Launch of the first Touareg – Volkswagen’s historic first-ever SUV- was spectacular and very well done so the second generation model - unveiled locally in Melbourne- had a tough act to follow. Launching the much- anticipated and evocatively-styled Scirocco sports car at the same show made the Touareg’s job even harder.
Typically, the brilliant Touareg fought-back with its modern yet evolutionary styling, hallmark interior space and quality – but now wrapped in lighter weight, state-of-the-art technology that’s fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly.
Just as you’d expect from Volkswagen – despite the all-new Touareg being larger (length up by 144mm to 4,898mm, wheelbase longer by 50mm at 2,904mm) it’s 90kgs lighter and 20 per cent more fuel-efficient. So while the exterior may look smaller and some styling cues are shared with Golf and Polo...well those clever designers working back home in Wolfsburg, Germany can deceive.
Volkswagen has employed lots of weight-saving technology in the all-new Touareg – to optimise fuel efficiency – and added a new eight-speed automatic transmission to further reduce consumption. As well, the all-new Touareg features a smaller frontal area, sits lower to the ground than its predecessor and thus is more slippery through the air (drag Cd down to 0.35).
Good news for fans of petrol engines – the V6 Touareg is back, this time with a 3.6-litre BlueMotion Technology version good for 206kW/340Nm. Compared to the first Touareg V6 petrol, consumption and emissions have been slashed.
Two 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesels are available – one with 176kW/550Nm and consumption of 7.6l/100kms and the other with 150kW/400Nm and consumption of 7.2l/100kms.
Volkswagen has also upped the ante in the all-wheel-drive technology with two systems – 4MOTION (Torsen centre differential) and 4XMOTION (transfer case and reduction gears for serious off-roading).
All change inside too with a typically first-rate Volkswagen style featuring modern backlighting for the all-new instruments, better seats, better quality materials and extra space. Luggage space too has lifted dramatically – up by 72-litres with the seats folded to 1642-litres.
Predictably safety has stepped up with a more rigid body, nine airbags and even more driver assistance technologies.
Prices are:
Touareg 150TDI $62,990
Touareg V6 FSI $77,990
Touareg V6 TDI $77,990
Touareg V6 TDI 4XMOTION $82,990
