Now, at 4.2-litres, the Touareg’s is not a particularly large capacity V8, and comparisons in this instance can’t help but be made with my current ran-around – a Chevrolet Lumina SS, 5.7 litre V8. Our American friends have perhaps done more than any other car manufacturing nation to cement the V8 name in high-horsepower-history, and I was keen to see how the Germans at VW had taken this ‘old’ American technology and powered it into the present with their famously modern techno-knowhow. And at 350 bhp, the top-of-the-range VW Touareg is always going to be fun, right?

Technology is most certainly present deep inside the aluminium engine casing of this mid size SUV. Fuel gets gulped at a fairly thirsty pace under the command of Touareg’s ‘FSI’ fuel injection system. Petrol is fired directly into its cylinders at 150 bar of high pressure, the injection rate controlled very precisely by the SUVs engine management computer – this concise fuelling keeps the VW’s throttle response on the right side of sharp, much better than the rather slow throttle command of the lazy, less up to date Lumina V8.

Another must for modern engines is variable valve timing, another neat trick found under VW Touareg’s skin. That engine computer continually changes the timing of the engine inlet and exhaust valves to make sure everything runs at optimum efficiency and performance. And with the 2-stage intake manifold carefully feeding the engine the exact amount of air it needs to breathe freely; you’ve got a beautifully designed, bang up-to-date, proudly-German V8 engine.

All of this modern-day magic serves up a very tasty-sounding 350 bhp, 440 Nm of torque, a 7.5 second 100 kph dash, and a top speed of 244 kph.

It all sounds like a recipe for some serious fun in the Dubai sun, but does it all add up to that wonderfully wild ride that a V8 engine really must deliver?

The short answer is, no. The acceleration soundtrack is there, with a deep burble growing to a throaty roar as the revs pile on, but the Touareg somehow seems to make rather hard work of it all. Don’t get me wrong, the 6-speed automatic gearbox is fairly slick and quick with the up-shifts (although downshifts can get a little ‘confused’), but, as far as I’m concerned a V8 engine must feel effortless in its rush towards the shimmering desert horizon, with deep wells of torque available from right at the bottom of the rev range. That’s the payback for less than environmentally friendly extra-urban fuel consumption figure of 10.7 litres per 100 km. But, compared to my 330 bhp Lumina, the VW just didn’t seem to rocket-off-the-line like the big chrome ‘V8’ badge on the boot lid would have you believe.

Another set of numbers to note is that at 120 kph, the engine is revving at 2500rpm in top gear, whereas my Lumina purrs along at the same speed, but at 2000rpm - those extra engine revolutions making a significant dent in your already rather low fuel economy expectations.

The excuse for this lack of pure pace and over zealous drinking habit is most definitely Touareg’s rather beefy curb weight. At 2332 kg she’s certainly no waif-like Supermodel - more of a sumo wrestler! And that’s because this full options VW SUV is lugging along more luxury than a Sheikh’s super-yacht.

Supple leather and soft Alcantara decks out the Touareg literally from head to toe, with the finest of wood and metal finishes sprinkled around liberally too. The interior of the 2008 VW Touareg is largely revised from the previous SUV, and everything has a quality and modern feel to it – although some might complain that there are simply too many buttons to confuse the average technophobe. But, having spent 400 km wrapped up inside the Touareg’s luxury cabin; I can say that the infinitely adjustable equipment is generally easy to use, once acquainted.

Plus points are: The reversing camera which points out your predicted path into obstructions as you turn the steering wheel, the 12-way adjustable front seats that made even a big 6-footer like me feel completely at home and the ‘DYNAUDIO Sound’ 10 speaker, 600 watt premium sound system. If you like comfort, luxury and rumbling bass, the new VW should definitely be on your test drive list.

Whilst the V8 did disappoint me a little (maybe I’m used to too much performance?), as a car to cruise the streets of Dubai, the 2008 VW Touareg comes together as a great package. In the malls its reasonable size, respectable turning circle, reversing camera, cornering headlights and perfectly weighted power steering made multi-story parking a one-hand-on-the-wheel affair, whilst other drivers seemed to notice the pedigree of this quality SUV.

Around town the Touareg commanded the right amount of road presence; essential in a town where the streets are ruled by armies of beefed-up Patrols and Land Cruisers – but the Touareg wasn’t scared. If you do feel a little intimidated just flick the suspension from ‘sport’ to ‘comfort’ and the computer controlled air suspension instantly raises the car by a full 25 mm. it’s the automotive equivalent of puffing out your chest!

Stretch her legs on our many motorways and the ride (switched again to ‘sport’) is composed and comfortable. The Touareg’s ultra-modern suspension is self-levelling and speed-dependant damped, so everything from the tyres up is constantly working to keep things calm – and it works well. Just sit back in those wonderful seats, find your favourite radio station on the touch-screen and enjoy the ride. You might consider a little extra volume to drown out the noticeable (at speed) wind noise from the jumbo wing mirrors, and the constant ‘bing-bong’ of the over-speed warning.

I even took a little time to get the VW a little dusty in the desert where the fulltime four-wheel drive, decent dollops of torque, stunning brakes and computer controlled suspension all played an impressive part in mastering the rough stuff.

But surely to most potential Touareg drivers in Dubai, this car is a spacious, luxury, larger-than-life limousine that can deliver you in style through pretty much any situation you’d care to throw at it. Be that on road, off road, at higher speeds and through fast sweeping corners, or simply fighting it out for a precious parking space.

Maybe I’m being a little hard, complaining about the slight lack of engine grunt, but I believe that V8s should be V8s, and not just a jumped up V6. Given a touch more thrust and I would have been very pleased with the Touareg, and I can definitely recommend a test drive, because for Dubai life, this could be a near-perfect package for you. Me? I’ll be sticking with the Lumina, for the time being.

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