Volkswagen confirms V8 version of Touareg as it continues to chase luxury buyers

German manufacturer continues its assault on the luxury market with a high-performance version of its top-of-the-line softroader. And the numbers are staggering.

Volkswagen will launch its most powerful SUV model yet as part of a concerted play for luxury buyers.

The Touareg V8 TDI R-Line model will arrive late this year powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V8 putting out 310kW of power and an enormous 900Nm of torque.

The company hopes the monster SUV, which it claims can reach 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, will help lure customers from German luxury brands, including those it owns.

The brand has been at pains to point out that the Touareg shares its basic underpinnings with SUVs produced by the VW Group’s luxury brands Audi, Porsche and Bentley.

The Volkswagen Touareg will get a V8 model towards the end of the year. Picture: Supplied.

And when it arrives, the flagship model is likely to share their six-figure asking prices.

VW Australia managing director, Michael Bartsch, won’t reveal the V8 Touareg’s price yet but claims it will deliver more value-for-money than premium rivals.

“Even fully loaded, the Touareg V8 will undercut the starting price of its rivals to be the best value proposition in the premium large SUV segment,” he says.

While the current V6 Touareg starts at about $80,000 plus on-roads, the V8 version is likely to be priced well above $100,000, although it will be fully loaded in standard guise.

The Touareg V8 will be the flagship of the local VW range. Picture: Supplied.

Bartsch claims luxury rivals delivering the same amount of performance and equipment as the Touareg can’t be had for less than $160,000. He also says the Touareg will be fully loaded, the only options being a sunroof and prestige paint.

He also took a swipe at stablemates Audi and Porsche — and rival BMW — for their skinny warranty coverage. With the exception of market leader Mercedes-Benz, German luxury brands have continued to offer just three years’ coverage, against the industry standard of five years.

The new engine delivers a massive 900Nm of torque. Picture: Supplied.

“Volkswagen Group Australia was the first European national sales company to establish five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty for all its brands, which is still not universal among our rivals,” Bartsch says.

The gloves-off approach is a change in corporate policy for the Volkswagen Group, which has historically played down the similarities between the brands in its stable.

The big engine will be ideal for towing horse floats, boats and caravans. Picture: Supplied.

The new engine will deliver maximum torque from a low 1250pm, making it ideal for towing boats and horse floats. Volkswagen claims it will use just 7.3 litres of fuel per 100km, better than some leading hatchbacks.

Unlike most luxury SUVs, the Touareg isn’t available with a third-row of seats, making it less attractive for families.

The V8 R-Line will only be available in a limited production run.