Volkswagen Touareg: a born winner
Content
During its presence on the market, the Tuareg has received recognition from a wide range of specialists and motorists, and has also accomplished a number of marketing feats: towing a Boeing 747, taking part in the filming of King Kong, creating an interactive simulator that allows users to feel like driving an SUV. In addition, the VW Touareg has been a regular participant in the Paris-Dakar rally since 2003.
Briefly about the history of creation
After the military VW Iltis, which had been produced since 1988, was discontinued by Volkswagen in 1978, the company returned to SUVs in 2002. The new car was named Tuareg, borrowed from a semi-nomadic Muslim people living in the north of the African continent.
Volkswagen Touareg was conceived by the authors as a respectable crossover, which, if necessary, could be used as a sports car. At the time of its appearance, it turned out to be the third SUV ever produced at the factories of the German auto giant, after Kubelwagen and Iltis, which had long passed into the category of authoritative rarities. The development team, led by Klaus-Gerhard Wolpert, began work on a new car in Weissach, Germany, and in September 2002, the Touareg was presented at the Paris Motor Show.
In the new VW Touareg, the designers implemented a new Volkswagen concept at that time - the creation of an executive class SUV, in which power and cross-country ability would be combined with comfort and dynamism. The development of the concept model was carried out jointly with specialists from Audi and Porsche: as a result, a new PL71 platform was proposed, which, in addition to the VW Touareg, was used in the AudiQ7 and Porsche Cayenne. Despite many structural analogies, each of these models had its own characteristics and its own style. If the basic versions of the Touareg and Cayenne were five-seater, then the Q7 provided for a third row of seats and seven seats. The production of the new Tuareg was entrusted to the car factory in Bratislava.
Especially for the North American market, models with V-shaped six or eight-cylinder engines, increased interior comfort and improved environmental performance began to be developed. Such steps were caused by the desire to compete with SUVs from Mercedes and BMW that are popular in the USA, as well as to comply with environmental standards adopted on the North American continent: in 2004, a batch of Tuareg was sent from the USA back to Europe for environmental safety reasons, and the SUV was able to return overseas. only in 2006.
First generation
The solidity and solidity of the first generation Tuareg does not deprive the car of a certain hint of a sporty style. The basic equipment already provides for all-wheel drive, a central differential lock, low range control from the passenger compartment. If necessary, you can order an adaptive air suspension and a rear differential lock, the ground clearance can be 16 cm in standard mode, 24,4 cm in SUV mode and 30 cm in extra mode.
The appearance of the VW Touareg is designed in the traditional Volkswagen style, so the car has common features with other SUVs of the concern (for example, with the VW Tiguan), and, nevertheless, it was the Tuareg who was entrusted with the mission of a leader among cars in this class. Many experts recognize the design of the Tuareg as too modest for the flagship of the company: no bright and memorable elements. An exception can be considered a branded key to a car with an individual design.
The interior of the first generation Tuareg is close to the perfect combination of ergonomics and functionality. The salon is trimmed with high-quality materials, such as genuine leather, soft plastic, aluminum and wood inserts. Noise isolation excludes access to the interior of extraneous sounds. Almost all functions are controlled by electronics connected to a computer network using a CAN bus and a control server. The basic version included dual-zone climate control, an ABS system, a center differential lock, and air suspension control. In the “underground” of the luggage compartment there is a stowaway and a compressor. At first, some complaints were caused by the work of some electronic options: not the most perfect software sometimes led to various floating “glitches” - too fast battery discharge, engine stop on the go, etc.
Video: what a 2007 Tuareg owner should know
The first restyling took place in 2006. As a result, 2300 parts and assemblies of the car were changed or improved, new technological functions appeared. Among the most notable innovations:
- shielding grid;
- anti-lock braking system ABS-Plus, which provides for joint work with TCS (traction control system) and allows to reduce the length of the braking distance on loose surfaces by 25%;
- adaptive cruise control Front Scan, capable of causing a slowdown or even a complete stop of the car, if required by the situation on the road;
- Side Scan blind-spot monitor, which, using a radar located in the rear of the car, “sees” the presence of another car and at the same time turns on the LEDs built into the rear-view mirrors. If the driver engages reverse gear, the LEDs will start flashing rapidly to warn of the presence of an obstacle.
Rollover sensors, a 620-watt Dynaudio audio system, a driving dynamics package and more comfortable seats have been added to the basic options list.
