Volkswagen Touareg 4.2 V8 TDI - luxurious off-road
The upgraded Touareg arrives at Volkswagen showrooms. More elegant, better equipped and more efficient than those offered so far. The model has retained its universal character. It provides high comfort, is not afraid of dynamic driving or outings and can pull a 3,5-ton trailer.
In 2002, Volkswagen challenged the best. Phaeton was introduced in the luxury car segment. There's also the Touareg, an offering for luxury SUV enthusiasts looking for a vehicle that's truly capable of off-road driving. While the Phaeton was warmly received in several markets, the Touareg achieved global success. By 2010, Volkswagen had sold 475 2010 SUVs. The second generation of the car, offered in 2014-300, was appreciated by buyers. Anyone who tried to buy, but was late with the order, has reasons... to rejoice. The Wolfsburg concern has begun production of the modernized Touareg II.
What changed? The radiator grille received two additional ribs, which made it look like the Passat B8 grille. The stylists also worked on the lower air intakes. The shape of the individual elements is chosen in such a way as to optically expand the car. Loyal fans of the model will notice modified fog lights (front and rear) or a new diffuser. Volkswagen has also prepared a new wheel design and five additional color options.
Four types of suspension will make it easier for the Touareg to match exactly what the customer wants. The base, with steel springs, provides a ground clearance of 201 mm and tries to combine comfort with good driving performance. An optional sport suspension with firmer settings provides more traction. A large percentage of buyers pay extra for air suspension. Nothing unusual. The air-filled bellows not only improve the damping of bumps. They allow you to adjust the ground clearance within 160-300 mm and lower the rear when loading heavy luggage. A special version of the air suspension with adaptive rollover compensation awaits the most demanding customers.
Pneumatics also enhance the Touareg's off-road capabilities. The maximum ground clearance of 300 mm allows the machine to safely overcome severe terrain irregularities. Those who take nature trips seriously can opt for the 3.0 V6 TDI with the Terrain Tech package. The gearbox included in its composition makes it easier to climb steep slopes - the ability to overcome them increases from 31 to 45 degrees. The revised 4XMotion transmission features lockable center and rear differentials. The standard 4Motion transmission is equipped with a TorSen center differential and electronic front and rear axle locks. It is worth noting that even such a complete Tuareg is suitable for trips outside the paved routes - it can travel much further than its average user expects.
Touareg will be the first to enter the market with three-liter diesel engines. So far, they have been chosen by… 90% of buyers. The base version 3.0 V6 TDI develops 204 hp. and 450 Nm in an impressively wide range of 1250-3250 rpm. Acceleration to “hundreds” is a matter of 8,7 seconds, while the Touarega with a more powerful 3.0 V6 TDI (262 hp and 580 Nm) takes 7,3 seconds for the same sprint.
Aisin 8-speed automatics with swim function are standard - when you take your foot off the gas, it disengages. Volkswagen estimates that using the boost will save 0,5 l/100 km. The second-generation BlueMotion Technology package also appeared in the upgraded Tuareg. It is able to activate the Stop-Start system not only when stopped, but also when the speed drops below 7 km / h. A tribute to the environment - the SCR system, which minimizes the content of nitrogen oxide and allows you to meet the requirements of the EU6 standard.
A unique offering is the 4.2 V8 TDI - eight-cylinder diesels can be found under the hoods of Audi, Porsche, Range Rover and Toyota SUVs. The Volkswagen 4.2 V8 TDI impresses with its work culture, sound, efficiency and sheer amount of driving power. Pressing the gas to the floor produces 340 hp. and 800 Nm, which give the Touareg 2,2 tons of curb weight for nothing. 100 km / h appears on the instrument cluster after 5,8 seconds, and acceleration stops at around 242 km / h. Excellent dynamics is not achieved due to high fuel consumption. In the combined cycle, the V8 TDI engine consumes approximately 11 l/100 km. Gasoline enthusiasts will only be able to choose a hybrid with a 333-horsepower mechanically supercharged 3.0 V6 TSI engine and a 46-horsepower electric motor.
Good soundproofing of the powertrains, optimal suspension tuning and extensive equipment make even long trips a relaxing experience. The Touareg also scores points with comfortable seats with a wide range of adjustments. The amount of space in the front row, taking into account the dimensions of the body, is not shocking. Far be it from us to say that the Touareg's cramped but expansive central tunnel, which should house the gearbox, gearbox and driveshaft, takes up some legroom. There is plenty of headroom. Passengers in the back seat will not be disappointed either. The way the seats are profiled suggests that it will be as comfortable as possible for two. Passengers of the well-equipped Touareg will benefit from four-zone air conditioning and heated seats.
The third row of seats was not on the options list. Is this a significant disadvantage? Opinions will be divided. However, it should be noted that almost all competitors offer additional seats that are not part of the sporadic options. Why does Volkswagen put everything on the line and risk losing customers? We don't know the answer. The downside is all the more puzzling as the Touareg has a cavernous trunk. It holds 580 liters, after moving the sofa forward (16 cm) we have 697 liters, and folding its backs we get 1642 liters.
As part of the facelift, the interior was slightly refreshed. New upholstery and decorative strips were introduced, the red light of the switch was replaced with white, the handles were changed, and individual elements received chrome frames. Volkswagen has begun offering a heated steering wheel bezel and a new generation of active cruise control with city emergency braking. The RNS 850 multimedia system will allow you to enjoy online services, including Google POI search, Google Earth maps, Google Street View and Google Traffic services.
After the upgrade, bi-xenon headlights with 25 watt bulbs became standard equipment. For a surcharge, the Touareg will receive torsion bars "bi-xenon" (35 W), which are paired with LED daytime running lights. On the other hand, Volkswagen did not provide ventilated seats with massage and the ability to determine the proportion of seat and back heating, a night vision system with animal detection, a head-up display, LED headlights, or a multimedia system with a dual-view function (displaying different images on the driver and passenger side) . Thus, the SUV from the Volkswagen stable is slightly below the level raised by the new generations of the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML. We do not accidentally mention these models.
Volkswagen representatives use the word “premium” when talking about the Touareg. Can a people's car be a high-end product? The build quality, range of engines, options, as well as prices place the Touareg in a fairly elite group. Basic version - 204 hp. 3.0 V6 TDI - costs 228 zlotys. We will pay 590 262 zlotys for the version with 10 hp. more zlotys. The Polish representative office of the concern hopes that a special version of the Perfectline R-Style with a 262-horsepower 3.0 V6 TDI engine will arouse great interest. Those interested in such a Touareg must prepare 290 zlotys. The prices are shocking at first. Compared to similarly equipped competitors, the Touareg becomes a reasonable proposition.
The second generation of the Touareg was an improved car. A facelift may be limited to stylistic retouching, technical adjustments, and the introduction of more advanced electronics. Volkswagen should not complain about the lack of orders. At current sales rates, it will be possible to exceed the limit of one million produced Touareg before the launch of the third version of the model.
