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This bit of news will no doubt be a big badge of honor for the few owners there are out there of the Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. VW is hoping the number of Touareg TDI owners will grow, and demonstrated the diesel ute's mighty pulling power recently in a press event that pitted it against the standing weight of a Boeing 747. The Touareg was "lightly modified" with the addition of 7,030 kg (15,498 lbs.) of ballast weight (!) and the fitment of the 4.56 axle from Touareg V8 model. The latter mod turned out to be unnecessary since the driver, Uew Krieghoff, performed the stunt in the low ratio, second gear. Other than that, the Touareg was also fitted with a special tow adapter to marry the two vehicles together and wore outer body panels that made it look the same as the next gen Touareg being launched early next year. The engine, transmission, suspension, tires and brakes were all stock.
The plane used for the stunt was a decommissioned Boeing 747-200 that weighs 155 tons. VW had initially calculated the Touareg could successfully pull 200 tons, and had even done a dry run with a 190-ton Boeing 747-400. Unfortunately, the only plane that could be acquired for the PR stunt was this one that is usually used as a giant prop in films. Apparently it didn't put up much of a fight, as the Touareg towed the jet 150 meters at 5 mph before slowing itself and the plane to a stop with its stock brakes. Impressive indeed, and we think the Touareg V10 TDI has laid down the gauntlet for our domestic heavy haulers. Let's see what crazy objects the Ford Super-Duty, Chevy Silverado HD and Dodge Ram 3500 can tug around.
Follow the jump for more pics of the Touareg's towing exploits.
[Source: VW]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mike @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:51PM
Pretty cool feat.
Too bad the Turdrag is still a 10,000 mile max VW piece of garbage.
Alex @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:55PM
Looks like the plane is the same one they used in the new James Bond movie.
Big Rocket @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:00PM
Not impressed. If you recall from *basic* Physics, (pull force) = (coefficient of friction) X weight. With decent low-friction bearings for the aircraft's wheels, it is not a big deal.
Another PR stunt dreamed up by clueless Marketing folks.
Big Rocket @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:12PM
I forgot to mention this: Man pulls truck with penis.
Sources:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1624868.html
http://www.knowledgedrivenrevolution.com/Features/Dumbass/Week_47_Garbage_Penis.htm
Bill @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:43PM
Looks like they finally found a way to get rid of those hogs. VW could give fleet prices to airports and start dumping them there.
Michael Karesh @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:44PM
I'm trying hard not to even think about #4...
As for the Touareg, I find it hard to believe that the suspension is stock if the vehicle was loaded down with 15k lbs. of ballast. It would not be riding level.
Gardiner Westbound @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:58PM
That's good to know for the next time I'm asked to tow a 747.
Ryan @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:59PM
Ya gotta love the 1993 Geo Metro "blue" paint on it.
Actually a ford dealership in Washington state has a pretty cool commercial, they equip a a V-8 Toyota Tundra and a V-6 Ford F-150, strap them together and then both drivers "floor" it, you see the Tundra smokin the tires, but the F-150 (V-6) just pulls the v-8 Tundra like a little bitch.
Marcus @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:04PM
actually the v10 tdi have self leveling air susp. so yes it most likely is stock.
Steve @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:16PM
If it is level almost any car would pull it for a long time. ABC wide world of sports had the worlds strongest man once do it. But the truly funny thing is the AIR TRASH 380 from Germany, France and the rest of Euro Trash is two years behind and a mess..... And I think it will have the same reliability rating of a German car 1 of five stars... And yes I owned a Touareg V6 piece of crap.... The dealer didn't even want it back!
dakota @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:18PM
Not like "pulling stunts" havent been done before. Didn't autoblog check back in 03 when Cummins had a Ram 3500 pull a 77 ton mining dump truck?
Ryan @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:21PM
Anyone else notice the "VW" logos do not match up? One is in front of Touareg and the other behind?
Marcus @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:30PM
pretty sure it's behind the word Touareg on both sides
Ryan @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:35PM
"13. pretty sure it's behind the word Touareg on both sides"
-Uh, yeah, your right, but they still dont line up!
(required) @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:36PM
Ok, I call bs on the "stock tires, stock wheels"... there is no way!!! How much does a Taureg weigh? 4500lbs tops? so this means that the equivalent of 3 1/2 additional cars worth of weight? No way. And the self leveling system would certainly not be able to compensate for that much load!!!
Just think about how insane that is. If that really were the case that STOCK, this vehicle can carry that much ballast weight, then the GVWR would be something like 20,000lbs. Tax breaks for everyone! And you could just convert these things into tow trucks... just put a platform on top.
Common sense is nonexistant.
far jr @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:51PM
Pulling things always comes down to knowing the physics. The tundra/ F-150 commercial listed by Ryan could be as simple as using a higher hitch on the F150. Using the same principle, a four cylinder Tacoma could be made to pull a V8 F150 like a rag doll.
The 747 looks impressive behind the VW. The aircraft is all volume without the mass to back it up. It really is nothing special for a 20,000 pound diesel vehicle to pull a 310,000# rolling load on dry pavement. A ratio of 15.5 to one.
Haven't you ever seen men pull trucks and buses? They weigh about 300 pounds and pull about 15000 pounds rolling. That is a 50 to one ratio.
That One Person @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:22PM
I dont know much about physics but this doesnt exactly seem difficult...
This isnt amazing. I could probably get my Regal to pull a 747 if I wanted to...
perpetual-test-driver @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:33PM
this aircraft tractor that can pull real 747s around has an inline six 7L diesel with 300hp and 737ftlbs of torque:
http://www.tugtech.com/salesmarketing/GT110.pdf
I bet the Touareg is cheaper!
perpetual-test-driver @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:35PM
btw, wouldn't 15k lbs of ballast be huge? Even if made from lead?
doesn't look like there is anything in the cargo part of the truck.
chewy @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:38PM
Very nice TDI power.