Introduced on Wednesday: 2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

What is it? Built on the same basic platform as the forthcoming Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, the 2012 Touareg Hybrid will arrive in the United States a model year later than the redesigned (both lightened and more aerodynamic) standard 2011 Touareg.

Like its platform-mate, the Touareg Hybrid will emphasize performance and luxury over fuel economy: The combined economy of about 26 miles per gallon is so-so for a hybrid, but the compensation is impressive speed and acceleration. Volkswagen says the Touareg Hybrid will go from zero to 62 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and will have a top speed of 150 m.p.h. The supercharged V-6 is supplied by Audi. Combined with an electric motor with an equivalent of 47 horsepower, the Touareg hybrid produces 380 horsepower. Aiding economy is an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the two top gears as overdrives (eighth reduces engine r.p.m. by 34 percent compared with sixth). Other fuel-savers: A start-stop system, and a “freewheel” feature that disengages the engine from the transmission when the driver’s foot lifts from the accelerator. With a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, the Touareg Hybrid can cruise at about 30 m.p.h. on electric power alone (but not for very long).

How does it look? With an almost 400-pound weight reduction, the second-generation Touareg is slimmer and sleeker, but not exactly svelte. Luxury hybrid S.U.V.’s have done reasonably well in the market, probably because they offer green bragging rights without much sacrifice. The Touareg could be a choice for well-heeled (it is expected to cost at least $60,000) suburbanites who can’t quite afford its more rarefied cousin, the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid.