Are SUVs dead? Volkswagen doesn't think so. These prototypes of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg were caught testing recently in the California desert and they look every bit the traditional sport-utility.
Even with heavy camouflage, the Touareg prototypes look a lot like the current model in terms of their proportions and overall size. There's a little bit of Audi Q5 in the way it looks from the side, but we expect that the final shape will look like a more refined version of the Touareg that's on sale today.
We expect that most of the changes for the 2011 Touareg will appear underneath the skin. More stringent fuel economy standards will likely mean a range of engines that more closely mimics the European Touareg. Look for an optional four-cylinder engine on entry-level models, along with the continued option of diesel power. Given the substantial weight of the vehicle, V6 and V8 power plants will probably still figure in the mix as well.
Since Volkswagen traditionally releases its newest models in Europe first, this Touareg probably won't make it to the States until late next year at the earliest. That should give Volkswagen plenty of time to plan out its sales strategy for a midsize SUV with low-range four-wheel drive and off-road-capable suspension in a market that seems to be leaning toward the more carlike front-wheel-drive crossover instead.
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