When we last talked about the Volkswagen Touareg, we noted the new facelifted fascia, the freshened interior, the addition of ABS Plus, enhanced ESP, and most importantly, the possible addition of the 5.0-liter V10 TDI as an available engine. Despite no firm news on that front, we did see a Jetta TDI tooling around that would meet the new ultra-low particulate emissions standards by using ultra-low sulfur fuel, fueling our hopes that this hot rod oilburner might make it Stateside. The recent adoption of low-sulfur diesel fuel in the States has made all of this possible and today, VW made it official by announcing the 2006 VW Touareg TDI is on sale now (looks like the refreshened 2007/8 model wasn't ready for the new engine).
The Touareg V10 TDI is available in showrooms starting today. The 5.0-liter diesel engine pumps out 310 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 553 lbs-ft of torque at just 2,000 rpm. And the best part is that this high power diesel will consume up to 30 percent less fuel than traditional gasoline engines. The Touareg comes with 4-Motion all-wheel drive, ABS, Anti-slip regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Braking Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Electronic Stabilization Program with brake assist, Hill Descent Assist and Hill Climb Assist. Pricing on the Touareg V10 TDI starts at $67,750, which is surely a steep sum for a mid-size SUV, but this one's kind of special.
Full release and additional photos after the jump.
[Source: Volkswagen]
Press Release:
2006 TOUAREG V10 TDI® ON SALE NOW
Ultra-low sulfur diesel engine complies with new emission standards in all 50 states; particulate filter further reduces emissions
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI® – the first turbo-diesel light-duty vehicle in the U.S. market with a particulate filter – is now available in showrooms. The Touareg V10 TDI is a high-performance, ten-cylinder diesel version of Volkswagen's popular luxury SUV. With an engine that takes ultra low-sulfur fuel, it meets the stricter emission requirements in all 50 states. A particulate filter further reduces emissions, making this Touareg one of the cleanest diesels ever.
The Touareg's powerful five-liter, ten-cylinder engine boasts 310 horsepower at 3,750 revolutions per minute and offers impressive pulling power with 553 lbs-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. The diesel engine consumes up to 30 percent less fuel than traditional gasoline engines.
Standard equipment includes six-disc CD changer, navigation system, Park Distance Control, keyless access, power height-adjustable telescoping steering column with memory, power height-adjustable front seat belts with memory, four-zone climate control (Climatronic), heatable rear seats and silver roof rack and rails.
The Touareg comes with Volkswagen's 4XMotion™ all-wheel drive system, providing superior traction control. Standard equipment includes Anti-lock Brake System, Anti-slip regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Braking Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Electronic Stabilization Program with brake assist, Hill Descent Assist and Hill Climb Assist.
The Touareg V10 TDI is available starting at $67,750.
All new Volkswagen automobiles come with 24-hour Roadside Assistance for four years with unlimited mileage, and new vehicle warranties, including:
- Five-year/60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty
- Four-year/50,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty with wear and tear items and adjustments excluded after the initial 12 months/12,000 miles
- 12 year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation.
# # #
"TDI" and "4XMotion" is a trademark of Volkswagen AG.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Eric D-J @ Oct 19th 2006 7:50PM
Does this mean the other TDi models will become 50 state legal too?
ckm @ Oct 19th 2006 8:08PM
Er, it's been for sale for a while.... There's at least 50 for sale on Autotrader.com dating back to 2004.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=100&bkms=1161302506923&search_type=used&distance=0&address=94114&style_flag=1&make=VOLKS&model=TOUAREG&make2=&start_year=1981&end_year=2007&min_price=&max_price=&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=Diesel&max_mileage=&color=&sort_type=priceDESC&x=111&y=8&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y
Chris.
homes @ Oct 19th 2006 8:11PM
Silly Volkswagen, didn't your learn from the Phaeton that Americans don't want to buy an overpriced VW.
emulous1974 @ Oct 19th 2006 8:12PM
I thought I remember reading (could of been autoblog?) that VW tried to re-release (remember it has been sold in the U.S. prior to this) the V10 TDi earlier this year and the puffs of smoke emitting from it using the non-low sulfur diesel made it a nuisance and impossible to sell that VW refused to release it until the low sulfur was released in the U.S.
Michael Karesh @ Oct 19th 2006 8:15PM
Probably a $39,995 Jetta TDI on the way as I type this...
Mighty late intro. Current year cars don't often arrive in mid-October. What's the point?
This price is about $10,000 higher than it was the last time the Touareg was available. Gotta wonder how much of the increase is a higher level of standard equipment, and how much the additional cost of the new emissions system. I don't see the former options packages in the list of options, so it's probably standard now. That's nearly $4,000 of the difference.
