Homing in on the range

VW is quick to point out that the Touareg is more than just a leisure SUV. The newcomer, it claims, has the luxury to rival a Mercedes S-Class and the off-road ability to make a Range Rover quake in its air-suspended boots.

We tested the 5.0-litre V10 diesel first, which produces 313bhp and an enormous 750Nm of torque. That translates into startling performance both on and off-road. No official figures are available yet, but the car accelerated rapidly, while gearchanges through the automatic box were virtually seamless, despite the astounding pulling power.

When it goes on sale, the Touareg will be offered with a wider variety of powerplants, including V6, V8 and W12 petrol engines. It's this 6.0-litre, 420bhp monster which will really have rivals worried - and that will include Porsche, as its Cayenne shares platforms with the Touareg.

In developing its new off-roader, VW benchmarked three other competitors: the BMW X5 for its on-road characteristics, plus the Jeep Grand Cherokee and new Range Rover for their ability in dealing with the rough stuff off-road. To that extent, the Touareg, which will be unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in September, features approach and departure angles which better the Range Rover's, meaning it will be able to venture even further off-road. The car is impressively capable when taken off the beaten track, easily negotiating rutted roads, sand, rocky climbs and relatively deep water.

Power is routed through a transfer box that features an off-road low-ratio gear and two locking axle differentials. This normally splits torque 50-50 between the front and rear axles, but in the VW transfers 100 per cent of the power to either axle through an electronically controlled multi-disc clutch. Once you've done this, the front or rear diff can be locked via a console-mounted switch.

The vehicle has a minimum ground clearance of 8.7 inches and, when you flip a switch on the centre console, the air-suspension can raise it to 9.4 inches. When travelling on tarmac above 55mph, the ride height automatically lowers, offering more stability at motorway speeds. A switch allows the driver to select a sporty or comfortable suspension setting.

Volkswagen will offer an extreme off-road package as well, with more ground clearance, greater departure angles to cope with the roughest terrain, underbody protection and aggressive off-road tyres.

The Touareg's biggest problem, though, is its weight - final specifications have not been decided, but one engineer estimated it would tip the scales at about 2,250kg. Coming late to the SUV gathering gave VW a chance to see what was around and dress up the Touareg to make the best impression. From the engine choices to the exquisite in-terior, it could be the life of the party.