Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its new Touareg, which will enter the market in the middle of the year.

The new iteration features a styling with cleaner lines that follow on the design direction seen in the Golf Mk VI, new Polo and Compact Coup- concept, and which lends the new Touareg greater presence and a lower drag coefficient.

It is up to 200kg lighter and 20% more fuel effiecient than its predecessor, which was introduced in 2003, though in terms of size not much has changed - it's 20mm lower than the old one, and the overall length and wheelbase has each grown by 40mm, translating to 4,758mm and 2,900mm respectively, while the width of the vehicle remains as before, at 1,928mm.

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Meanwhile, the interior gets redone too, and besides new, more refined materials which include a subtle mix of leather, wood and aluminium highlights, there's also more space in the cabin - though the Touareg remains a five-seater, legroom in the rear has grown significantly due to the new sliding rear bench and reclining backrests, while the boot measures from 580 litres to 1,642 litres, depending on the seating arrangement.

The changes over the outgoing model of course extend far beyond new styling and interior space.

At the heart of the new SUV is a range of highly efficient petrol and diesel engines and, for the first time, a Hybrid.

The entry-level engine is a 3.0l V6 TDI engine generating 237bhp and 549Nm of torque, while the top of the range unit is a new 4.2l TDI V8 engine producing 335bhp and 800Nm of torque.

Somewhere in between this is the unit that powers the Hybrid, a 3.3l supercharged V6 petrol block offering 328bhp and 359Nm of torque, and together with the electric motor offers a total output of 375bhp and 580Nm of torque.

Nothing to sneeze at in terms of performance; the Touareg Hybrid gets to 0-100kmh in 6.5secs, hardly what you'd call dull.

Standard examples of the new SUV will feature an eight-speed transmission as well as, on the majority of models, Start/Stop technology, touchscreen satellite navigation and leather upholstery.

In addition, a choice of advanced new options can be specified including High Beam Assist that automatically dips the headlights when it senses oncoming traffic, Side Assist to warn of vehicles occupying blind spots, adaptive roll compensation air suspension and air-conditioned, massaging seats.