Source: Volkswagen

First Facts for the Volkswagen Touareg - the exclusive luxury-class off-road vehicle


Supreme on- and offroad performance sets new standards


World première for the Touareg at the Paris Motor Show in September 2002


Wolfsburg. Following the sporting Passat W8 and the innovative Phaeton, Volkswagen is now introducing its exclusive Touareg model, which is notable for its outstanding performance both on and off the road, its electronically controlled permanent four-wheel drive, its double-wishbone suspension, the full air suspension with electronically regulated shock absorbers available with certain engines, its high-torque six- and ten-cylinder engines, its excellent long-distance journey comfort and its elegant, progressive interior and exterior design.


The Volkswagen Touareg, which will reach the market in the autumn of 2002, is 4.75 metres long, 1.93 metres wide, 1.72 metres high and has a wheelbase of 2.86 metres. These dimensions qualify it as a true luxury-class off-roader. Short body overhangs, ground clearance of up to 300 millimetres and a wading depth of585 millimetres are further technical requirements for good all-terrain capability. The Touareg can climb gradients of 100 percent and keep moving across lateral slope angles as high as 45 degrees when extreme off-road journeys are undertaken.


For its German-market launch the Touareg will be offered with a 3.2-litre V6 spark-ignition engine or a 5.0-litre V10 TDI diesel. The V6 engine develops 162 kW (220 bhp) and has a peak torque of 305 Newton-metres. The V10 TDI is the world's most powerful passenger-car diesel; with pump-injector fuel supply and twin turbochargers, it develops 230 kW (313 bhp) and has an impressive 750 Newton-metres of torque available at only 1800 rpm engine speed. Later a five-cylinder TDI and a V8 spark-ignition engine will follow.


All engines are supplied as standard with a six-speed gearbox, either manual-shift or automatic according to the engine chosen. Engine power reaches the wheels via a transfer box containing low off-road gears as standard equipment and three lockable differentials. The standard multi-plate clutch acting as the inter-axle differential lock is controlled automatically by the chassis electronics, so that if necessary up to 100 percent of the traction power can be directed to either axle. A rotary switch in the cockpit activates the differential lock manually if required. Four-wheel braking-action differential locks (EDS) are a standard feature for precise distribution of the power flow to the road wheels.


The Touareg is not only a thoroughbred off-roader but also an agile, safe form of long-journey transport. The use of double wishbones for the front and rear suspension, with an acoustically insulated subframe not only ensures the same low noise levels and high standard of refinement as in a large luxury saloon but also locates the wheels accurately, for the driving precision of a sporting, conventional passenger car. Air springs and continuous damping control give this off-road model a level of ride comfort far superior to what one might expect, both on the road and across country. By means of a switch in the cockpit the driver can also select a more sport-oriented or a more comfortable ride.


The four-door body is fully load-bearing and galvanized throughout. It is of exceptional rigidity, not only to tackle the most severe off-road journeys but also to form a basis for the Touareg's high standards of comfort and quality. The interior is styled in a manner similar to the Phaeton, with many high-quality equipment and trim features that identify it as a true top-class vehicle and promise luxury standards of travel for even the most demanding occupant. They include extremely well-constructed seats, ample steering wheel adjustment and, as an optional extra, separate air conditioning for the rear-seat passengers (4-zone Climatronic). The load area, reached through a large tailgate with a rear window that can be opened separately, can be varied in capacity from 555 to 1,570 litres. The Touareg also has a 3.5-ton trailer load limit and is therefore an ideal towing vehicle.


The Touareg's crash test performance and its safety equipment comply with the highest standards and include front, side and curtain airbags, crash-active head restraints and lap-and-shoulder seat belts at all seats to ensure that a high level of passive safety is maintained in every area.