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A Tour of Touareg
Volkswagen in German means ‘people's car’ and over the ages, it has acquired the status as a “people's car maker.” The German company has evolved with changing times and it has set the pace in more than one ways today. With time, its quality levels also have consistently developed and today it sits right on top of Europe's standard list. This in itself is no mean feat for the car maker for the masses. Volkswagen takes the third place in the 2009 list of top 10 car makers of the world.
Volkswagen has designed the Touareg especially for the US market in an effort to create an off-road vehicle that could handle like a sports car. The muscular SUV was born in 2002 in a joint venture project developed by Volkswagen Group, who also includes Audi and Porsche. The result of the joint project is that the Porsche Cayenne shares the Touareg's Volkswagen Group PL71 platform, although there are styling, equipment and technical differences between the two cars.
The advent of Touareg was a threat to the Mercedes-M Class and BMW X5. The off-roading capabilities and onroad manners of the Touareg were a hit right from the start. Moreover, it combines the features of a high-quality off-road vehicle with the comfort of a luxury sedan and dynamics of a sports car in a new vehicle philosophy. The SUV comes with some great engine options and it is the Touareg V10 TDi which has been considered by car critics to be the best.
The Touareg comes standard with four-wheel drive (4WD) system as well as with an automatic progressively locking centre differential with manual override and a low range setting that can be activated with in-cabin controls. There are options to make the Touareg more capable of off-roading, this include an available air suspension system which can raise the car's ride height on command and an interior switch allowing the rear differential to be manually locked. Its load level ground clearance is at 6.3 inches, Off Road Level is at 9.6 inches and an extra clearance of 11.8 inches is also provided.
The Touareg comes in India with a 3.0 TDI V6 engine that could produce 225 bhp. It is available with a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, a 5-litre V10 TDI, a 4.2-litre V8 and a newly developed 2.5-litre engine.
The transmissions on all Touareg models are 6-speed gearboxes, either manual or newly designed automatic transmissions depending on the engine. Power flows to the permanent 4XMOTION 4WD via a transfer gearbox - whose standard features include a driver-engaged low range ratio - and a front-axle, rear-axle and centre differential. All Touaregs come standard with a centre differential lock and offer a rear-axle differential lock as an option. The electronic system of the SUV automatically triggers the multi-plate clutches of the centre differential lock and rear-axle differential. In normal, even driving and road conditions, the power distribution is 50:50. But depending on the driving situation, up to 100% of the driving force can be transferred to one of the two axles. The driver can also activate the locks (up to 100%) manually using a rotary switch in the cockpit. There is an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) acting on all four wheels that supports the fine distribution of the driving force.
Volkswagen has designed the Touareg especially for the US market in an effort to create an off-road vehicle that could handle like a sports car. The muscular SUV was born in 2002 in a joint venture project developed by Volkswagen Group, who also includes Audi and Porsche. The result of the joint project is that the Porsche Cayenne shares the Touareg's Volkswagen Group PL71 platform, although there are styling, equipment and technical differences between the two cars.
The advent of Touareg was a threat to the Mercedes-M Class and BMW X5. The off-roading capabilities and onroad manners of the Touareg were a hit right from the start. Moreover, it combines the features of a high-quality off-road vehicle with the comfort of a luxury sedan and dynamics of a sports car in a new vehicle philosophy. The SUV comes with some great engine options and it is the Touareg V10 TDi which has been considered by car critics to be the best.
The Touareg comes standard with four-wheel drive (4WD) system as well as with an automatic progressively locking centre differential with manual override and a low range setting that can be activated with in-cabin controls. There are options to make the Touareg more capable of off-roading, this include an available air suspension system which can raise the car's ride height on command and an interior switch allowing the rear differential to be manually locked. Its load level ground clearance is at 6.3 inches, Off Road Level is at 9.6 inches and an extra clearance of 11.8 inches is also provided.
The Touareg comes in India with a 3.0 TDI V6 engine that could produce 225 bhp. It is available with a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, a 5-litre V10 TDI, a 4.2-litre V8 and a newly developed 2.5-litre engine.
