Volkswagen T-Prime Concept GTE: VW's latest concept could be the next Touareg

There’s no doubt that it’s a noticeably larger vehicle, being longer, wider and lower than the current model

VW claims that because of hybrid power delivery, even this large SUV should be able to manage 104.6mpg

VW’s latest concept shows a move towards some larger members of the family, such as the Audi Q7 and the Bentley Bentayga. The T-Prime Concept GTE has four huge individual seats inside, like some iterations of the Bentayga, but a production version is expected to have seven seats in three rows, like the Q7.

This could be what the next-generation Touareg looks like, and there’s no doubt that it’s a noticeably larger vehicle, being longer, wider and lower than the current model.

Inside it’s gone mostly digital with infotainment and navigation data in front of the driver and a centre console of a 15in infotainment screen which will handle most of the necessary tasks.

The concept is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a single electric motor. Together they should make 376bhp with a whopping 516lb ft of torque. That should make for some fairly easy driving, but if you put your foot down from standstill the vehicle should pass 62mph in 6sec on the way to nearly 140mph.

Because of the hybrid power delivery, even this large SUV should be able to manage 104.6mpg, VW claim, as well as emit just 63g/km. Running on electric-mode only, it should have a range of 31 miles, although there will be other modes for more spirited driving. We should see a production version of the latest Touareg in 2017.