Native summer tires Bridgestone Dueler H / P ended after a little more than 50 thousand km. the rubber “came up”, out of harm's way, I decided to make a wheel alignment at the OD, having previously changed the tires to winter ones, I have them without studs, so I drive normally already in winter. The alignment showed deviations in the adjustments on the right front and left rear wheels, according to the master, the deviations are significant, but not critical, the steering wheel was level, the car did not pull anywhere, they adjusted everything the same. On our roads, I consider this a useful procedure, although I did not fall into large pits.
The second generation
The second generation Volkswagen Touareg was first shown in Munich in February 2010 and a few months later in Beijing. The new car was the first in the world to be equipped with Dinamic Light Assist - the so-called dynamic backlight, which, unlike the previously used adaptive lighting system, is able to smoothly and progressively adjust not only the high beam range, but also its structure. At the same time, the beam continuously changes its direction, as a result of which the high beam does not interfere with drivers of oncoming vehicles, and the surrounding area is illuminated with maximum intensity.
Sitting in the cabin of the updated Tuareg, it is impossible to ignore the huge color screen on which you can display a picture from the navigator and a lot of other information. Compared to the previous model, passengers in the rear seats have become much more spacious: the sofa moves forward and back by 16 cm, which allows you to vary the already considerable volume of the trunk, which reaches almost 2 m3. From other novelties:
- modified adaptive cruise control containing the Stop & Go function;
- Lane Assist - warning system for crossing a solid line;
- updated monitor "blind" zone;
- Front Assist - emergency braking system to prevent a frontal collision;
- four external chambers;
- adaptive air suspension with CDC (damping control) and anti-roll bar;
- 8-position Aisin gearbox.
Third Generation
The third generation Volkswagen Tuareg is based on the MLB platform (as well as the next-class Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7). In the new model, much more attention is paid to modern technologies aimed at saving fuel, the weight of the car has been significantly reduced.
Tuareg, of course, is also not without sin - big losses in the secondary market, an abundance of electronics and, as a result, "computer glitches", and, in general, low reliability compared to the same Prado. But judging by the reviews and my personal experience, the car will not cause any special problems up to 70–000 thousand mileage, and I’m unlikely to drive anymore. About the big losses on the secondary - for me this is the most significant minus, but what can you do - you have to pay for comfort (and a lot), but we only live once ... but I digress ... In general, we decided to take the Tour, and the budget allows you to take it very "fat" configuration.
If anyone does not know, the Tuareg does not have fixed configurations, as well as all the “Germans” of this level. There is a "base" that can be supplemented with options to your liking - the list takes up three pages in small text. For me, the following options were required — pneuma, the most comfortable seats with electric drives, navigation with DVD, electric trunk, heated windshield and steering wheel, keyless entry. I chose a gasoline engine, although I have nothing against the VAG diesel V6, but the difference in price due to the type of engine is 300 "pieces" (three hundred thousand - this is a whole Lada "Grant"!) Speaks for itself + more expensive MOT, + high demands on fuel quality.
Specifications Volkswagen Touareg
The evolution of the technical characteristics of the Volkswagen Tuareg took place in accordance with the requirements of the market, and, as a rule, corresponded to all current trends in automotive fashion.
Engines
Of particular note is the range of engines ever used on the Volkswagen Touareg. Diesel and gasoline engines with a volume of 2,5 to 6,0 liters and a power of 163 to 450 liters were installed on various modifications of the car. With. Diesel versions of the first generation were represented by units:
- with a volume of 2,5 liters, a capacity of 163 and 174 liters. With.;
- 3,0 l - 225 l. With.;
- 5,0 l - 313 l. With.
The first generation Tuareg gasoline engines included modifications:
- with a volume of 3,2 liters, a capacity of 220 and 241 liters. With.;
- 3,6 l - 280 l. With.;
- 4,2 l - 310 l. With.;
- 6,0 l - 450 l. With.
The most powerful engine offered for the VW Touareg, a 12-cylinder 450-horsepower 6,0 W12 4Motion gasoline unit, was originally installed on an experimental batch of cars intended for sale in Saudi Arabia, as well as in small quantities in China and Europe. Subsequently, due to the demand, this version passed into the category of serial and is currently produced without any restrictions. A car with such an engine accelerates to a speed of 100 km / h in 5,9 seconds, fuel consumption in mixed mode is 15,9 liters per 100 km.
