New flagship Volkswagen Talagon to battle BMW X7

Volkswagen has launched the full-size 2021 Volkswagen Talagon SUV at the Shanghai motor show, emerging as the European brand's first genuine rival to vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7.

Measuring in at an imposing 5152mm long, 2002mm wide and standing a towering 1795mm tall, the new Volkswagen Talagon also has a generous 2980mm stretched wheelbase to provide three rows of seating.

Claimed to be the biggest vehicle yet to be based on the Volkswagen Group's MQB architecture, the Talagon is 1mm longer than the BMW X7, 2mm wider but 10mm lower, yet dwarfs the previous Volkswagen Atlas that's sold in North America.

Offered with the choice of seven, or an even more luxurious six seats, the new Volkswagen SUV attempts to match rivals like Mercedes and BMW for fit and finish, although its design does look a bit like an up-sized Golf hatch.

Under the bonnet, range-topping versions of the SUV come equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre V6 that produces around 220kW and 500Nm and is combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the car-maker's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.

Developed as part of a joint venture with its Chinese partner FAW Group, the biggest-ever Volkswagen SUV is not expected to be offered outside of China in the short-term, despite demand for it in markets like North America and Australia.