The first generation of the Volkswagen Touareg was shown at the Paris Motor Show in September 2002 and its appearance shook the world.
A brand with almost no off-road experience attacked the traditional off-road car-makers market.

The first generation of the Touareg had a shy start. The car was over-engineered to withstand the tortures and the criticism of the 4x4 buyers. It had tons of electronic controls, and it had a lot to prove. In the end, it took its share from the market, from those who emerged from a large sedan to an SUV.

The front fascia was inspired by the fifth Passat generation, which was one of the best selling cars in its class. The overall look of the vehicle was closer to a station-wagon on stilts rather than a civilized off-road vehicle. Big windows, flared arches, and rounded body panels were in the opposite direction with the flat surfaces from vehicles such as Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Patrol or Toyota Land Cruiser to name just a few of its main rivals.

Inside the car, the front seats were large and comfortable, divided by a wide center console. The high seating position made room for the rear passengers. It wasn’t available for a 7-seat option, but the five passengers could travel comfortably. The car was developed to share the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne and the Audi Q7. A new infotainment unit was installed on the center console while the dashboard had a typical VW layout.

For the engines, the Touareg took some from the commercial vehicles and some were from other brands from the Volkswagen group. The most powerful version, a V10 TDI engine, was used for an advertising stunt, where the car towed a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet.