The Volkswagen (VW) Touareg was introduced in the UK in 2003. In 2007 the Touareg received a facelift. The second generation of the Touareg made its first appearance at Geneva Motor Show in 2010 and the production followed. It has the same shape as its predecessor but in fact it is significantly different and considerably improved. The VW Touareg comes in two trim Levels, 'Escape' and 'Alititude'. Altitude is more powerful with mud-plugging capabilities. But practically it will spend most of its time on road therefore Volkswagen has ticked all the boxes on style as well with luxurious interior. It returns a comfortable, smooth and engaging drive. VW now offers an option of an hybrid set up with Touareg petrol engines. However, the 3.0 TDI V6 Touareg diesel engine is more efficient. The Touareg boasts the usual high build quality one expects from VW. On road, it performs great on bends and has a precise steering. The drive might not be as precise as the closely related Porsche Cayenne, but still, the Touareg returns a great driving experience for its class. On the bumpy roads, it beats the Porsche in comfort and handling.
The hybrid version of the VW Touareg uses a 3.0-litre V6 engine mated with an electric motor. It enables the car to be driven on batteries for short periods resulting in zero emissions. Though it is the most expensive model to buy it cannot beat the V6 diesel engine's efficiency (39.2mpg). The hybrid manages to return an average fuel economy of only 34.4mpg which is not impressive for the class. One would expect the hybrid version to be at least cleaner than other models, even but not in this case. At 193g/km of CO2 emissions it is dirtier than the Touareg V6 diesel engine that emits 189g/km of carbon. For this reason 3.0litre V6 TDI accounts for most of the sales. It is mated with an eight speed automatic gearbox and Blue Motion Technology that come standard across the range. The 4.2litre V8 TDi has replaced the V10 TDI which is also very thirsty and takes the tax bill very high. The V6 TDI comes in all models and the monstrous V8 is only offered in the range topping Altitude version. The new VW Touareg has not yet gone through the Euro NCAP crash test, but its predecessor received a full five star rating and nothing less is expected from the new model. It comes with a generous amount of standard safety kit like nine airbags, ABS, electric stability control and many other hi-tech safety gadgets which add to the driver's confidence.
Volkswagen has unveiled its latest Golf Twin Drive plug-in hybrid prototype. VW says this latest plug-in prototype has an electric-only range of 35 miles and comes packing a direct-injected 1.4-liter gasoline engine that provides the Golf Twin Drive with a total range of 559 miles. The wagon's electric traction motor puts out a reasonable 85 kW (114 horsepower). When that motor is working in conjunction with the vehicle's 1.4-liter gasser, output jumps to 161 hp. The Golf Twin Drive also features a single-speed transmission, an electronically actuated "separation" clutch and is equipped with either a 13.2-kWh or an 11.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack - Volkswagen is testing out different packs from GAIA and SB LiMotive. In terms of performance, the Golf Twin Drive can hit a top speed of 106 miles per hour and zip from 0 to 60 mph in "under 12 seconds." In electric-only mode, though, it tops out at 75 mph. Calculating fuel economy ratings for a plug-in hybrid is a dark art, but VW has listed a fuel consumption estimate of 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers (112 miles per gallon U.S.).
Blurring the line between luxury and premium, the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg combines comfort and capability into a well-refined package. The Touareg shares more than a passing resemblance with the smaller Tiguan, just in larger form. Its headlights have a menacing stare surrounding the trademark Volkswagen horizontal grille. While it doesn’t break any new styling ground, the Touareg does strike a handsome pose. The 2013 Touareg gets many premium exterior features as standard such as 18” alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon HID headlights with daytime running, fog lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an especially useful remote-powered rear liftgate. Exterior options include huge 20-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, push-to-start, a trailer hitch, and splash guards. The five-seat 2013 Touareg gets one of the nicest interiors in the business. Everything is supremely constructed and the whole interior looks well-balanced and not overly chunky, as is the case in many SUVs. There are many standard features, including heated faux-leather seats, automatic climate control, premium touch-screen stereo system, 60/40 split rear seats, multifunction steering wheel, and Bluetooth/iPod connectivity. Higher trims only add to the options list, including a premium Dynaudio stereo, leather seats, satellite navigation, walnut trim inlays, and heated rear seats.
Potential Touareg owners get a choice of two engines, one gasoline and one highly efficient diesel. The base model gets a 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 266 pounds-feet of torque and returns 17/23 mpg city/highway, not great fuel economy. However, the next step up is a 240-horsepower, 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 406 pounds-feet of torque which offers 20/29 MPG city/highway, very good fuel economy numbers for a car of this size. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive is standard on all models. The 2013 Touareg’s safety credentials include a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. It has six airbags, huge disc brakes at each corner, traction control, side-impact door beams, and a steel safety cage all standard. Additionally, each Touareg gets ICRS (Intelligent Crash Response System) which unlocks the doors, cuts the fuel pump, and turns on the hazards in the event of a crash.
