Why was the Volkswagen Touareg SUV discontinued after more than two decades?

The death of the Volkswagen Touareg SUV marks the end of an era after more than two decades and could usher in a new age of electrification.

Volkswagen has confirmed it will discontinue the Touareg next year, ending the run of its long-running petrol and diesel SUV. Before that, Volkswagen has launched a Touareg Final Edition upgrade package for the model.

The Final Edition package can be applied to all versions of the Volkswagen Touareg range. All versions have the word “Final Edition” laser-engraved on the rear window frame. This wording continues to appear on the illuminated door sills, dashboard trim and leather-wrapped gearshift knob on higher-end models.

Meanwhile, the equipment of the versions has not changed. The standard version is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, 18-way heated/electrically adjustable seats, Curved Display system and comprehensive driver assistance package.

The Elegance version adds IQ.Light matrix LED headlights, 3D taillights, multi-color interior lighting system, premium aluminum or wood trim details and chrome exhaust pipes. The R-Line version aims for a sportier style with dynamic exterior and seat design.

The range-topping R Hybrid combines all the best equipment, including 22-inch wheels with blue-painted brake calipers and the most powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain in the range. This powertrain produces a maximum output of 456 horsepower and a maximum torque of 700 Nm.

The Volkswagen Touareg Final Edition will be on sale until March 2026. In Germany, the car starts at €75,025 (about $87,500) and goes up to €103,005 (about $120,000) for the R Hybrid. Like the discontinued Phaeton luxury sedan, the Touareg is also the “brainchild” of chairman Ferdinand Piëch.

In addition to helping Volkswagen expand into the premium SUV segment, the Touareg also shared development costs with the Cayenne, contributing to Porsche's launch of its first high-riding model in history. To date, Volkswagen has sold more than 1.2 million Touaregs, including 471,000 first-generation vehicles (2002–2009), 483,000 second-generation vehicles (2010–2018) and 265,000 third-generation vehicles (2018–2026).

The current Volkswagen Touareg shares its technical platform with the Audi Q7, Audi Q8, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus, but has never achieved the same level of popularity as its siblings. This may be one of the reasons why Volkswagen decided to kill it off.

The Volkswagen Touareg has had many memorable moments along the way: In 2005, the Stanley Touareg prototype won a self-driving race across the Nevada desert. In 2006, a production Touareg powered by a V10 TDI diesel engine successfully towed a Boeing 747, proving that torque is more than just a gimmick.

In 2011, a Volkswagen Touareg with a V6 TDI diesel engine drove from Argentina to Alaska, a distance of 22,750 km in just under 12 days. From 2009 to 2011, the racing version of the Touareg won the Dakar Rally three times in a row.

Volkswagen has not confirmed a successor to the Touareg, but the nameplate could return in electric form. According to recent reports, a model called the ID. Touareg could arrive around 2029, serving as the flagship SUV in Volkswagen's electric vehicle lineup. It could be the first model to use the company's all-new SSP platform.

This will differentiate the Volkswagen ID. Touareg from the Porsche Cayenne Electric, which is expected to launch in 2026 and will use the PPE platform. The approach also fits into Volkswagen's strategy of reviving familiar names from the internal combustion engine era for the electrified age, starting with the ID. Polo next year.

Video : Detailed review of Volkswagen Touareg in Vietnam.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/ly-do-mau-xe-suv-volkswagen-touareg-bi-dung-ban-sau-hon-2-thap-ky-post2149063814.html