The VW Touareg R50 version, which appeared on the market after restyling in 2006, was equipped with a 5-liter diesel engine with 345 horsepower, capable of accelerating the car to a speed of 100 km / h in 6,7 seconds. 10-cylinder 5.0 V10 TDI diesel engine with 313 hp With. was forced to leave the American market several times due to non-compliance with local environmental requirements. Instead, this market segment was filled with a modification of the V6 TDI Clean Diesel with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.
Трансмиссия
The transmission of the Volkswagen Touareg can be manual or automatic, and the mechanics were installed only in the first generation cars. Starting from the second generation, Tuareg, regardless of engine type, is equipped only with an 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission, which is also installed in the VW Amarok and Audi A8, as well as in the Porsche Cayenne and Cadillac CTS VSport. Such a gearbox is considered to be quite reliable, with a resource designed for 150-200 thousand km with timely maintenance and proper operation.
Table: technical characteristics of various modifications of the VW Touareg
| Characterization | 2,5 TDI 4Motion | 3,0 V6 TDI 4Motion | 4,2 W8 4Motion | 6,0 W12 4Motion |
| Engine power, l with. | 163 | 225 | 310 | 450 |
| Engine volume, l | 2,5 | 3,0 | 4,2 | 6,0 |
| Torque, Nm / rev. in min | 400/2300 | 500/1750 | 410/3000 | 600/3250 |
| Number of cylinders | 5 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Cylinder arrangement | inline | V-shaped | V-shaped | W-shaped |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Environmental standard | Euro-4 | Euro-4 | Euro-4 | Euro-4 |
| CO2 emissions, g / km | 278 | 286 | 348 | 375 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV | SUV | SUV |
| Number of doors | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Number of seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Acceleration to a speed of 100 km / h, seconds | 12,7 | 9,9 | 8,1 | 5,9 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km (city / highway / mixed) | 12,4/7,4/10,3 | 14,6/8,7/10,9 | 20,3/11,1/14,9 | 22,7/11,9/15,9 |
| Maximum speed km / h | 180 | 201 | 218 | 250 |
| Drive unit | full | full | full | full |
| PPC | 6 MKPP, 6 AKPP | 6AKPP, 4MKPP | 6AKPP | 4 MKPP, 6 AKPP |
| Brakes (front / rear) | disc ventilated | disc ventilated | disc ventilated | disc ventilated |
| Length m | 4,754 | 4,754 | 4,754 | 4,754 |
| Width, m | 1,928 | 1,928 | 1,928 | 1,928 |
| Height, m | 1,726 | 1,726 | 1,726 | 1,726 |
| Clearance, cm | 23,7 | 23,7 | 23,7 | 23,7 |
| Wheelbase, m | 2,855 | 2,855 | 2,855 | 2,855 |
| Front track, m | 1,653 | 1,653 | 1,653 | 1,653 |
| Rear track, m | 1,665 | 1,665 | 1,665 | 1,665 |
| Trunk volume (min/max), l | 555/1570 | 555/1570 | 555/1570 | 555/1570 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Curb weight, t | 2,304 | 2,347 | 2,317 | 2,665 |
| Full weight, t | 2,85 | 2,53 | 2,945 | 3,08 |
| Tire size | 235 / 65 R17 | 235 / 65 R17 | 255 / 60 R17 | 255 / 55 R18 |
| fuel type | diesel | diesel | gasoline A95 | gasoline A95 |
Volkswagen Tuareg V6 TSI Hybrid 2009
The VW Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid was conceived as an environmentally friendly version of the SUV. Outwardly, the Hybrid differs little from the usual Tuareg. The power plant of the car consists of a traditional gasoline engine with a capacity of 333 liters. With. and an electric motor of 34 kW, i.e. the total power is 380 liters. With. The car starts with the help of an electric motor and moves completely silently, it can drive about 2 km on electric traction. If you add speed, the gasoline engine turns on and the car becomes fast, but voracious: with active driving, fuel consumption approaches 15 liters per 100 km, with quiet movement, consumption drops below 10 liters. The electric motor, extra battery, and other equipment add 200 kg to the weight of the car: because of this, the car rolls a little more than usual when cornering, and when driving on bumpy roads, the level of vertical oscillation of the car indicates an additional load on the suspension.
2017 Volkswagen Touareg Features
In 2017, the Volkswagen Touareg showcased new intelligent support capabilities and continued to improve performance.
