In case you hadn't noticed, there's a motor show happening in Leipzig today (9th April 2010). And it was there that VW unveiled the new Touran.

In case you hadn't noticed that either, it's Volkswagen's seven-seat compact MPV. It has sold 1.13 million copies across Europe, don't you know. The facelifted car gets a front-end redesign based on the new Polo, which itself is based on the Golf.

The backside gets LED lights; there are some new chrome-edged rubbing strips and a new foursome of alloy wheels - one for each corner. Inside, the steering wheel is new, and the centre console freshened up with some chrome accenting.

Power at the base of the range comes from a new 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine with 104bhp, or a 1.6-litre TDI diesel with 89bhp. The oil burner comes in 104bhp guise too, and can be specified in BlueMotion trim, which gives it start/stop and 61.4mpg. That's available with the 1.2 TSI unit as well. Topping the range is a 168bhp 2.0-litre common rail TDI.

MPV delights such as a 695-litre boot and a cabin that hides 39 separate storage spaces remain. And if you're not the greatest parker in the world (or just lazy), next-generation Park Assist can now guide the car into 'end on' spaces as well as parallel.

No prices yet, but it parks itself into showrooms in September.

Mark Nichol - 9 Apr 2010