Three generations of Volkswagen Touareg - the history of appearance, characteristics and test drives
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Three generations of Volkswagen Touareg - the history of appearance, characteristics and test drives

03.03.2023 /

The German Volkswagen Tuareg SUV won the hearts of motorists a decade and a half ago. This car is very well suited for bumpy Russian off-road. Since 2009, this five-door crossover has been assembled in Russia. It perfectly combines comfort, easy control and excellent cross-country ability. Cars are produced with both diesel and gasoline engines.

The first generation of Volkswagen Tuareg - features and test drives

The history of the model dates back to 2002. Then the car was first shown to the general public in Paris. Before that, a lot of work was done to create a new platform on which cars of other brands would be produced. For this, engineers and scientists developed the PL 71 platform, which was the basis not only for the Tuareg, but also for the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. The designers were able to combine in the model such qualities as a business-class interior, rich interior equipment and convenience, with innovative crossover attributes:

  • all-wheel drive transmission with reduction gear;
  • differential lock;
  • air suspension capable of changing ground clearance from 160 to 300 mm.
Three generations of Volkswagen Touareg - the history of appearance, characteristics and test drives
Air suspension was offered as an option

In the basic configurations, an independent spring suspension with wishbones was installed on both axles. Ground clearance was 235 mm. The car was offered to buyers with three petrol and three diesel engines.

  1. Petrol:
    • V6, 3.6 l, 280 l. s., accelerates to hundreds in 8,7 seconds, maximum speed - 215 km / h;
    • 8-cylinder, 4,2 liters, with a capacity of 350 horses, acceleration - in 8,1 seconds to 100 km / h, maximum - 244 kilometers per hour;
    • V12, 6 l, 450 horsepower, acceleration to 100 km / h in 5,9 seconds, top speed - 250 km / h.
  2. Turbodiesel:
    • 5-cylinder with a volume of 2,5 liters, 174 horsepower, acceleration to hundreds - 12,9 seconds, maximum - 180 km / h;
    • 6-cylinder, 3 liters, 240 liters. s., accelerates in 8,3 seconds to 100 km / h, the limit is 225 kilometers per hour;
    • 10-cylinder 5-liter, power - 309 horses, accelerates to 100 km / h in 7,8 seconds, top speed - 225 km / h.

Video: 2004 Volkswagen Touareg test drive with a 3,2-liter gasoline engine

In 2006, the car went through a restyling. More than two thousand changes were made to the exterior, interior and technical equipment of the car. Big changes were made to the front part - the radiator grille was redesigned, new optics were installed. The control panel has been changed in the cabin, a new computer has been installed.

The first generation of Tuareg was equipped with 6-speed manual and Japanese automatic transmissions of the brand Aisin TR-60 SN. The front and rear suspensions were independent, double wishbones. Brakes - ventilated discs on all wheels. In all-wheel drive modifications, the demultiplier provided for overcoming off-road, and the locking of the rear and center differentials helped out in especially difficult situations.

Video: an honest review of the 2008 Volkswagen Tuareg, 3 liter diesel

Second generation Touareg 2010-2014

The second generation car differs from its predecessor in a large body. But its height is less than 20 mm. The weight of the machine has decreased by 200 kilograms - there are more parts made of aluminum. The manufacturer refused a manual transmission. The entire set of six offered engines works with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Among all the configurations, a hybrid stands out - this is a 6-liter V3 turbocharged gasoline engine with direct injection and a power of 333 hp. With. It is complemented by a 47-horsepower electric motor.

All motors are located in front, longitudinally. Volkswagen Touareg II is equipped with three turbocharged diesel engines.

  1. V6 with a volume of 2967 cmXNUMX3, 24-valve, 204 horsepower. The maximum speed is 206 km/h.
  2. Six-cylinder V-shaped, volume 3 liters, 24 valves, power 245 hp. With. The maximum speed is 220 km / h.
  3. V8, volume - 4134 cm3, 32-valve, 340 horses. The highest speed is 242 km / h.

There are also three gasoline power units with direct injection.

