Volkswagen’s pioneer in the luxury SUV segment and the brand’s first SUV, the Touareg, is bidding farewell to internal combustion engines as of the 2026 model year. However, this farewell doesn’t mean the Touareg name will be completely lost to history. Volkswagen is sending strong signals that its flagship model may return with an all-electric (EV) version.

A New Beginning: Is the ID.Touareg on the Way?

Introduced in 2002, the Touareg transformed Volkswagen’s traditional image, helping to position the brand as a more luxurious vehicle among its competitors. The model was originally developed in partnership with the Porsche Cayenne and even shared powertrain components with the Lamborghini Urus for a time.

Despite its withdrawal from the US market in 2017, the Touareg has continued to attract buyers as a luxury SUV in more than 39 countries worldwide. A total of more than 1.2 million drivers have chosen the Touareg over three generations.

Volkswagen is bidding farewell to the internal combustion-engined Touareg with the “Touareg FINAL EDITION” model. This special edition will be available for order until the end of March 2026, with a starting price of €75,025 (approximately $87,500).

Despite the model’s name being “FINAL EDITION,” Volkswagen’s statements suggest an electric return is imminent. The company specifically stated, “The current Touareg generation ends with a ‘FINAL EDITION'” and “Production of the Touareg combustion model ends in 2026,” implying that the engine type is the only end of the line.

This fuels speculation that the Touareg name may return as the ID.Touareg, joining the ID. family, which represents the brand’s electrified future. The Touareg was Volkswagen’s most expensive vehicle in the US in 2017, starting at $50,000, and was discontinued from the US lineup to make way for the smaller Atlas. The Atlas is currently Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle in the US.

The Touareg’s return to global markets as an electric flagship could be a powerful move for Volkswagen, combining both its luxury heritage and its electric mobility ambitions.