What Is It?
2003 Volkswagen Touareg
What's Special About It?
Just a few years ago, Volkswagen offered a nice mix of cars that just about every average buyer could afford. In 2003, however, the company's lineup of vehicles will be considerably different. For the first time, there will be a super luxury sedan, the Phaeton, and an SUV.
The SUV is called Touareg. It's about the same length as a 2003 Ford Explorer, but it's noticeably wider. It shares a platform with the Porsche Cayenne, another new SUV for this year. While more North American specifications for the Touareg should be released at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, its official debut in Paris still gave us a preliminary chance to see what VW has crafted.
In Europe, there will be two engines available upon launch: a 220 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 and a 310-hp turbocharged, diesel-fueled 4.9-liter V10. The V10 is certainly the most interesting as it makes 548 pound-feet of torque. It would also go a long way towards distinguishing the Touareg in the very crowded SUV marketplace. However, it has not been officially said whether the diesel V10 will be coming to the U.S.; a 310-hp 4.2-liter gas V8 will likely be offered first. It's also rumored that a 420-hp, 6.0-liter gas W12 will be in the Touareg's future.
All of the engines will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that features a paddle-shifting Tiptronic function. The paddles, located behind the steering wheel, are large and more easily manipulated than the typical steering wheel-mounted buttons. A six-speed manual is offered in V6 models in Europe, but there's no word whether it will be sold in North America.
Volkswagen is convinced that the Touareg will see more off-road duty than comparable SUVs. That's why all models will offer minimum approach and departure angles of 28 degrees. That's better than most SUVs but still behind the Range Rover and Hummer H2. The Touareg's transfer case normally splits torque 50/50 between the front and rear axles. But an electronically controlled multidisc clutch can send 100 percent of the power to either axle.
Suspension is independent at all four wheels with double wishbones all round. An air suspension system is offered that includes an on-board air compressor that can inflate the 195/75R18 spare in the event of a flat.
Inside, the decor is very reminiscent of the BMW X5, but there's much more cargo space. Also, the center console, which houses the air conditioning and audio switchgear, has been cleaned up significantly. All Touaregs will come with six airbags as well as antilock brakes.
Why Should You Care? We expect that this is going to be a sweet SUV. Porsche did most of the development work, meaning that road handling should be quite good. It should also perform well off-road, if the clearance specs are any indication. Add a quality interior typical of Volkswagen, and you've got one compelling SUV. — Brent Romans
2003 Volkswagen Touareg
What's Special About It?
Just a few years ago, Volkswagen offered a nice mix of cars that just about every average buyer could afford. In 2003, however, the company's lineup of vehicles will be considerably different. For the first time, there will be a super luxury sedan, the Phaeton, and an SUV.
The SUV is called Touareg. It's about the same length as a 2003 Ford Explorer, but it's noticeably wider. It shares a platform with the Porsche Cayenne, another new SUV for this year. While more North American specifications for the Touareg should be released at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, its official debut in Paris still gave us a preliminary chance to see what VW has crafted.
In Europe, there will be two engines available upon launch: a 220 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 and a 310-hp turbocharged, diesel-fueled 4.9-liter V10. The V10 is certainly the most interesting as it makes 548 pound-feet of torque. It would also go a long way towards distinguishing the Touareg in the very crowded SUV marketplace. However, it has not been officially said whether the diesel V10 will be coming to the U.S.; a 310-hp 4.2-liter gas V8 will likely be offered first. It's also rumored that a 420-hp, 6.0-liter gas W12 will be in the Touareg's future.
All of the engines will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that features a paddle-shifting Tiptronic function. The paddles, located behind the steering wheel, are large and more easily manipulated than the typical steering wheel-mounted buttons. A six-speed manual is offered in V6 models in Europe, but there's no word whether it will be sold in North America.
Volkswagen is convinced that the Touareg will see more off-road duty than comparable SUVs. That's why all models will offer minimum approach and departure angles of 28 degrees. That's better than most SUVs but still behind the Range Rover and Hummer H2. The Touareg's transfer case normally splits torque 50/50 between the front and rear axles. But an electronically controlled multidisc clutch can send 100 percent of the power to either axle.
Suspension is independent at all four wheels with double wishbones all round. An air suspension system is offered that includes an on-board air compressor that can inflate the 195/75R18 spare in the event of a flat.
Inside, the decor is very reminiscent of the BMW X5, but there's much more cargo space. Also, the center console, which houses the air conditioning and audio switchgear, has been cleaned up significantly. All Touaregs will come with six airbags as well as antilock brakes.
Why Should You Care? We expect that this is going to be a sweet SUV. Porsche did most of the development work, meaning that road handling should be quite good. It should also perform well off-road, if the clearance specs are any indication. Add a quality interior typical of Volkswagen, and you've got one compelling SUV. — Brent Romans
Add A Comment »