The first generation of the Volkswagen Touareg was launched in 2002 and it was a surprise for the market since the German carmaker didn’t have experience in the 4x4 segment.
In 2007 it introduced a facelift.

The facelifted version of the Touareg was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show and it came to correct some of the mistakes made by the manufacturer in the first model. It was better equipped and it was fitted with more powerful engines. It was also fitted with a V10 turbocharged diesel engine and it was used to tow a Boeing 747.

For the facelifted version, the overall look was the same, but some details were changed. While the first model featured a pair of headlights that resembled those found on the Volkswagen Phaeton after the facelift these were replaced by newly shaped ones. The taillights were also redesigned.

Inside, the Touareg featured an elegant upholstery for the higher trim levels, while the base models kept the fabric cloth on the seats.

There were more important updates for the engines. The base engine was still the R5 with a 5-cylinder diesel unit but improved up to 172 hp. In the U.S. the 3.0-liter diesel and the 3.6-liter gasoline engines were the top of the sales. The standard transmission for the base models with up to 3.0-liter displacement was a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic for all the other versions.