The Volkswagen Touareg has never been short an interesting engine choice. Back in its original form there were W12 petrol and V10 diesel offerings, the latter capable of pulling a 747 along a runway - as well as a huge audience to the PH homepage. Just when it seemed that those days were numbered, VW did it once more, and put the monstrous V8 diesel also used in the Porsche Panamera under its big bonnet last year. It wasn't for the UK but, regardless of that, it showed that Volkswagen was perhaps embracing diesel power once more.
Except it's not. In a quite remarkable volte-face, the Touareg V8 TDI is going off sale almost as soon as it went on it, like launching diet pills in December or a new range of biscuits the month after. It follows the demise of the 4.0 in the aforementioned Panamera, as well as in hybridised form behind the four rings of both the SQ8 and SQ7, and thus the end of the engine entirely given it also lived a remarkably short life in the Bentley Bentayga and never made it to Audi A8s in the UK. Which is fairly staggering given the amount of investment that must have gone into a new V8 diesel, and not a little saddening given the almighty results. It was pretty hard to argue with more than 400hp and 600lb ft with rather a lot more than two tonnes to shift along.
But we all know now is not the time for diesel, especially those large, powerful ones in large, powerful SUVs. Hence the arrival of the more socially acceptable Touareg R, which boasts 462hp/516lb ft from its petrol-electric powertrain and the ability to run silently for 27 miles so you can clearly hear the cheers of affection from passers-by.
To mark the premature (it may seem) departure of the V8 diesel Touareg, Volkswagen has made a Last Edition. Polished with the tears of engineers (perhaps), there will be just 400 Last Editions, based on the R-Line. Six colours will be offered to German customers: Pure White, Oryx White Pearl Effect, Deep Black Pearl Effect, Malbec Red Metallic, Silicon Grey Metallic and Antimony Silver Metallic. An option pack will add 21-inch Suzuka Black wheels, LED matrix headlights and active roll stabilisation.
The Touareg V8 TDI Last Edition goes on sale next week, priced from €104,361 and with examples offered first come, first serve, "due to the limited number". With it will go the brand's most recent dalliance with the diesel dark side, one unlikely to ever happen again given VW's unavoidable association with the situation and the inexorable rise of electrification. Whether the big diesel will be missed is another matter, of course, although the dozens of SQ7s for sale on PH with healthy mileages would suggest they've struck a chord with a certain type of buyer. VW and Audi will be hoping that hybrid powertrains hold the same sort of appeal...
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