The transmissions on all Touareg models are 6-speed gearboxes, either manual or newly designed automatic transmissions depending on the engine. Power flows to the permanent 4XMOTION 4WD via a transfer gearbox - whose standard features include a driver-engaged low range ratio - and a front-axle, rear-axle and centre differential. All Touaregs come standard with a centre differential lock and offer a rear-axle differential lock as an option. The electronic system of the SUV automatically triggers the multi-plate clutches of the centre differential lock and rear-axle differential. In normal, even driving and road conditions, the power distribution is 50:50. But depending on the driving situation, up to 100% of the driving force can be transferred to one of the two axles. The driver can also activate the locks (up to 100%) manually using a rotary switch in the cockpit. There is an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) acting on all four wheels that supports the fine distribution of the driving force.
The Touareg is being launched with the newly developed double wishbone running gear; the Touareg V10 TDI comes standard with CDC air suspension for a comfortable driving experience. The double-wishbone construction of the front and rear axles with acoustically insulated subframe guarantees the noise and comfort level of a luxury sedan and the exact wheel guidance provides the driving precision of a sports car. In the Touareg V10 TDI, the Continuous Damping Control (CDC) air suspension on the front and rear axles insures constant damping control both on and off-road for a degree of driving comfort previously unachieved by off-road vehicles.
The Touareg has an amazing hill-climbing capacity. A hill-starting assistant supports the driver of the manual-gearbox versions. It is activated automatically when the Touareg, with the engine running, is stopped on an incline with the foot or parking brake engaged, in first gear or reverse and the clutch pressed to the floor. When the driver releases the brakes, the car is actively braked and held. The brakes are released gradually when the clutch is engaged, enabling a comfortable uphill start. Drivers of automatic models can also fall back on the same functionality.
On steeply declining stretches (more than 20%), an automatic downhill assistant is available for both manual and automatic versions. It is activated when the speed has been reduced to below 20 km/h and ESP is switched on. If the driver does not apply the accelerator with the car in gear, the Touareg holds a constant speed via braking and rpm reduction in shove mode.
The Touareg's commanding climbing capability, 100 % / 45°, is not its only mark of off-road excellence. Its maximum lateral inclination is also 100% / 45°. With a door-seal system designed to keep water out, waterproof headlights and connectors, a special guide for the intake air and engine ventilation, as well as sealed jointed shafts, the Touareg can ford depths up to 500 mm and 580 mm with air suspension.
The ramp angle for driving over a crest is 22° and for air suspension its 27.2°. Thanks to the short front and rear body overhangs, the angle of slope is 28° (air suspension: 33.2°). And even the defining measurement of off-road performance, the ground clearance, promises commanding off-road handling at 237 mm and up to 300 mm for air suspension.
The interior is also first class. The Touareg interior is a prime example of sophisticated functionality. A roomy interior and a humongous luggage compartment make this Volkswagen the ideal holiday vehicle for five people. And the synthesis of robust dimensions and elegant details creates an ambience of contemporary luxury reminiscent of a high-class sedan rather than a conventional off-road vehicle.
The Touareg has an amazing hill-climbing capacity. A hill-starting assistant supports the driver of the manual-gearbox versions. It is activated automatically when the Touareg, with the engine running, is stopped on an incline with the foot or parking brake engaged, in first gear or reverse and the clutch pressed to the floor. When the driver releases the brakes, the car is actively braked and held. The brakes are released gradually when the clutch is engaged, enabling a comfortable uphill start. Drivers of automatic models can also fall back on the same functionality.
On steeply declining stretches (more than 20%), an automatic downhill assistant is available for both manual and automatic versions. It is activated when the speed has been reduced to below 20 km/h and ESP is switched on. If the driver does not apply the accelerator with the car in gear, the Touareg holds a constant speed via braking and rpm reduction in shove mode.
The Touareg's commanding climbing capability, 100 % / 45°, is not its only mark of off-road excellence. Its maximum lateral inclination is also 100% / 45°. With a door-seal system designed to keep water out, waterproof headlights and connectors, a special guide for the intake air and engine ventilation, as well as sealed jointed shafts, the Touareg can ford depths up to 500 mm and 580 mm with air suspension.
The ramp angle for driving over a crest is 22° and for air suspension its 27.2°. Thanks to the short front and rear body overhangs, the angle of slope is 28° (air suspension: 33.2°). And even the defining measurement of off-road performance, the ground clearance, promises commanding off-road handling at 237 mm and up to 300 mm for air suspension.
The interior is also first class. The Touareg interior is a prime example of sophisticated functionality. A roomy interior and a humongous luggage compartment make this Volkswagen the ideal holiday vehicle for five people. And the synthesis of robust dimensions and elegant details creates an ambience of contemporary luxury reminiscent of a high-class sedan rather than a conventional off-road vehicle.
