VW T-Prime Concept GTE aka Touareg III

[Galaxy]

Supposedly it is more or less the next Touareg (including the interior) with the exception of some show car additions like the LED stripe running all across the front.









All in all it looks good. Not sure about that whole Touch interface thing.

[Payman]

Front is too blingy chromey for my tastes. Other than that, looks decent enough.

[Payman]

Wait, where's the shifter? Unacceptable in a SUV, especially for winter driving. Pass.

[12,000 RPM]

This is interesting

Still no word on whatever is going to fit between this and the Tiguan or if we are getting the SWB or LWB Tiguan. SWB Tiguan = serious contender for wifey's ride. LWB can kick rocks

[MrH]

This is interesting

Still no word on whatever is going to fit between this and the Tiguan or if we are getting the SWB or LWB Tiguan. SWB Tiguan = serious contender for wifey's ride. LWB can kick rocks

I thought you were concerned about car seat space?

[cawimmer430]

Yes please, with a TDI engine! 

[veeman]

As Audi and VW are mostly the same company, I don't understand the point of this car.  VW SUVs should be about minimalism with a focus on form (like the Beetle) or utility (like the Golf) and not luxury.  Either be a stand alone company or let Audi do luxury.

[12,000 RPM]

I thought you were concerned about car seat space?

It will be big enough. The current one is too tight but the new SWB one will be a lot bigger, especially in the back. LWB one will have a 3rd row option... I want nothing to do with any 3 row anything.

[MrH]

I thought the same, then I saw the 3rd row for the 4Runner, and for $500 it was a no brainer.

[Raza]

As Audi and VW are mostly the same company, I don't understand the point of this car.  VW SUVs should be about minimalism with a focus on form (like the Beetle) or utility (like the Golf) and not luxury.  Either be a stand alone company or let Audi do luxury.

Moving VW upmarket means that they can move Audi even further upmarket. 

Besides, the brands have images that may appeal to different buyers. 

[Raza]

As for this, I hate the front, but like everything else. 

[12,000 RPM]

Moving VW upmarket means that they can move Audi even further upmarket. 

Besides, the brands have images that may appeal to different buyers.

Moving upmarket doesn't mean the market will move with you :)

VW will have to play its position. They need to adopt the Kia strategy of having one car that can legitimately sell from ~20K up to 40K. They pretty much do with the Golf. Rest of the lineup needs to follow.

[mzziaz]

Those airbags must be getting pretty small.

[AutobahnSHO]

As Audi and VW are mostly the same company, I don't understand the point of this car.  VW SUVs should be about minimalism with a focus on form (like the Beetle) or utility (like the Golf) and not luxury.  Either be a stand alone company or let Audi do luxury.

Yes.   Saw a Passat wagon with the W8 for sale locally. "Expensive to maintain" was even in the online ad.

[Raza]

Yes.   Saw a Passat wagon with the W8 for sale locally. "Expensive to maintain" was even in the online ad.

Well, the W8 was really quite complicated, if I recall.

[AutobahnSHO]

Well, the W8 was really quite complicated, if I recall.

Yup. And "only" getting 270hp or something...

[veeman]

Moving VW upmarket means that they can move Audi even further upmarket. 

Besides, the brands have images that may appeal to different buyers. 

I know this is just a concept but can't get any more upmarket than this without getting very close or over $100,000 which is not where Audi competes for it's SUVs.  That was one of the problems with the Touareg.  And although the Phaeton had a lot of reliability problems, it also failed because it was a VW.  I can understand Hyundai or Kia trying to go upmarket because they don't have a luxury brand in their portfolio but VW and Audi are in the same fold so I don't understand this.

Well, I do understand it.  Heads of VW mentally aren't really in a partnership with Audi. 

[AutobahnSHO]

Yeah, it's like a "LUXURY FORD"..

[12,000 RPM]

Yup. And "only" getting 270hp or something...

