Within four short years, close to 300,000 drivers worldwide have chosen to drive the Volkswagen Touareg. On countless expeditions, the automotive globetrotter has circled the world, setting numerous records and winning the hearts of car and SUV fans alike. Throughout the Middle East, the Touareg has achieved widespread popularity, a trend that is echoed around the globe as the Touareg now stands as one of the most successful luxury SUVs in existence, winning award after award. Today, a newly developed, advanced generation of the bestseller is available throughout the Middle East.
With 2,300 new parts, the new Touareg symbolises a completely new generation of contemporary SUVs. The Touareg unites the world of off-road vehicles with the comfortable dimensions of a luxury sedan and the dynamic attributes of a sports car. Power and robustness are only demonstrated where required by functionality. All other design elements of the body radiate contemporary elegance and self-assured dynamics.
New Front End for a SUV Design Icon
The front end of the Touareg has been completely re-designed making it immediately recognisable as a new generation car by its insignia radiator grille in chrome look that has become an unmistakable stylistic feature of the Volkswagen brand. Additional features include distinctive headlamps, new wheels and colors as well as the interior, which has been refined by two seating systems and new visual and ergonomic designs.
First Volkswagen with V8 FSI
The Touareg is the first Volkswagen to offer an eight cylinder direct-injection engine. The new V8 FSI (V angle: 90°) of the Touareg delivers 257kW / 350 HP, develops a maximum torque of 440 Newton-metres (at 3,500 rpm) and delivers a top speed of 244 km/h.
Positioned at the power level just below the V8 FSI equipped with standard air suspension is another direct-injection gasoline engine: The technically closely related V6 FSI with 206 kW / 280 HP. The powerful 280 HP 24-valve six cylinder engine (max. power at 6,250 rpm) accelerates the Touareg to 100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds and develops a maximum torque of 360 Newton-metres at 2,500 to 5,000 rpm.
High-End Technologies for Optimised Safety
The Touareg is equipped with a whole range of high end technologies for optimised safety. The Touareg is the first SUV to have the Volkswagen developed ABSplus system as standard equipment. This system can reduce the braking distance of the Touareg on loose surfaces such as sand or gravel, by up to 20 percent.
No less innovative is the latest generation Automatic Cruise Control ACC. ACC automatically brakes and accelerates the car up to a vehicle speed defined by the driver which enhances ride comfort – especially during long drives. The system can brake the car to a full stop if required by the traffic situation.
Another technological highlight is the Front Scan function integrated in automatic distance control. Front Scan serves to prevent collisions. The system uses a radar sensor to monitor distances to other cars in traffic ahead of the Touareg. When the car approaches another vehicle too closely the system informs the driver in two stages. Simultaneously, the vehicle is prepared for possible hard braking by the driver. The system preventatively “arms” the brakes in advance of certain situations, thereby acting as a means of stopping distance reduction (AWV).
Another driver assistance system being introduced for the first time in the new generation of Touareg cars and for the first time in a Volkswagen is the Side Scan Lane Change Assistance. This system monitors areas behind and next to the Touareg and informs the driver of potential risk of collision via an indicator lamp in the outside mirrors.
For the first time, models with air suspension can be equipped with an innovative sport chassis. This so-called driving dynamics package counteracts body roll of the car when cornering by actuating the electronically controlled dampers.
High end in the entertainment area too: the Touareg can be equipped with a powerful 10 speaker Dynaudio sound system that goes up to 600-watts.
Interior Features
The interior of the Touareg is a masterpiece of functional aesthetics, providing a high level of comfort and very good roominess. Its quality of materials and progressive design creates an ambience that combines the robustness of a high-end SUV with the elegance of a luxury sedan and dynamics of a custom sports car.
All-Wheel Drive and Six-Speed Gearbox
The Touareg is powered by a six-speed gearbox, either manual or automatic depending on the engine variant. Power is transmitted to the 4XMOTION all-wheel drive via a transfer case with switched extra low off-road gearing. There the power is transmitted through front axle, rear axle and center differentials. The center differential has a standard lock; on the rear axle differential locking is a special option. In the normal case, under balanced power and roadway conditions, the power distribution is 50:50. Depending on the driving situation up to 100 percent of the propulsive power may be transmitted to just one of the two axles. An electronic differential lock (EDS) acting on all four wheels enables fine distribution of propulsive power.
In keeping with the standard of the class, Volkswagen equips the Touareg with standard air conditioning and climate control. Additionally, two automatic climate control systems are available as options: The 2-zone Climatronic (standard with V8) and 4-zone Climatronic.
As an option the Touareg can be delivered with a Keyless Access system. The key equipped with a transponder stays in the car driver’s pocket. The Touareg recognises its driver via the transponder; when the door handle is touched the car unlocks the door, and the engine is started by a start button on the centre console that is now illuminated.