Secondary functions
The VW Touareg 2017 version provides options such as:
- front assist - control of the distance to the car in front;
- side assist - help when changing lanes;
- lane assist - traffic control within one lane;
- adaptive cruise control - response to changes in road conditions;
- park pilot - parking assistance.
In addition, the owner of the 2017 Tuareg has the opportunity to use:
- Hands Free system, which allows you to open the trunk even when your hands are full;
- rear sliding split seats that are easily adjustable and fold to create the optimal size of the luggage compartment. At the same time, the rear seat backs are lowered by lightly pressing the electric switch in the rear of the trunk;
- 8" monitor with 3D bird's eye view and turn-by-turn navigation;
- Dinaudio 10-way 620W audio system, creating the effect of a concert hall in the salon;
- a color multifunctional on-board computer that easily monitors speed, fuel consumption, mileage, etc.;
- rear view camera;
- an external video surveillance system, with which you can, for example, determine your location or see traffic at a crossroads;
- VW Car-Net® Guide & Inform option, which provides access to advanced navigation, sports news, weather forecast and more;
- SiriusXM satellite radio.
Technical equipment
Dynamic 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 3,6 liters, a capacity of 280 liters. With. in combination with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the driver can feel confident in the most difficult road conditions. Starting the movement, you can immediately see the exceptional power and handling of the car. The 4Motion all-wheel drive system helps to overcome various kinds of obstacles. The 8-speed automatic transmission is equipped with a Tiptronic function that allows you to shift gears in manual mode.
The safety of the driver and passengers is ensured by constructive solutions: the front and rear crumple zones absorb the energy of destruction in the event of a collision, while a rigid safety cage removes the impact force from the driver and passengers, i.e. those present in the cabin are protected from all sides. Additional crash resistance is achieved through the use of high-strength steel in some body parts.
Driver assistance can be provided by:
- TPMS - tire pressure monitoring system;
- an emergency braking system in case of collisions, which allows a quarter to reduce the consequences of an impact;
- ICRS - intelligent crash response system, which in the event of a collision turns off the fuel pump, deploys airbags, unlocks doors, turns on emergency lights if the driver cannot do it himself;
- stabilization systems that allow you to maintain control over the car.
2018 Volkswagen Touareg Features
VW Touareg 2018, as conceived by the developers, should be even more powerful, comfortable and passable. The model, which was presented as the T-Prime GTE concept, was first seen by the general public at the end of 2017 at auto shows in Beijing and Hamburg.
Interior and exterior
The appearance of the latest model, as is often the case with Volkswagen, has not undergone fundamental changes, with the exception of the dimensions, which for the concept car were 5060/2000/1710 mm, for the production car they will be 10 cm smaller. The front panel of the concept will be carried over unchanged to the new VW Touareg, i.e. all vital options will be controlled without buttons, but with the help of an interactive 12-inch Active Info Display panel. Any Tuareg owner will be able to set the settings at their discretion and display all of them or only the most necessary ones.
In addition, to the left of the steering column there is an interactive Curved Interaction Area panel, on which icons of various options are located in certain places. Thanks to the large size of the icons, you can set up various functions (for example, climate control) without taking your eyes off the road. Interior trim still does not raise questions: "eco-friendly" leather, wood, aluminum as materials and a feeling of spaciousness in any seat.
Among the most impressive technological innovations is adaptive cruise control, which many experts call a step towards autonomous driving.. This system allows you to monitor the condition of the road and react accordingly to road conditions. If the vehicle is approaching a curve or a populated area, driving over rough terrain or over potholes, the cruise control system will reduce the speed to the optimum setting. When there are no obstacles on the road, the car picks up speed again.
Power unit
It is assumed that the production car from the concept car will be transferred without changes:
- 4-cylinder TSI turbo engine with 252 hp. With. and a volume of 2,0 liters;
- electric motor with a capacity of 136 horsepower;
- eight-position automatic transmission;
- 4Motion all-wheel drive.
You can charge the electric motor from a charger or from a conventional network. You can drive on an electric motor without recharging up to 50 km. It is stated that the fuel consumption of such a car should average 2,7 liters per 100 km, acceleration to a speed of 100 km / h in 6,1 seconds, and a maximum speed of 224 km / h.
In addition, a diesel version of the engine is provided, the power of which will be 204 horsepower, volume - 3,0 liters. At the same time, fuel consumption should be equal to an average of 6,6 liters per 100 km, maximum speed - 200 km / h, acceleration to a speed of 100 km / h - in 8,5 seconds. The use of a special catalytic converter in this case allows you to save an average of 0,5 liters of diesel fuel for every 100 kilometers.