  1. FSI V6, 3597 cm3, 24-valve, 249 horsepower. Develops speed up to 220 km / h.
  2. FSI. 6 cylinders, V-shaped 3-liter, 24 valves, 280 hp With. The maximum speed is 228 km/h.
  3. FSI V8, volume - 4363 cmXNUMX3, 32-valve, 360 horses. The maximum speed is 245 km / h.

Judging by the characteristics of the engines, all modifications of cars should be quite voracious. In fact, motors, on the contrary, are very economical. Diesel engines consume from 7,5 to 9 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km of travel in mixed mode. Gasoline power units consume from 10 to 11,5 liters in the same mode.

All vehicles are offered with permanent all-wheel drive. The center differential has a self-locking function. As an option, crossovers can be equipped with a transfer case with two gears, as well as lockable center and rear differentials. When buying a car, off-road enthusiasts can purchase the Terrain Tech package, which includes a low gear, center and rear differential locks and an air suspension that allows you to increase ground clearance up to 30 cm.

The basic set of the SUV already includes:

Video: getting to know and testing the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg with a 3-liter diesel

Restyling of the second generation Volkswagen Touareg - from 2014 to 2017

At the end of 2014, the German concern VAG introduced an updated version of the crossover. As already accepted, the radiator and headlights were modernized, as well as the taillights - they became bi-xenon. Wheels also began to be produced with a new design. The interior of the cabin has not undergone major changes. Only the white illumination of the control elements is striking instead of the former red.

The line of diesel and gasoline engines has not changed, they have proven themselves well in the previous modification. A hybrid variant is also available. For expensive trim levels with 8-cylinder and hybrid engines, the following are provided:

Of the innovations, it should be noted the energy recovery system during braking, which saves fuel. Together with the new BlueMotion technology used in engines, it reduces diesel fuel consumption from 7 to 6,6 liters per 100 km. The most powerful 6-cylinder diesel engine has reduced consumption from 7,2 to 6,8 liters per hundred. There were no major changes to the exterior. Efforts from the engine are distributed in the same way as in previous modifications - in a ratio of 40:60.

Video: 2016 Tuareg testing with a 3-liter diesel engine

The third generation "Volkswagen Tuareg" sample 2018

Despite the fact that the Tuareg facelift took place relatively recently, the VAG group decided to radically update the crossover. The new generation car begins to roll off the assembly line in 2018. Initially, a prototype was presented - T-Prime GTE, which has a large capacity and dimensions. But this is just a concept, measuring 506x200x171 cm. The new Touareg came out a little smaller. But the interior is finished in the same way as the concept. All cars of the new generation - VW Touareg, Audi Q7, as well as Porsche Cayenne, are based on the new MLB Evo platform.

We can say that this is a full-fledged SUV class car - an American-style sports utility car that looks like a light truck. The entire front of the body is riddled with air intakes. This suggests that VAG supplied the car with powerful diesel and gasoline engines. Despite the fact that diesel engines are already looked askance in Europe, Volkswagen confirms the safety of its diesel engines. So, the latest models of diesel engines have catalysts and meet all the requirements of Euro 6. The interior has not undergone any significant changes - after all, its predecessor was also comfortable, safe and convenient.

Photo gallery: the interior of the future VW Touareg

The manufacturer has introduced a new feature - adaptive cruise control. In fact, this is a prototype of the future autopilot, which scientists from research laboratories are actively working on. Now the function still limits the speed at the entrance to settlements, as well as on other sections of traffic that require accuracy and care. For example, on rough terrain, in front of potholes and pits.

The new Tuareg uses a new hybrid setup. It consists of a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 250 hp. With. in conjunction with an electric motor that develops a power of 136 horsepower. The all-wheel drive transmission is controlled by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The power plant showed very low fuel consumption - less than 3 liters per 100 kilometers of road. This is an excellent indicator for a car of this class.

Video: demonstration of the prototype Volkswagen Touareg III

In the near future, motorists expect big changes in the model range of the auto giant VAG. In parallel with the new VW Touareg, the production of updated Audi and Porsche has already begun. "Volkswagen Tuareg" 2018 automaker produces at a plant in Slovakia. Volkswagen is also setting up production of a 7-seater modification of the crossover, but on a different platform, called MQB.

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