THE VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG FINAL EDITION – THE LAST OF A LEGEND
After more than two decades of redefining what a luxury SUV could be, the Volkswagen Touareg is heading for the sunset - and VW is sending it off in style. The brand has announced the Touareg Final Edition, marking the end of internal-combustion production in 2026. It’s the last call for one of the most important vehicles in Volkswagen’s modern history. When the first Touareg arrived back in 2002, it wasn’t just another SUV - it was Volkswagen’s bold step into premium territory, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with brands that used to look down on Wolfsburg. It brought big power, serious off-road ability, and more tech than anyone expected from VW. Alongside the Phaeton luxury saloon, the Touareg elevated Volkswagen from the Golf crowd to the luxury lounge. Fast forward to today, and the nameplate has sold over 1.2 million units across 39 countries, proving it wasn’t just a fluke - it was the real deal.
The Touareg Final Edition isn’t just a sticker pack. VW has gone for subtle sophistication - the kind that suits its flagship SUV. Every version wears “FINAL EDITION” laser engraving on the rear-door window trims and a matching emboss on the leather gear selector. Inside, multi-colour ambient lighting comes standard (from the Elegance trim upward), and the logo also glows proudly in the dash and door sills. It’s a classy nod to a two-decade success story. Production wraps by March 2026. That’s when the Touareg - and VW’s long run of combustion-powered luxury SUVs - officially bows out.
Three Generations, Three Eras
Touareg I (2002–2009):
The OG. The one that made people rethink what a VW badge could stand for. It packed innovations like electromechanical roll stabilisation, air suspension with six ride heights, and the ability to wade through 58 cm of water. Then there was the kingpin: the V10 TDI - a 5.0-litre diesel monster with 230 kW and 750 Nm of torque. It could tow a house, tackle a mountain, or - as VW proved - drag a 155-ton Boeing 747 down a runway. More than 471,000 units sold cemented it as one of the best luxury SUVs of its time.
Touareg II (2010–2018):
The second-gen model went bigger, sleeker, and greener - literally. It introduced Volkswagen’s first-ever hybrid, the 3.0 V6 TSI Hybrid, delivering 280 kW and 580 Nm while sipping a respectable 8.2l/100km. It also gained a wave of new driver-assist systems and remained a towing champion with a 3.5-tonne capacity. VW moved more than 483,000 of them worldwide.
Touareg III (2018–2026):
Sharper lines, a digital cockpit, and a diet of high-strength steel and aluminium made the third-gen Touareg more advanced than ever. With active roll stabilisation, cutting-edge connectivity, and more luxury than most German rivals, it stood tall as VW’s true flagship. The range-topping Touareg R eHybrid packs 340 kW and 700 Nm from its plug-in setup - the most powerful production VW ever. Since 2018, over 265,000 units have found homes around the world.
Touareg: The Record-Breaker
Race Touareg (2009–2011): The motorsport hero that dominated the Dakar Rally, taking three back-to-back wins with South Africa’s own Giniel de Villiers, as well as Carlos Sainz, and Nasser Al-Attiyah. Built like a tank, it showed the world what VW engineering could do when unleashed.
Touareg Stanley (2005): One of the world’s first autonomous vehicles, this heavily modified Touareg won the DARPA Grand Challenge, completing 212 km through the Nevada desert with zero human input. That win laid the groundwork for the driver-assist tech we take for granted today.
The Boeing Pull (2006): Because VW could - a V10 TDI Touareg towing a Boeing 747 weighing 155 tons. No fancy mods beyond some extra ballast and tyres. Just brute diesel strength and German confidence.
Panamericana Record (2011): Adventurer Rainer Zietlow and his team drove a V6 TDI Touareg from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska - 22,750 km through 17 countries - in just 11 days, 17 hours, and 22 minutes, smashing the previous world record by four days.
When production ends in 2026, the Touareg name will go down as one of Volkswagen’s greatest hits - the SUV that blurred the line between utility and luxury, tech and toughness. It was the car that proved VW could hang with the big dogs - and often outlast them.
Take a look at the YouTube video that we reckon is the best to link to this piece about the last Touareg - the BEST Touareg advert ever created with a soundtrack by Arno Carstens from Sprinkbok Nude Girls fame - talk about emotional!: VWSA Touareg Advert. | Some Guy from Cape Town
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