Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI

The Volkswagen Touareg Just got better. Meet the V8 variant.

One could argue that the Volkswagen Touareg gained legendary status from the moment VW’s then brand new model hit the road in 2002. This was due in part to its shared underpinnings with Porsche’s also then new Cayenne, but also due to the fact that it was available with a stonking V10 TDI motor.

The second generation Touareg saw the much loved and mechanically troubled V10 axed for a more potent and frugal V8 TDI, which may not have had the same character as the V10, but golly gosh was it torquey and it suited the Touareg’s subtle yet attractive looks perfectly.

Fast forward 17 years from when Volkswagen’s now flagship was launched and the top-spec Touareg is back, now with VW AG’s 4.0-litre turbodiesel V8 which meets Europe’s latest 6d-TEMP emissions standards. With 310 kW and 900 N.m on tap, you can imagine the look on the face of a man who has just bought a BMW X5 M50d when you smoke him at the traffic light in your Touareg…

But of course, we don’t condone street racing and obviously, V8 Touareg’s will be more likely to be found towing caravan’s than scaring BMW’s on a Tuesday evening.

Compared to the V6 models, the Touareg V8 TDI  includes air suspension, an electronic boot lit, comfort seats, an anti-theft alarm system, stainless steel pedals and the “Light & Sight” package (including automatically dimming exterior mirrors and automatic headlights) all as standard.

The Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI is due to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week, there’s no word yet on South African availability, so time will have to tell whether or not X5 M50d driver’s will need to be looking over their shoulders, for their caravan, of course.