The
second generation of Volkswagen’s full sized SUV, the VW Touareg has made its
first appearance on the internet, before we actually see the new car in flesh
this March at the Geneva Motor Show. Aside from the revised exterior styling,
the new Touareg will be the first and only off road capable vehicle in Europe
built by a German car maker to be offered as a hybrid when it goes on sale this
April.
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The
Touareg's interior features are high on quantity and quality. While reviewers
used to find the button-heavy dashboard confusing, the controls and systems
inside the redesigned 2011 model are more intuitive. All models come with a
seven-inch widescreen display between the main gauges.
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Volkswagen
has not released specs on the new Touareg, but all trims are expected to come
with a navigation system – a rare standard feature even in a luxury SUV.
Reviewers really like the system because it displays maps and directions in a
three-dimensional view. The navigation system also comes with a 60-Gigabyte
hard drive and satellite radio.
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The
new Touareg is a much more elegant SUV thanks to the addition Volkswagen’s new
"design DNA" that includes touches like a leaner more athletic body
featuring more horizontal lines on the front end as well as distinctive
headlights that give the new Touareg an unmistakable appearance at night; and
will be offered with a choice of FSI V6, TDI V6 and V8 as well as a hybrid
version that replaces the old gas burning V8 mill for most markets.
The hybrid
versions combines a high voltage electric motor with a direct injected gas
burning supercharged TSI V6 cranking out 333 HP, like in the S4, and an 8 speed
automatic transmission that gets nearly 29 MPG and is able to operate under
battery power alone as a Zero Emissions Vehicle up to 31 MPH.
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The
new Touareg Hybrid comes with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine paired with an
electric motor. The powerplant makes a combined total of 375 horsepower and 428
pound-feet of torque. The Touareg’s other two engines are carryovers from 2010.
The base 3.6-liter V6 makes 280 horsepower, while the 3.0-liter six-cylinder
common-rail diesel makes 225 horsepower. All three engines are mated to a new
eight-speed automatic transmission.
Test
drivers say all three engines have plenty of power, but they are most excited
about the new hybrid powetrain. They say that the transition from gasoline to
electric power is barely detectable. The hybrid even has the ability to “coast”
after the engine shuts down. That means that all systems, such as power
steering, continue working even when you’re using solely electric power.
The
EPA estimates that the 2011 Touareg with the 3,6-liter engine and six-speed
automatic transmission will get 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the
highwway. That's about average for the
class. Volkswagen estimates the hybrid
will achieve 21 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway, which is one of the
highest ratings in its class. The diesel engine gets 19 miles per gallon in the
city and 28 on the highway.
In
the Touareg’s class, you can easily find SUVs with better fuel economy than the
base model. The Lexus RX 350 starts at about $4,000 less than the Touareg and
has a much better 18/25 mpg fuel economy rating (incidentally, that rating
matches the diesel Touareg’s rating, but the RX 350 costs $7,000 less than the
Touareg TDI). You can even get better fuel economy than the Touareg Hybrid by
opting for the Lexus RX Hybrid. It has a 32/28 fuel economy rating and starts
at $8,000 less than the Touareg.
The
federal government has not yet crash tested the 2011 Touareg. However, the 2011
Touareg does very well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests,
earning "Top Safety Pick" status. The
Touareg came standard with anti-lock brakes, Anti-Slip Regulation, Engine Brake
Assist, Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution, driver and front passenger
airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, and front and rear side-curtain head airbags. A rearview camera is also standard, as is a rollover
sensor. Optional
safety systems for the 2011 model
include a lane departure warning and blind spot detection
system.reference:usnews.rankingsandreviews.com,www.topspeed.com
