VW doubles down on diesel with new Touareg in Korea

Till Scheer, the managing director of Volkswagen Group Korea, poses with the facelifted Touareg SUV during a media event in central Seoul on Tuesday morning. [VOLKSWAGEN GROUP KOREA] While global carmakers scramble to ditch diesel cars, Volkswagen still sees a chance for a sales rebound in diesel vehicles in Korea. The German brand on Tuesday introduced the luxury Touareg SUV for the Korean market, equipped with much-boosted tech but offered only with a diesel engine, along with the first partial facelift in five years. Related ArticleVolkswagen Korea introduces partially revamped Jetta sedan, new Golf GTI hatchback [INTERVIEW] Volkswagen Group Korea focuses on EVs and infrastructure "The auto industry is going through a period of transition to electric vehicles, but looking at our large fan base closely, demand for diesel cars is still high," said Till Scheer, the managing director of Volkswagen Group Korea, during a media event Tuesday morning in central Seoul. "That is why we chose to bring the diesel option to Korea," Scheer said. "We have no plans for introducing gasoline versions as of now." Till Scheer, the managing director of Volkswagen Group Korea, introduces the facelifted Touareg SUV during a media event Tuesday morning in central Seoul. [VOLKSWAGEN GROUP KOREA] The Touareg comes with fancy matrix headlamps featuring over 38,000 interactive LEDs that purportedly enable drivers to drive at night just as they do in the daytime. This is the feature's global debut in a Volkswagen. The new headlamps also have a “lane light” function that lights road markings when the car tries to change lanes or other vehicles cut in. An updated drive assistance program is also offered as standard along with an air suspension system that controls the height of the car depending on driving conditions. Powered by a three-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, the Touareg generates up to 286 horsepower and 61.2 kilogram-meters (443 pound-feet) of torque. The fuel economy stands at 10.8 kilometers per liter (25.4 miles per gallon). The sticker price of the Touareg starts at 101 million won ($73,400). Volkswagen's bet on diesel comes in the wake of a sales slump in Korea due to slowing demand for diesel cars. Once the No. 4 imported brand in Korea, the German automaker saw sales plunge especially after its diesel emissions rigging scandal in 2016 where it was found to have used software to cheat on emissions tests. The automaker's on-year sales were cut to one-third at the time. Volkswagen's rank dropped to 10th place as of the end of June, with its sales falling 10 percent to 2,875. BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]