Volkswagen teases new Touareg a week before launch

Volkswagen has released a new teaser image of its new Touareg SUV ahead of its global unveil in China on March 23.

The single image of its full LED headlight also gives a glimpse of, what looks to be an Arteon-inspired chrome grille that extends into the headlights.

Set to be heavily inspired by the VW T-Prime concept that was unwrapped at the 2016 Beijing motor show, the third iteration of Volkswagen's flagship SUV will be based on the same MLB platform as the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.

That means the new Touareg is likely to grow in size in every direction and feature a longer wheelbase to liberate more space for passengers.

That said, the big SUV will remain strictly a five-seater from launch, although Volkswagen hasn't ruled out a long-wheelbase version in future.

Sharing both its core powertrains and most of its suspension with both of its stablemates, the 2019 Touareg will initially be offered with a 210kW/620Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel and a 250kW/500Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.

Another new powertrain available will be a plug-in hybrid badged as 'GTE'.

The efficient electrified petrol will blend a punchy 185kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo with at least one small electric motor that produces around 100kW/350Nm.

Together the total output should be around 280kW/700Nm – enough for a 0-100km/h sprint time of less than six seconds and a pure-electric range of around 50km.

All versions will come with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.

New technology aimed at improving the large SUV's ride and drive include a three-chamber active air suspension, active anti-roll bars and rear-wheel steering.

Inside, the interior is claimed to mirror the T-Prime concept.

Expect a fully digital 'virtual cockpit' instrument panel and a large 15-inch infotainment system.

Motoring.com.au drove a prototype 2019 Touareg overseas earlier this month, after it was official sketched in February and snapped almost fully undisguised last year (pictured), and we declared it a softer, more relaxed version of the new Cayenne.

The bad news is it's likely to be significantly more expensive than the existing Touareg when it arrives in Australia, which might not be until June next year.