2024 Volkswagen Touareg facelift to introduce R variant in Australia

UPDATE, May 2023: Facelifted Volkswagen Touareg revealed

The updated 2024 Volkswagen Touareg has debuted ahead of its Australian launch early next year. Get the full details below, or continue reading here for our earlier story.

February: The facelifted 2024 Volkswagen Touareg large SUV will arrive in Australia next year.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia confirmed the updated Touareg, previewed testing in the Swedish Alps this week, will launch here in the first quarter of 2024.

It will be headlined by the arrival of the flagship Touareg R plug-in hybrid variant, following its delay from an expected arrival in late 2022, then sometime in 2023.

Wheels understands the performance model – first unveiled in early 2020 as part of an expanded Volkswagen R line-up – has been pushed back as it was unfeasible to introduce a small amount of pre-facelift examples in Australia, with a potential hit to resale value for early adopters.

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The mid-life update – set to debut in May – will feature a revised front-end with slimmer headlights reminiscent of the latest Golf and Tiguan, an updated high-definition matrix lighting system with 38,400 micro-LEDs, and an integrated light strip running across the grille.

Volkswagen claims the enhanced, "very high resolution" matrix headlights will be capable of improved brightness in low light without dazzling oncoming traffic, including a 'lane light' function to illuminate the vehicle's lane.

At the rear, the facelifted Touareg sports an updated tail-light signature, a revised bumper design, a light strip, and – in a European first – an illuminated Volkswagen badge in red.

It will also feature redesigned alloy wheels, while the Touareg R will gain blue brake calipers with a silver R logo.

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Under the skin, the Touareg's MLB Evo chassis – related to the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga – includes a new roof load sensor to improve agility when the roof is unladen.

There's also revised suspension components (for either the standard steel spring or optional two-chamber air suspension) to boost comfort and performance levels.

Inside, the update will introduce an updated version of the 15-inch Innovision Cockpit system, with the latest infotainment software to support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 'lane-precise' navigation, high-resolution map data, and improved voice control.

In addition, Volkswagen will introduce faster 45-watt USB-C ports – up from 15-watt – and enhance comfort following customer feedback, with softer padding for the armrests and centre console.

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While the plug-in hybrid Touareg R is expected to command a substantial premium over the 210TDI R-Line – potentially closer to, or in excess of, $200,000 drive-away – it includes a performance boost, with a 250kW 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 from the Audi Q7 55 TFSI, matched to a 100kW electric motor.

In total, it produces 340kW and 700Nm, with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.1 seconds. It retains the diesel's 3500-kilogram towing capacity, but boot space is reduced from 810 litres to 610L.

Using electrification to boost performance opposes Volkswagen's previous method of fitting the largest engine possible to the first-generation 2007-10 Touareg R50, which featured a hefty 257kW/850Nm 5.0-litre turbo-diesel V10 and a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds.

Currently, the large SUV is available with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine in two tunes: a low-output 170kW/500Nm entry-level grade and the flagship 210kW/600Nm tune for the Elegance and R-Line.

It is priced from $89,240 before on-road costs for the eponymous 170TDI, rising to $117,540 plus on-roads for the 210TDI R-Line.

The 2024 Volkswagen Touareg facelift will debut in Europe in May, ahead of first deliveries in Australia in the first quarter of next year (January to March inclusive).