The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg now comes standard with park assist and a full suite of active safety features across the entire lineup. Currently the flagship crossover of the Volkswagen range, the 2017 Touareg slots above the compact Tiguan and comes standard with all-wheel drive. The 2017 Touareg’s only engine is a 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The gas V-6 is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is one of the Touareg’s weak points at 17/23 mpg city/highway. A hybrid variant was discontinued last year and diesel-powered variants are currently not on sale due to Volkswagen’s diesel emissions-cheating issues, which has led to a stop sale of all of the automaker’s diesel-powered vehicles. Cargo volume is sizable at 32.1 cubic feet behind the split folding rear seats and can be expanded to 64 cubic feet. Towing capacity is generous at 7,716 pounds. Standard features include eight-way power adjustable front seats with heating, dual-zone climate control, HID headlights with LED accents, leatherette upholstery, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and a rearview camera.
Higher Touareg trims come with navigation, an eight-inch touchscreen, a Dynaudio premium audio system, a hands-free power liftgate, a 360-degree view camera system and larger alloy wheels. In IIHS crash testing, the 2017 Touareg received a Good score on all but the small overlap front impact where it hasn’t been tested yet (Good is the highest possible score). The crossover also received an Advanced rating in the collision prevention and mitigation test when it reduced a 12-mph impact by 10 mph, but only by 1 mph in the 25 mph test. Standard on the 2017 Touareg is a full suite of active safety features that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and park distance control. The Touareg’s 280-hp 3.6-liter V-6 has enough power for passing, merging, and hauling, and refinement remains a strong point with comfortable seats, high-quality materials, and easy-to-use controls. Despite its premium-feeling interior, we noted that the Touareg feels like a decontented Porsche Cayenne because it lost many of the features that its predecessor had.
Volkswagen is set to release its most potent 'R' model yet - the Passat R36. Joining the Golf R32 and only the second model in the Volkswagen line-up to carry the 'R' badge the new car will be not only the fastest Passat but also the fastest estate car Volkswagen has ever produced. The basis for the R36 is a new 3.6-litre FSI V6 engine developing 300 PS. It's mated to an ultra-responsive, six-speed DSG gearbox channelling drive through all four wheels to maximise traction. At each corner are revised springs and dampers linked to uprated brake discs and callipers to add more bite under heavy deceleration. Clothing the mechanical changes is a bespoke bodykit which at the front incorporates a trio of deep airdams drawing a family resemblance with the Golf R32. Deep sideskirts and chrome highlights are framed by unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in 235/40 R18 tyres. At the rear a deeper bumper houses a pair of chrome-tipped tailpipes and revised light lenses. The estate version features a discreet spoiler on the trailing edge of the rear window. Gripping the driver and front seat passenger are a set of sculpted sports seats bearing the R36 logo. The dashboard is finished in brushed aluminium panels set into which are a set of unique dials joined by a sports steering wheel and bespoke 'R' polished pedals. Equipment levels, as with the standard Passat, remain high with ABS, ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme), Xenon headlights, 2Zone electronic climate control, a heated windscreen and seats, six airbags and a radio/CD player. The R36 takes its place as the fastest production Passat with a claimed 0 to 62 mph time of 5.6 seconds. The estate version which, like the saloon, is fitted with 4MOTION all-wheel drive returns a time of 5.8 seconds. Both are electronically limited to maximum of 155 mph.
Having pretty much invented the hot hatchback, Volkswagen continues to blanket the segment with a range of them for every pocket and predilection. We've covered the uniformly excellent Golf GTI before, and the quick but frugal diesel Golf GTD, so today we're looking at three others from the top to bottom of the range. Sadly, only one of them is likely to come to the U.S., and even that's not officially official. It's the Golf R (rumors suggest that it will be called R20 if and when it makes it to the States). Motor Trend's editors adored the 2008 Golf R32, and this is its replacement. Alongside the Golf R, we have the Scirocco R. This uses a coupe-like bodyshell over the Golf chassis. Essentially the long-awaited successor to the Corrado, it shares almost the same mechanical package as the Golf R with the notable exception that it's front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive. Finally, there's the Polo GTI. The Polo is VW's subcompact, again a car not sold in the U.S., but we're keen to see whether VW can shrink the GTI format into a car of Mini Cooper S size.
