Volkswagen CrossBlue

The Volkswagen Teramont, rumoured to be the name of the company's new seven-seat SUV, has been photographed completely undisguised in China. At the same time, clear new renderings have surfaced in the European press. Reports in the US suggest that Volkswagen headquarters has loosened its reigns somewhat, allowing its North American arm to name its new three-row, seven-seat SUV.

Volkswagen will address a significant hole in its line-up with the addition of a seven-seat family SUV to be built in the United States from the end of 2016 — but whether we will see it emerge in Australia remains unclear. Today’s announcement comes as small surprise, but confirms the company will at last move towards offering a high-riding soft-roader with three rows of seats, a feature its Touareg lacks.

Volkswagen is reportedly close to confirming the production location of its first seven-seat SUV, to be built at one of two plants in North America.