Edmunds now has 2007 Touareg pricing. Interestingly enough, they have the 2007 TDI starting at $59,020 before dest.
I'll try to get the pricing into my database tonight--hopefully I can dig up sufficient information.
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Touareg.php
Paul Mace @ Oct 19th 2006 8:39PM
17 City, 22 Hwy...you have to be joking!
Steve2 @ Oct 19th 2006 9:19PM
$20K premium and VW quality. This sucker will never hold together long enough to get your money back on fuel savings.
And I know Diesels usually have good resale, but with this being the most expensive version of this vehicle by a long shot, it'll be tough for it to retain its value.
Andy @ Oct 19th 2006 9:41PM
The reason these are 2006s instead of 2007s is because the V10 TDI and the Jetta TDI motors won't meet the new diesel restrictions coming out in 2007, but they CAN legally be sold as 2006 models. However, as someone mentioned above already, they also "need" the low sulfur fuel that is just now becoming widely available.
So basically there is a small window of opportunity over the next few months where VW will be able to meet some of the huge pent up demand for these cars, just before it becomes illegal to sell them. If you want one. get it now. It may be a couple years before diesel VWs are available in the states again.
Poe @ Oct 19th 2006 10:55PM
"Pricing on the Touareg V10 TDI starts at $67,750,..."?!?!?!
ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL
...and the same goes for a $40k Jetta. Puh-lease! There must be some really good drugs available in Germany.
Greg A. @ Oct 19th 2006 11:05PM
#1 "Does this mean the other TDi models will become 50 state legal too?"
No. I suspect the reason the 2006 Touareg V10 TDI is 50-state legal is that it's a light truck, not a car, and California's current emissions regulations for light trucks may be looser than the ones for cars.
#8: Good comment. I would like to correct one statement, though: "...just before it becomes illegal to sell them."
It won't become illegal to sell them, but to make them. Remember the announcement by VW a few weeks back that it would not offer any 2007 TDI cars in the U.S.? In that announcement, they said they would continue to make 2006 TDI cars until December 31, 2006 so that there would be some TDI cars (albeit 2006 models and not 2007 ones) available at VW dealerships in 2007 (at least until they're all sold).
And to follow up on your last sentence: "It may be a couple years before diesel VWs are available in the states again."
The story about the 2008 Jetta TDI that was publicly displayed (see the link in the blog post above) came from a forum thread on a VW or TDI fan site. In that thread, someone wrote that he asked one of the VW guys when the 2008 Jetta TDI would be on the market, and the guy said Q1 of calendar year 2008.
Also, here's what Edmunds writes about the 2007 Touareg as a future vehicle. (This addresses some things that other commenters wrote.)
What We Know: We can assure you that our latest spy photos are in fact the 2007 Volkswagen Touareg. This might seem confusing since there's already a 2007 Volkswagen Touareg on sale in the U.S., but we'll explain. The 2007 Touareg SUV in dealers now is what Volkswagen refers to as an "early 2007." It's essentially unchanged from the 2006 Touareg except for a new base 3.6-liter V6 in place of the '06 model's 3.2-liter engine. Also used in the Passat sedan and wagon, the 3.6-liter V6 in the Touareg gets a reconfigured oil pan and longitudinally mounted drive belt which allows it to survive extreme hill climbs and deep water crossings. With 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, the new V6 adds some much needed punch to the hefty Touareg, and it does so with almost no reduction in fuel mileage. Later this year, Volkswagen will also reintroduce the V10 TDI engine back into the Touareg lineup. Dropped because it couldn't meet emissions regulations, the switch to new low-sulfur diesel fuel in the U.S. has opened the door for the TDI once again. Volkswagen officials decided to hold off sales until this fall, however, until after the majority of U.S. pumps have switched over to the new cleaner burning fuel. A new set of more restrictive diesel emissions rules which go into effect January 1st of 2007 will force Volkswagen to restrict sales to 45 states next year, but for a period of about three months the Touareg TDI will be sold in all 50 states. Next spring, we'll see the introduction of the "late 2007" Touareg. This is the version you see in the accompanying spy photos. It gets a new set of more distinctive headlights and a few minor changes to the taillights as well. Inside, there's a new navigation system, slightly revised seats and a few other minor trim changes. All the hardware underneath will be carried over from the "early" 2007 model with no major changes.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/FVDP/Preview/styleId=100766884
Saracen @ Oct 19th 2006 11:44PM
I'd love to drive one of these, but that price is ridiculous. And why exactly did they hike the price up by nearly $10k?