In addition to the basic 5-seater version, a 2018-seater Tuareg is released in 7, which is made on the MQB platform.. The dimensions of this machine are somewhat reduced, and the number of options is reduced, respectively, and the price is lower.
Gasoline or diesel
If we talk about the differences between gasoline and diesel engines used in the Volkswagen Touareg, it should be noted that in the latest models, the diesel engine runs almost as quietly as the gasoline engine, thanks to sophisticated exhaust gas purification technologies, both types of engines are almost equal in terms of "environmental friendliness" .
In general, one type of engine differs from another in the way the combustible mixture is ignited: if in a gasoline engine a mixture of fuel vapors with air ignites from a spark generated by a spark plug, then in a diesel engine fuel vapors heated to a high temperature and compressed by high pressure ignite from glow plugs. Thus, the diesel engine is relieved of the need to install a carburetor, which simplifies its design, and therefore makes the engine more reliable. In addition, it should be taken into account that:
- a car with a diesel engine, other things being equal, is usually more expensive than a gasoline version;
- a gasoline engine is considered to be more “frisky”, a diesel engine is more traction;
- diesel engine is more economical;
- the resource of a diesel engine is usually higher than that of a gasoline engine;
- bad diesel fuel can disable a diesel engine for a long time;
- in the cold season, a diesel engine may turn on poorly.
The choice in favor of the Tuareg was unequivocal - and he considered the car the most suitable for himself, and the importer made a 15% discount. It’s hard to say that absolutely everything in the car suits me, but if I had to choose again, I would most likely buy the Tuareg again, except perhaps in a different configuration. The key to the success of the model is the optimal combination of comfort, cross-country ability, drive, economy, and price. Of the competitors, I consider worthy the Mercedes ML, Cayenne Diesel, and the new Audi Q7, except for the price, should be even cooler. Pros:
1. On the highway, you can drive 180 quite confidently and calmly. Although 220 is not a problem for a car.
2. Sane expense. If desired, in Kyiv, you can invest in 9 liters.
3. Very comfortable second row of seats for this class of car.
4. The diesel engine sounds very nice.
5. Excellent handling in the class.Cons:
1. Poor quality of expensive service at the office. dealers, including the attitude towards the client.
2. After the first trip to the Carpathians in winter, the doors on both sides began to creak terribly. The service did not help. I read on the forum that the doors sag slightly and there is friction with the lock loop. It is treated instantly with a coil of electrical tape on the lock loop.
3. At 40 thousand, a creaking appeared in the rear suspension at those moments when the car “crouches” on the rear axle during acceleration. Sounds like a pneumatic sound. Although the chassis itself looks like new.
4. Quite often I do wheel alignment. The deviations are sometimes large.
5. Infuriates the automatic inclusion of the headlight washer, which empties the reservoir for a couple of times.
6. It is better to replace plastic protection with metal.
7. Chrome moldings on the doors should be pasted over with a transparent film, otherwise the “powder” from our winter roads will quickly ruin it.
8. At 25 thousand, the driver's seat loosened. Not the back, but the whole chair. Backlash a couple of centimeters infuriates during braking and acceleration. I weigh 100 kg.
9. Plastic on the doors is easily scratched by shoes.
10. There is no full-fledged spare wheel and nowhere to put it. Only an inflated dokatka-crutch.
Price
The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg version may cost to modify:
- 3.6 V6 FSI - 2 rubles;
- 3.0 V6 TDI 204 hp - 2 rubles;
- 3.0 V6 TDI 245 hp - 3 rubles.
The base model of the 2018 version is estimated at 3 million rubles, with all options - 3,7 million rubles. In the secondary market, Tuareg, depending on the year of manufacture, can be purchased for:
- 650 rubles - 000;
- 835 rubles - 000;
- 1 rubles - 065;
- 1 rubles - 350.
Video: futuristic restyling of the 2018 VW Touareg
In 2003, the Touareg was named "Best Luxury SUV" by Car&Driver magazine. Car owners are attracted by the solid appearance of the car, the high degree of its technical equipment, the comfort and functionality of the interior, the reliability and safety of movement on an SUV. The 2018 VW Touareg concept demonstrated to the general public that many of the technologies of the future can be implemented today, both in terms of design and technical “stuffing”.
