The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg, the company’s most expensive stateside offering is spied. VW’s new Touareg will be slightly smaller in size than the current model. It will feature a more fuel efficient engine and will be able to seat a maximum of seven passengers. VW plans to launch it in the US market as a 2011 model sometime next year.

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The German automaker’s specification brief aims for 600 pounds to be shaved from the Touareg. That target, according to some VW sources was a rather optimistic target and will not be attained when the new Touareg reaches showrooms. Shedding round about 300 pounds is believed to be more realistic, and the growing speculation is that depending on engine choices the mass will be dropped out of the SUV.  It will also have more sporty looks and adopt many-styling influences from the recent Tiguan SUV. Earlier, test mules wearing the new Touareg’s sheet-metal were spotted. It revealed several key changes including a wide rear-end and mis-aligned fuel filler-cap. The intake system at the front of the car also looked different being positioned much lower than for the current model. The SUV is also expected to go from a five-seater to a seven-seater gaining a third row. From the available shots of the interior several changes are expected over there as well.

These include an all-new instrument-cluster and a steering wheel unit similar to that found in the MkVI Golf.  As for the power-trains, the engine lineup in the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg will start with a 280 hp 3.2-liter V6 gasoline engine. It will top-out with a 345 hp, 4.2-liter gasoline V8 engine. A pair of turbo-diesel engines including 2.7 liter and 3.0 liter units will also be on offer. All the engines will be mated with a six speed automatic gear-box. However, Volkswagen’s latest seven-speed DSG will also be made available. A gasoline electric-hybrid model based on Audi’s supercharged 3.0-L V6 will be added to its lineup about a year after the launch.  The world debut of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg is expected to be in 2010 January’s Detroit Auto Show.