If they brought us the V6 TDI and sold it for $40k, I'd consider it.
chewy @ Oct 20th 2006 12:00AM
Well, they are basically fully loaded, the V10 TDI has always been the top of the line model. This is a bit too expensive, but as VW doesn't expect to sell many they had to go for a pretty high price. BTW, the fuel economy is very decent for so much weight and power, better than the gas version by plenty.
Michael Karesh @ Oct 20th 2006 1:31AM
#2: It was here, then it went away, and now it's back again. Apparently not for long.
#8: I thought I remembered something about this, but then when I saw the 2007 listed at Edmunds I figured I must have remembered wrong. But are they not offering TDI cars next year, or only no TDI cars in CA et al?
If 2007s are currently at dealers, are they introducing the late 2006 and early 2007 concurrently? Makes no sense.
I've also got to wonder why Edmunds has a price for the 2007 TDI, and it's much lower than the 2006.
I've entered the data on my site--actually, most of it was still there from the last time the TDI was offered, I just had to change a few fields to make the TDI visible again.
Edmunds and other sites are showing the TDI with a fairly low level of standard equipment: manual tilt/tele wheel, no nav, mid-level audio, etc. But the high price and lack of options suggest that these features, formerly options, are now standard, and my site shows them as such. If someone can clarify which of us is right--those photos do show nav--I'd appreciate it.
M. @ Oct 20th 2006 2:24AM
In Europe VW definitely plans to sell the new Common Rail (instead of Pumpe Duese) engines in Q1 2008, but not in all models. The base engines will stay Pumpe Duese until European standards kill them in 2009.
VW actually already sells some common rail Diesels as V6 and V8 in Audis. DC recently proposed Audi to equip them with Bluetec (as a common incentive among automakers to raise the level of acceptance of Diesel engines in the US).
Rumors are that VW is developping a VR6 Diesel. I am a bit sceptical about this information. Larger cars from Volkswagen already have V6 and V8 Diesels, for the Jetta and the Passat a 2.5l I5 would probably do the job.
So you do not have to wait forever. You will be out of Volkswagen Diesels between March 2007 and Q1 2008.
Andre @ Oct 20th 2006 4:39AM
Hum, price hike maybe because the US borrows tons of money from the rest of the world to sustain growth, has a huge budget deficit, spends 380 billion on war and 20 million tax money (!!!) to through the only few people who gain from that war (oil, construction, defense manufacturing) a party (hey, and they are all close bush friends) - with that recent policy its clear that exchange rates cannot be favorable for imports from Germany.
AND of course VW likely did not do a very intelligent FX hedging... not too many things they have done in an intelligent wayrecently...
Thats two parties who created lots of trouble and will continue to do so for themselves...
Sorry for being so sarcastic!
mike @ Oct 20th 2006 7:14AM
Andre - you are a genius. Good luck with the 6th grade class elections coming up next week!!
mike @ Oct 20th 2006 7:15AM
There is NO other diesel SUV for sale in the US. Jeep dropped the diesel Liberty so VW has the market to themselves. Either they are omniscient, or are going down the Phaeton road, again....
I bet on a repeat of history.
Toolz @ Oct 20th 2006 7:46AM
How is this news? We've had an 07 at the office here for over a month and yes, it's worth every penny of the 74k otd price. If you want a freight train that runs on the road this is the SUV for you.
M. @ Oct 20th 2006 8:01AM
@18: Adapting Bluetec to the Liberty's VM 428 engine just would not make sense. Installing the DC 3.0l V6 (here available in the Jeep Commander or the Chrysler 300) does not make sense from the economical perspective: these engines are just manufactured in Europe. Exchange rates are not on your side and some DC guys fear that this engine in Jeep Liberty or Dodge Nitro would weaken the Mercedes brand.
Here in Europe DC still sells the VM 428 engines, because emission standards will allow it for the next two/three/four years. If both exchange rates and oil prices (and thus demand for Diesel engines) rise, DC might decide to produce the VM 630 at Detroit Diesel, combine it with Bluetec and install it to some Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles.
With the current demand -- that exists, but probably is to low to produce a new engine family in the US -- DC does not have much incentive to sell Diesel in their Chryler/Jeep/Dodge branded cars, vans, SUVs and small pickups.
Wait for the Dollar to rise, the oil price to rise and the demand to rise and you'll see more Diesels in the US. In the meantime we Europeans keep bashing American car buyers for buying gas guzzlers instead of bashing European companies for producing only gas gazzlers for the American markets.
VW Fan @ Oct 20th 2006 9:08AM
Did VW not learn anything from the failure of the Phaeton? It's the "people's" car company, not the elite car company. Rich people care less about fuel economy, and they dislike diesel fumes. Again, it's the wrong car for the wrong customer. Somebody fire the marketing department!