Wraps come off VW T-Prime, the bigger, better new Touareg ~ station of gear

Volkswagen T-Prime Concept GTE - front quarter

Volkswagen T-Prime to star at the Beijing Motor Show, hinting at look of new larger Touareg SUV

2016-04-25 02:00

Volkswagen is previewing the next generation of its Touareg flagship SUV with its Beijing Motor Show concept, a plug-in hybrid crossover called T-Prime.

The show car is considerably larger than the existing Touareg, which has been on sale since 2011. However, the successor to that car will need to grow anyway, as the recently launched larger Tiguan and the even bigger Tiguan XL are currently waiting in the wings.

The T-Prime shows how VW expects the Tiguan’s bigger brother to look when it arrives in 2018. It’s wider than the existing Touareg, but sits slightly lower for a more aggressive stance. The show car features just two seats in the rear, but it’s likely that the production model will offer a three-seat bench, and the option of a further two seats that pop up from the boot floor.

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Volkswagen T-Prime Concept GTE - rear tracking

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In addition, the T-Prime showcases a new version of VW’s plug-in hybrid technology. Previous GTE models like the Golf and Passat have mixed an electric motor with a 1.4-litre petrol engine, but the SUV concept previews a more powerful set-up featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 248bhp hooked up to a 134bhp electric motor.

A combined total of 375bhp and 700Nm is available, but the T-Prime can also manage up to 31 miles in pure electric mode. VW claims combined CO2 emissions of 63g/km.

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The concept is four-wheel drive; VW’s 4MOTION differential is integrated into the eight-speed auto box, along with the electric motor. VW has also revealed that the show car uses the same MLB chassis tech as Audi’s latest A4, and that the production Touareg will use that car’s more powerful four and six-cylinder engines alongside any hybrid.

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Volkswagen T-Prime Concept GTE - interior 2

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Inside, the T-Prime reveals a new design of dashboard that mixes the Active Info Display that we’ve already seen in the Audi TT and latest Tiguan with a larger central screen. VW calls the new display the Curved Interaction Area, and its 15-inch curved touchscreen can be configured to prioritise different apps or services depending on the preference of the driver or passenger.

The configuration – which is designed to look like a single display stretching right across from the instrument dials – will be introduced “as early as in 2017”.

Elsewhere, there’s a rotary dial controller for the gearbox, a multifunction steering wheel that uses haptic touch feedback, a 9.6-inch display between the rear seats and mounting points on the headrests for a pair of 10.1-inch infotainment tablets for passengers sitting in the back.

Read more about all the cars at the Beijing Motor Show 2016 here.

John McIlroy

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