswagen dealer about purchasing the new Touareg. Surprised that the new model was even more expensive than the superseded model – and that fuel consumption figures were the same as before – the reader questioned the sales staff at the dealership, but immediately ran into a brick wall.
Volkswagen Group Australia is yet to release official information on its MY15 Touareg (it's expected to do so soon), but told us the upgraded model will not be available with the 'cleaner' engines Down Under because the Euro 6 emissions standard was not yet mandated here.
A VGA spokesman also indicated that any LCT savings from the more advanced engines – if they were made available to the Australian market -- might be offset by their higher landed costs anyway.
Interestingly, in the UK, the Touareg is marketed with SCR and coasting function, but the CO2 emissions of 173g/km for the lower-output diesel V6 amount to 7.45L/100km – even higher than the Euro 5 150 TDI engine in Australia.
The upside is that the base 150 TDI model now produces an extra 50Nm of torque at 450Nm (although peak power remains unchanged at 150kW), and all models now come standard with satellite-navigation and bi-xenon headlights, among other upgrades yet to be announced.
Apart from the new headlights, other cosmetic changes include a reprofiled front bumper, deeper grille with four instead of two horizontal fins, a redesigned rear bumper with new rear diffuser between twin exhaust outlets and LED rear lighting. There are also new door mirror caps, a range of new (18- to 20-inch) alloy wheel designs, new-look aluminium switchgear, white instrument backlighting, fresh wood veneer trims and new exterior paint colours.
In Europe -- where the MY15 Touareg, which is essentially a midlife makeover of the second-generation model released here in 2011, hit showrooms last November -- also comes with revised suspension tune, the option of new colours for the standard leather upholstery and new driver assistance technologies including a standard automatic post-collision braking system and updated (optional) radar-based automatic cruise control.
Locally, prices have risen by $4000 (now $67,990) for the Touareg 150 TDI and by $1200 (now $81,990) for the mid-range V6 TDI model, which comes with a higher-output 180kW/550Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6. The 4.2-litre V8 TDI R-Line flagship continues to be priced at $114,990.
VGA has discontinued the slow-selling V6 TDI 4XMOTION variant with off-road pack, meaning the Touareg is no longer available with low-range gearing.
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