Not before time, Volkswagen has unveiled the third generation of its luxury SUV, the Touareg.
The current model has been on sale since 2010 and looks woefully behind the pace compared to other high end SUVs such as the Volvo XC90, Land Rover Discovery and Audi Q7.
The all-new model is wider and longer than the car it replaces, yet also manages to be more than 100kg lighter.
On top of greater passenger space the boot has increased in size from its previous 697 litres and will now swallow a huge 810 litres of gear.
Volkswagen has sharpened up the car’s look considerably. There’s a large front grille with wide air intakes, smart LED lights and it can sit on alloy wheels ranging from 18-21in.
It sits on the same platform as underpins the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7.
Despite rivals including the XC90, Discovery and Q7 having seven seats, Volkswagen has made the decision to keep the Touareg five-seat only.
The company has described the flagship model as “the most technically advanced Volkswagen of its era” and it features a new construction, driver assistance and other cutting edge technology.
It certainly looks the business inside. The familiar 12in display can be joined with a 15in infotainment screen to become one long panel that’s angled towards the driver.
The system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there are four USB ports and a WiFi hotspot.
There’s also an optional head-up display which projects the most important information into the driver’s field of vision.
There will only be one engine initially, a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 282bhp. Shortly after launch, the engine range will be expanded to include another 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 228bhp, a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol and a 416bhp 4.0-litre V8 diesel.
A plug-in hybrid will also join the range later on, though Volkswagen hasn’t said when the UK will get it. The 326bhp petrol-electric hybrid will initially go on sale only in China.
All versions of the Touareg will come with four-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Drivers can choose between five standard and four optional driving modes via switches on the centre console.
There are three trim levels, Atmosphere, Elegance and R-Line. Standard across the range are panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control and automatic wipers, plus automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
The car can be specced with a system that allows it to accelerate, steer and brake itself at speeds of up to 37mph.
The new Touareg will go on sale in the summer. Volkswagen hasn’t released pricing info yet but expect it to start from around the £50,000 mark.