For 2011 the Volkswagen Touareg is redesigned and boasts notable improvements in performance, fuel economy and rear passenger space. The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg represents the luxury SUV's first full redesign since it debuted a decade ago. In a nod to the on-road preferences of most crossover SUV owners, VW did away with the heavy and complex dual-range transfer case for off-roading. This contributes to a weight loss this year of nearly 400 pounds, which along with the new structure's increased rigidity notably sharpens on-pavement performance. Under the hood, the new VW Touareg offers a choice of three engines. Two are carry-over: V6 gas and V6 turbodiesel. But rather than a gas-guzzling V8 at the top of the ranks, there is now a hybrid model sporting a supercharged V6 along with a battery-powered electric motor. This powertrain has been developed in conjunction with Porsche, and indeed it is the same hybrid powertrain that powers the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. Volkswagen's first-ever hybrid is as close as you'll get to a "cake and eat it" experience, as it provides the performance of a V8 but with better fuel economy than a V6. The 2011 Touareg's exterior styling is taut and crisp, with more pronounced character lines and wheel arches. Up front is VW's new corporate face, while out back there are distinctive LED taillights. The Touareg is still a midsize crossover with seating for five, but those in back are particularly well served now, with more rear legroom and a backrest that reclines to three different positions. With rich wood, metallic accents and high-quality materials throughout, the Touareg's cabin gives nothing away in terms of luxury ambience to more prestigious nameplates.
A first in the SUV market, this new transmission configures seventh and eighth gears as fuel-efficient overdrives: top gear reduces engine rpms by 33 percent over sixth gear. In addition to offering significant fuel economy benefits, it makes for quieter, more relaxed highway cruising. The transmission also features Tiptronic manual control along with Sport mode, and a Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) that adapts to the driver’s individual style and adjusts the shift points accordingly. As Volkswagen’s first production hybrid electric vehicle, the all-new 2012 Touareg Hybrid pairs a 3.0-liter 333-horsepower supercharged, direct-injection V6 gasoline engine with a 47-horsepower electric motor. The electric motor gets its energy from a nickel metal-hydride battery pack fitted beneath the luggage compartment. Both systems are capable of running independently, or together. When combined they produce a total of 380 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, thus offering drivers the power of a V8 with the better fuel economy than a V6. One of the real benefits of the hybrid powertrain is its astonishing off-the-line acceleration when gasoline and electric power combine to deliver that 428 lb-ft of torque.
If hard acceleration isn’t called for, the Touareg Hybrid can cruise up to 30 mph on pure, zero-emission electric power. The Touareg Hybrid also uses a host of innovative new technologies to help it achieve its EPA-estimated 24 mpg during highway driving. For example, when the driver releases the gas pedal at cruising speeds, the engine will shut off and a special clutch disengages the transmission from the engine, allowing the car to ‘coast’ along emission-free. Regenerative braking also allows the electric motor to recover kinetic energy during coasting and braking, to help recharge the battery pack. And, in another first for the Touareg Hybrid, there’s a standard Stop-Start system, which automatically stops the engine during idling while, for instance, waiting at a red light. When the brake is released, the engine re-starts. The design changes for the Touareg included an increased use of aluminum. This contributed to the impressive 300-pound-plus weight reduction—366 pounds for the Touareg 3.6 V6 FSI and 330 pounds with the Touareg TDI Clean Diesel—compared to the previous versions. Shaving this amount of weight has had the benefit of making the new Touareg feel more agile and responsive, delivering a more precise driving experience.
For this second-generation Touareg, Volkswagen engineers further developed its all-independent suspension. The basic layout, however, remains the same, with control arms at the front and rear. To save weight, the upper links are made from lightweight aluminum with the robust lower links made from steel. Long-travel steel coil springs are used at each wheel. 4Motion permanent all-wheel drive is standard on all 2012 Touareg trim lines. The system features a rear limited-slip Torsen differential that splits the available torque 40 per cent front and 60 per cent rear for balanced on- and off-road driving. Variable-ratio power steering gives a precise, responsive feel to the Touareg’s helm, requiring 2.6 turns to go from lock to lock. Wheel choices are dependent on each individual Touareg model. The Sport comes standard with the 10-spoke 18-inch Tacora wheel fitted with 255/55 R18 all-season tires. The Lux and Hybrid feature 19-inch, five-spoke Everest rims with 265/50 R19 tires.
The Executive model has 20-inch Pikes Peak wheels with 275/45 R20 tires. The 2012 Touareg offers an impressive number of standard active and passive safety features to help keep driver and passengers safe. Passive safety features include six airbags, including Side Curtain Protection head airbags for the front and rear outboard occupants, and front and thorax units for the driver and front passenger. The line-up of active systems include an advanced Rollover Sensor System that monitors the vehicle’s turning angle and speed, which can help detect a possible rollover situation. If it determines a rollover hazard is present, it deploys the side curtain airbags to help reduce the risk of injury. There’s also a next-generation Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Brake Disc Wiping to help keep the pads dry so as to optimize braking when it’s raining, and Volkswagen’s advanced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. The Touareg features Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that automatically unlocks all the doors, disables the fuel pump, and turns on the hazard lights in the event of certain types of collision. Finally there’s the peace of mind of Volkswagen’s no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program.
