Touareg Future of VW Touareg?

[bmer]

Back when Porsche and VW decided to co-operate on their luxury SUV projects they weren't part of the same group. Piech's overly ambitious plan to make Volkswagen brand much more than just the "people's car" with the Phaeton and the Touareg hasn't been the success story he dreamed about although the latter model has probably met its sales goals better than the first. Back then, Audi didn't have a single SUV.

Now that VW is about to take practically full control of Porsche, the obvious partner for Zuffenhausen in luxury SUVs is Audi (and not VW). Audi's two SUVs leave much narrower space for the Touareg. VW obviously has to slot the Tiguan & Touareg below the equivalent Audi models (Q5 & Q7). This means the Touareg has to be cheaper and less luxurious than the Q7.

The development for the Mk. II Touareg and Mk. II Cayenne began a long time before the VW-Porsche "marriage" so there was no reason to make it Porsche-Audi project. But for the next gen Cayenne/Touareg it would be interesting to know what they will do.

What do you think VW will do?

Will they abandon the Cayenne-connection and make the next Touareg smaller & less luxurious, more like a Passat SUV with an engine range topping at V6 engines. This would open the way for Audi-Porsche co-operation at least regarding SUV-development.

Or do you think the Mk. III Cayenne & Mk. III Touareg will still be sister models the same way they are now?

 

[Centurion]

Status quo will remain. The relationship between the Cayenne and Toureg is fine as it is.

Toureg: Reasonable priced
Q7: Spacious
Cayenne: Sporty

 

[bmer]

I think the Touareg at least needs to drop the V8s. The V8 TDI especially isn't going to be a big seller in in the future. If they stick with the current Cayenne-relation, the next gen Touareg can't grow much since Porsche doesn't want the Cayenne become too large and heavy.
And if Audi's Q5 grows with the next generation, there's not going to be too much space for the Touareg in the VW Group model lineup.

 

[Centurion]

I think the Touareg at least needs to drop the V8s. The V8 TDI especially isn't going to be a big seller in in the future. If they stick with the current Cayenne-relation, the next gen Touareg can't grow much since Porsche doesn't want the Cayenne become too large and heavy.
And if Audi's Q5 grows with the next generation, there's not going to be too much space for the Touareg in the VW Group model lineup.

Platform sharing doesn't hamper a car's ability to grow larger and become smaller. The previous Toureg, Cayenne and Q7 are based on the same platform but the Q7 greatly differ in size. So there is still a high level of interdependance between the brands to differentiate their models.

 

[Sayyaaf]

I reserve my answer for now, will do in 7 years

 

[bmer]

Platform sharing doesn't hamper a car's ability to grow larger and become smaller. The previous Toureg, Cayenne and Q7 are based on the same platform but the Q7 greatly differ in size. So there is still a high level of interdependance between the brands to differentiate their models.

Yeah, with the latest platforms that's possible. I just think VW will still have to reposition the Touareg (BTW it has an "a" in the name ) somewhat lower with the next generation.

 

[phaeton]

Back when Porsche and VW decided to co-operate on their luxury SUV projects they weren't part of the same group. Piech's overly ambitious plan to make Volkswagen brand much more than just the "people's car" with the Phaeton and the Touareg hasn't been the success story he dreamed about although the latter model has probably met its sales goals better than the first. Back then, Audi didn't have a single SUV.

Now that VW is about to take practically full control of Porsche, the obvious partner for Zuffenhausen in luxury SUVs is Audi (and not VW). Audi's two SUVs leave much narrower space for the Touareg. VW obviously has to slot the Tiguan & Touareg below the equivalent Audi models (Q5 & Q7). This means the Touareg has to be cheaper and less luxurious than the Q7.

The development for the Mk. II Touareg and Mk. II Cayenne began a long time before the VW-Porsche "marriage" so there was no reason to make it Porsche-Audi project. But for the next gen Cayenne/Touareg it would be interesting to know what they will do.

What do you think VW will do?

Will they abandon the Cayenne-connection and make the next Touareg smaller & less luxurious, more like a Passat SUV with an engine range topping at V6 engines. This would open the way for Audi-Porsche co-operation at least regarding SUV-development.

Or do you think the Mk. III Cayenne & Mk. III Touareg will still be sister models the same way they are now?

The Touareg and Phaeton will continue to be built forever IMO as bascially they use Audi technology (Touareg more so).

When you add premium models like Audi A8/Bentley Cont/Phaeton and Touareg/Q7/Cayenne you would profit more with shared costs of development & units sold than with just one single model ala the first Audi V8/A8 for example.

VW will make a 7 seat SUV in the future like the Toyota Highlander/Kluger most likely in the US on the new NMS platform but thats not confirmed yet.

 

[batosai]

I reserve my answer for now, will do in 7 years

+1

No point raising this discussion now while the new Touareg had just been out and it will be on the market for at least 7 years from now.

7 years from now ?

There will be no next generation Cayenne. Look it up.