Volkswagen Touareg III REVEAL REVIEW & SUV special - 2019 VW Touareg 3 - Autogefühl 

Autogefühl True Great team

Autogefühl 5

thank you !

cheers m8 !

thanks! no

agree there with you, they also scratch very easy

Cost savings!

=)

Afaik no

Autogefühl ☹ thank you for response. Great review.

Where exactly do you mean ?

Hi, upon the light driver's seat initial door open... first glance look part cloth part alcantara, from the passenger side they look more leather

timecode please ? As far as I know, VW offers fabric base seats (at least in Europe), and above that only animal skin :/

5:50 thanks Dan

unfortunately, all animal skin. VW is widely ignoring this issue in the Touareg

Martin Lang Interior and exterior design is much better here.

MrCarGuy20 Perhaps, perhaps not. I call it inventing the wheel.

here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Nn6qlGSrJZM.html

European 1. Is it really not gonna be sold here in the USA?

Élom Aéro dynamique. No 😔

European 1 aw man

The alternative would be just to praise leather like everyone else, so I found the more critical approach more sense full

No. You chose to praise the more harmful, less biodegradable, more impossible to reuse without chemicals or other caustic processes that defeat the entire point of being environmentally conscious by choosing to only latch onto the places that mistreat some of these animals. Because it's fashionably easy to say "Killing for leather is wrong." After all, who wouldn't agree? But then again, who wants to think about what it takes to produce the alternatives, or admit that they would not be able to think of another organic material that's more well suited for this type of application than leather? Choosing to focus on this, in an industry that would not exist without our insatiable desire for more, new, and now, while playing a big part in perpetuating this cycle to the masses through the media on your channel is like buying carbon offsets. It's a way to appear like you care without actually having to inconvenience yourself or change how you live. But if it makes you feel better to say it, then that's what you're gonna do. But it doesn't make you any less hypocritical than anyone else is capable of being, when faced with a crisis of convenience.

Believe me, I have researched this one very thoroughly. Leather is not a natural product by any means. You did not understand yet, that you need more chemicals and more harmful stuff for leather then for a purely artificial seat. Plus, as I said, the long term goal should be the natural plant-based materials, as you also see in the extensive answer.

Leather is a natural material. The "tanning" can even be done using plant based processes to preserve and change its color. Audi has been utilizing this method for a while now. I've noticed leather shoes, gloves, watch bands, ect.... on presenters as they've pointed out the manufacturers use of animal skins in these vehicles. Kinda makes it difficult to know if you are serious about this issue, or selectively conscious about it. There is another issue with a purely artificial seat. How long does it take to biodegrade? Because Alcantara is a microfiber material, and Thomas really likes to mention it as a better alternative to leather. Have you considered the problems that microfibers, and full synthetic materials pose on our ecosystem? Then there is the issue of finding any other material that could be considered premium, or luxury, that doesn't trap dirt or bacteria which trap all kinds of unpleasant smells. Once you've figured all that out....... You have to prove it to the consumer as a better alternative to ethically sourced, and processed leather. Which is still lacking in ALL the info you sent to argue your point. Should the hides from the beef we consume be thrown away? Is that better than using it for other things, so artificial leather like materials don't have to be produced in the first place?

Check video description for shoes etc. I dont wear any leather, you might mistake it for good leatherette products. See, you can also have nice leatherette. We also have the CO2 values in comparison, here again our extensive resources: We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter. At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself. In Summer 2017, Tesla motors has decided to be the first manufacturer to go all the way with sustainable seat materials, only offering fabric/cloth seats or leatherette seats in different colours. They have banned all real leather from the seating surface and at the steering wheel in the white trim or on demand. So Tesla shows where the industry will and must be heading, just like they went forward with electrification first. Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LNSUzZXzpdc.html List of practical reasons against animal skin seats: 1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it) 2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling 3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating 4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling 5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa 6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y2wNGFKa4M0.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that and as described, non-leather materials are now standard for ALL Tesla 7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather) To the environmental reasons: 1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below) 2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf 3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage. 4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body. 5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy. 6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/ To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production” 1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small. 2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce. Even if you leave the ethical aspect aside, here is the official calculation of the CO2-Output animal skin vs leatherette (different kinds of leatherette): Leather 17 kg CO2/m² PVC leatherette 10 kg CO2/m² Acella Eco natural leatherette 8,5 kg CO2/m² Benova (PUR leatherette): 8 kg CO2/m² So by using the latest high-tech leatherette, you even the CO2-emissions are cut in half! 3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future. More special video episodes: 1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8f91KgbVbJQ.html 2. And another one right here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tMNgcLE0LDU.html 3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JipYvuDsI6s.html timecode starting 27:46 4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OgHs239bAnE.html 5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway. Manufacturers reactions: We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury. Tesla was the first one to react in a major way now. So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Besides Tesla, Mercedes already shows major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change! Help to raise awareness on this subject. Thanks!

I would't call it a re-skin, its using a completely different platform than before. Essentially its a cheaper Bentayga.

Pete Jr every car now have bigger grills. This helps them to feel more modern... But I agree they are ugly.

I agree mostly. It seems Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, have managed to restrain themselves. Unfortunately Audi and VW have been on this very huge grille and macho angular theme since the second generation Q7 (4M), which I feel detracts from otherwise excellent vehicles. I do believe the new Touareg's exterior, beyond the front cap, is a slight improvement over the Q7's, yet is still "lethargic" or "heavy" in the overall impression, where the prior generation appeared more "athletic" and "svelte" (as with the first gen Q7). The interior continues this theme, and unfortunately reminds more of a Chevy truck than a luxury Euro SUV. Too much blatant masculine design here, at the expense of class or taste. Of this platform, only the Cayenne's exterior can be described as attractive, though its latest interior design effort seems to have fallen prey to the blocky butch virus that has infected VAG design direction.

We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter. At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself. In Summer 2017, Tesla motors has decided to be the first manufacturer to go all the way with sustainable seat materials, only offering fabric/cloth seats or leatherette seats in different colours. They have banned all real leather from the seating surface and at the steering wheel in the white trim or on demand. So Tesla shows where the industry will and must be heading, just like they went forward with electrification first. Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LNSUzZXzpdc.html List of practical reasons against animal skin seats: 1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it) 2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling 3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating 4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling 5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa 6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y2wNGFKa4M0.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that and as described, non-leather materials are now standard for ALL Tesla 7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather) To the environmental reasons: 1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below) 2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf 3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage. 4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body. 5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy. 6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/ To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production” 1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small. 2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce. Even if you leave the ethical aspect aside, here is the official calculation of the CO2-Output animal skin vs leatherette (different kinds of leatherette): Leather 17 kg CO2/m² PVC leatherette 10 kg CO2/m² Acella Eco natural leatherette 8,5 kg CO2/m² Benova (PUR leatherette): 8 kg CO2/m² So by using the latest high-tech leatherette, you even the CO2-emissions are cut in half! 3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future. More special video episodes: 1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8f91KgbVbJQ.html 2. And another one right here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tMNgcLE0LDU.html 3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JipYvuDsI6s.html timecode starting 27:46 4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OgHs239bAnE.html 5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway. Manufacturers reactions: We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury. Tesla was the first one to react in a major way now. So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Besides Tesla, Mercedes already shows major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change! Help to raise awareness on this subject. Thanks!