Rendered Speculation: Next-gen VW Touareg
Automakers around the world are grappling with the question of what to do with SUVs. While the segment is shrinking, there is still a substantial customer-base that wants an SUV's utility and off-road capabilities, and the Touareg has those traits in spades. Unfortunately the largest VW is also heavy and thirsty, and skyrocketing fuel prices make changes to the big ute a necessity.The scribes over at Auto Express claim to have the scoop on the forthcoming 2010 Touareg, and fuel economy seems to have been central to VW's plans. First, nearly 700 lbs. has been shaved off of the SUV through the use of light-weight materials like aluminum. The 3.6-liter V6 is rumored to be replaced with a more efficient 3.2-liter powerplant with direct injection, and the hefty diesel V10 will be replaced by three smaller oil burners with displacements of 2.7-liter, 3.0-liter, and 4.0-liter. A hybrid powertrain is also in the works for 2012. The Touareg's rather staid, but nice styling will also be addressed, as more cues will be taken from the Tiguan.
With gas prices rising by the day, we're all for any diesel tech that reaches our shores. With a strong lineup of diesels across the pond and a few destined for the States, VW has plenty of ammunition to improve both the Touareg and its overall position in the US market. Lets hope the German automaker can deliver the goods while also bringing down prices.
Thanks for the tip, Mike!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mdm-adph 9:09AM (11/07/2007)
Le sigh -- nowhere in the article does it say that the diesel variants are ever going to reach "our shores." Boohoo! :(
Reply
rgseidl 10:43AM (11/07/2007)
VW and Audi have promised selected T2B5 diesel options for CY 2008. Remember, the bottleneck here may be EPA and CARB. These agencies have been extremely reluctant to accept SCR technology at all. Now a number of manufacturers all have clean diesel models in the certification bureaucracy, which takes about a year to traverse.
Rick 12:40PM (11/07/2007)
Diesel locally is just as much as preimium. So, unless it really outgains in mpg I'd rather go with a 4cyl and use 87 oct while gas prices seem poised to throw our economy into the dumps.
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Devin 11:14AM (11/07/2007)
Looks like VW is taking some styling cues from the upcoming Q5 and even the new X5. Much better looking than the current gen. though.
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seoultrain 11:39AM (11/07/2007)
those headlights look very similar to the ones on the Mercedes CL
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Xcountryflyer 11:49AM (11/07/2007)
Porsche--please take VW over.
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nagmashot 11:51AM (11/07/2007)
this autoweek article is completly wrong..
they took the picture from autobild who published it in Germany some time ago with more detailed oinformation
1. the main safe in weight is to delete many of the off road equipment.. most buyer never use all the self locking diff, reduction gear unit etc..
this makes the Touareg 300kg (700lbs lighter) and this version is sold as the more road going SUV version.
2. for the die hard off roader they offer a 4x4 package with all the mechanical parts needed for serious off road..and this version will be nearly as heavy as the curret.
3. the new one get larger and is from production start avaible as a R-Line
4. engines avaible are all FSI engines
3.6l VR6 (from the new Passat R36) with 280hp
4.2l V8 from the Audi A8 with 350hp
2.7 TDI 170hp
3.0 TDI 240hp
4.0 TDI 326hp (same engine as in the Audi Q7 but with slightly lower power 340hp in the Q7)
V10 TDI gets deleted because it is to heavy
5. the use of aluminum (Chassie) is a option to drop the weight 150kg (~300lbs) more but it is unlikely because of cost reasons.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/Themen-Erlkoenige-Der-Touareg-wird-schlank_437710.html
the orginal Autobild article from last month
Reply
nagmashot 11:52AM (11/07/2007)
they took the picture from autobild who published it in Germany some time ago with more detailed oinformation
1. the main safe in weight is to delete many of the off road equipment.. most buyer never use all the self locking diff, reduction gear unit etc..
this makes the Touareg 300kg (700lbs lighter) and this version is sold as the more road going SUV version.
2. for the die hard off roader they offer a 4x4 package with all the mechanical parts needed for serious off road..and this version will be nearly as heavy as the curret.
3. the new one get larger and is from production start avaible as a R-Line
4. engines avaible are all FSI engines
3.6l VR6 (from the new Passat R36) with 280hp
4.2l V8 from the Audi A8 with 350hp
2.7 TDI 170hp
3.0 TDI 240hp
4.0 TDI 326hp (same engine as in the Audi Q7 but with slightly lower power 340hp in the Q7)
V10 TDI gets deleted because it is to heavy
5. the use of aluminum (Chassie) is a option to drop the weight 150kg (~300lbs) more but it is unlikely because of cost reasons.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/Themen-Erlkoenige-Der-Touareg-wird-schlank_437710.html
the orginal Autobild article from last month
Reply
nagmashot 11:52AM (11/07/2007)
sorry double post.. :(
Reply
BlackbirdHighway 12:30PM (11/07/2007)
Consumer Reports rated the Touareg one of the five worse vehicles for reliability. I can personally support that claim. Mine has been in the shop waaay too much. Now I'm trading it in and the resale value is the pits. A three year old vehicle with under 40K miles should not lose 70% of it's value.
I liked the Touareg power, handling, and features. It's a very quiet, smooth riding machine, but there's a lot of better value SUVs than this.
Reply