Raising the bar

Trundling across the red carpet of the Munich Postpalast, one could differentiate the journalists from the celebrities, by the absence of goosebumps on their exposed flesh. Mercifully, there was little exposed journalist flesh to speak of though. Instead, the evening's VIP guests, who included German leaders of industry, professional athletes, and various stars of the teutonic screen and stage, sacrificed warmth to fashion, arriving in strapless evening dresses and designer suits. A roster of over six hundred guests had assembled for the unveiling of the all-new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg, an event for which wheels had an exclusive invite.

With its lower bonnet, elongated shape, and more aerodynamic body style, this new Touareg is 208kg lighter than the previous model, while freeing up 1,642 litres of cargo space. The impressive base feature set includes electrically folding and adjustable wing mirrors, rain sensor, load sill guard in trim colour, multi-function leather-trimmed steering wheel plus cruise control, centre armrests front and rear, and four 12-volt appliance plugs. Also available are features like remote control of the electric windows, automatically opening cargo cover, automatic climate control (individually adjustable, left and right), modular rear seating system, multi-function display, "RCD 550" radio system with touch-screen control and integrated 6-disc CD changer.

If these don't make it an attractive enough proposition, then consider the speed-sensitive Servotronic steering, 17in seven-spoke alloy wheels shod with size 235 tyres, stop/start system, and regenerative braking, and the new Touareg is sure to attract value conscious drivers looking for a blend of performance and comfort. But what was really impressive was the opulent two-tone leather interior of the top trim level Touareg, which marries taste, gadgetry and comfort to configure an interior design equal to what one might expect from Range Rover, Mercedes, BMW, or, dare I say it, Audi.

If you have any doubt, go sit in one for yourself, because, while there's no accounting for taste, the most posh of the new Touaregs can, in my mind, lounge about in a silk smoking jacket with its headheld high among some of European motoring's most esteemed company.

The new engines are almost 20 per cent more fuel efficient than their predecessors, and Volkswagen will soon offer a first-in-class hybrid Touareg. "[Between] the Hybrid and V6 TDI models, the Touareg is now the most fuel efficient petrol and diesel SUV ever built in Europe in this large vehicle class," said Stefan Mecha, managing director of Volkswagen Middle East.

Mecha's enthusiasm extends well up the corporate ladder, as Dr Harald Ludanek, head of vehicle development at Volkswagen, commented: "Technically, the new Touareg is the most innovative ‘VW' since the brand has existed. Everybody has worked fervently on this car day and night, and we can be proud of the result." We'll wait to drive it before we concur, but so far, so ‘gut.'