Indeed... got its doors blown off by a cheap ass Altima V6. VWAG is like the contrarian teenager on forums who asks "omg what would happen if u lopped 1 cylinder off of a VR6"

[Raza]

I know this is just a concept but can't get any more upmarket than this without getting very close or over $100,000 which is not where Audi competes for it's SUVs.  That was one of the problems with the Touareg.  And although the Phaeton had a lot of reliability problems, it also failed because it was a VW.  I can understand Hyundai or Kia trying to go upmarket because they don't have a luxury brand in their portfolio but VW and Audi are in the same fold so I don't understand this.

Well, I do understand it.  Heads of VW mentally aren't really in a partnership with Audi.

Wasn't the Touareg far more successful than the Phaeton?  You used to not be able to go anywhere without tripping over 10 of them. 

[MrH]

Indeed... got its doors blown off by a cheap ass Altima V6. VWAG is like the contrarian teenager on forums who asks "omg what would happen if u lopped 1 cylinder off of a VR6"

[veeman]

Wasn't the Touareg far more successful than the Phaeton?  You used to not be able to go anywhere without tripping over 10 of them. 

Initially when it first came out it did well.  Then the Q7 came along and started crushing it.  Also, most years the Cayenne outsold it.

Doesn't matter though.  This Touareg is probably mostly for China.  The Chinese people love VWs.

[Galaxy]

As Audi and VW are mostly the same company, I don't understand the point of this car.  VW SUVs should be about minimalism with a focus on form (like the Beetle) or utility (like the Golf) and not luxury.  Either be a stand alone company or let Audi do luxury.

They had the problem that people who wanted to move up from VW more often went to BMW, and Mercedes, instead of Audi. The idea was that VW+Audi would retain more customers then Audi alone, even if Audi and VW cannibalize each other to some extent. Besides VW problem is less the overlap with Audi, and more the fact that Skoda is the new Volkswagen. VW itself is in an odd niche that really only Saab and Volvo were in. Saab is gone, and Volvo is escaping to the luxury market.

Heads of VW mentally aren't really in a partnership with Audi. 

It is not a partnership. Audi is VW's puppet.

Also keep in mind that the company is 50% family owned, and at least until the early 2000s was partially viewed as a hobby.

[Raza]

They had the problem that people who wanted to move up from VW more often went to BMW, and Mercedes, instead of Audi. The idea was that VW+Audi would retain more customers then Audi alone, even if Audi and VW cannibalize each other to some extent. Besides VW problem is less the overlap with Audi, and more the fact that Skoda is the new Volkswagen. VW itself is in an odd niche that really only Saab and Volvo were in. Saab is gone, and Volvo is escaping to the luxury market.

It is not a partnership. Audi is VW's puppet.

Also keep in mind that the company is 50% family owned, and at least until the early 2000s was partially viewed as a hobby.

Acura was in the niche, too.

And I'd totally buy a Skoda.

[Madman]

This is interesting

Still no word on whatever is going to fit between this and the Tiguan or if we are getting the SWB or LWB Tiguan. SWB Tiguan = serious contender for wifey's ride. LWB can kick rocks

I read somewhere North America was only getting the LWB Tiguan, but you know how these rumours are.

[12,000 RPM]

I read somewhere North America was only getting the LWB Tiguan, but you know how these rumours are.

Makes sense, but would be kind of a shame. I heard there are going to be sub-Tiguan CUVs too. As long as it's not much bigger than a Q5 it should be OK

[2o6]

Makes sense, but would be kind of a shame. I heard there are going to be sub-Tiguan CUVs too. As long as it's not much bigger than a Q5 it should be OK

I feel like the LWB Tiguan will be the same size as the Escape.

[12,000 RPM]

I feel like the LWB Tiguan will be the same size as the Escape.

Huh.... that could work.

Looking at the specs.... all of these things are about the same size. I suppose if it comes in around the same size it should be fine. I just heard talk of VW trying to squeeze a 3rd row in, which would make it closer to a Sorento/Highlander etc which I want nothing to do with. We will see when it gets here though. There are plenty of other options.

[2o6]

The Outlander and Rogue have 3rd rows and they're the same size as the Escape

[12,000 RPM]

They are both a little bigger, Outlander moreso. But the Q5 is bigger than anything in the class so I guess I'm making something out of nothing. I'm just concerned about whatever we get fitting in our garage.