Volkswagen Touareg
The Touareg is the third phase in Volkwagen's attempt to enter the luxury market after the introductions of the Passat W8 and Phaeton in 2001 and 2002. To cut costs the luxury SUV is jointly developed with Porsche, their equivalent, the Cayenne, shares the same chassis but the appearance and engine line-up are different.
At its introduction in the German market the Touareg customers will have a
choise of a petrol V6 engine or a turbo diesel V10 engine, at a later date two
more engines will join the line-up. All engines are mated to a six speed
gearbox, manual or automatic depending on the chosen engines. Power is
transferred to the driven wheels via a transfer box, which has off-road gear
ratio reduction fitted as standard, and three locking differentials.
For ride comfort and agility the Touareg is fitted with double wishbone
suspension all round. Depending on the engine a full air suspension with
electronically controlled shock absorbers is fitted as standard. A switch in
the cockpit allows the driver to select a more sporty or a more comfortable
suspension.
The name is derived from a people in the Sahara desert in Africa, also known as
the knights of the desert. They are famed for their traditions and ability to
adapt to difficult conditions. This name symbolises the ability of the
Volkswagen off-road saloon to adapt to very different driving conditions.
At the German market launch, the Touareg will be available
with a 3.2-liter VR6 engine and a 5.0 litre V10 TDI engine. The VR6 engine has
a power output of 220 bhp and develops up to 225 lbs-ft of torque. The world's
most powerful passenger car diesel engine is the V10 TDI with unit injectors
and bi-turbo charging. It has a power output of 313 bhp and develops an
impressive 551 lbs-ft of torque at 1800 rpm. Two other engines will be added to
the lineup at a later date: a new five-cylinder TDI with 2.5 litres
displacement and a 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine. Six-speed gearboxes are fitted
as standard - the choice between automatic and manual is determined by the
engine size. With the automatic gearboxes, the driver can use DSP (dynamic shift
programme) the Tiptronic gear lever, or, if fitted, the steering wheel paddles,
to influence gear shifting. Here in North America the Touareg will be offered
initially with the 3.2l VR6 and 4.2l V8. Neither vehicle will offer a manual
six-speed transmission here in North America.
Price
and Option lists are available from now on.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more informations.