Touareg of Duty: VW drafted into army, issued turret gun
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When Germany starts stockpiling armaments, it tends to worry the neighbors. This, on the other hand, is more likely to scare your neighbor into buying a HUMMER. While we don't know any technical details about this military-spec Volkswagen Touareg, we wouldn't expect it to turn up on your local dealership's lot anytime soon.
The images show a Touareg stripped of its chrome hardware and slathered in matte green paint. It's been fitted with all manner of combat communications systems, from the looks of the antennas that would likely get blown off by the automatic turret cannon on the roof (which, by the way, appears to be mounted to the stock roof rack). The Vee-Dub doesn't seem to have had much bulletproofing bodywork done, aside from maybe some indiscernible internal reinforcement, which would lead us to believe that, for the time being at least, this appears to be a demonstration prototype only.
[Source: VWVortex via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
J.Crew 1:00PM (2/11/2008)
Movie prop?
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overengineered 1:07PM (2/11/2008)
Well, funny little thing - looks like something for the military police - normal "HMMWV"-Thingy would be the "DINGO": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATF_Dingo (based on a Unimog)
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Brent 1:10PM (2/11/2008)
It better have the V10 TDI.
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Ken 1:16PM (2/11/2008)
LOL, hope they don't shoot their antennas!
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rar 1:20PM (2/11/2008)
I wonder if it will have as many problems as my sisters Touareg? Nice suv, but in the shop all the time.
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Martin 1:24PM (2/11/2008)
I want one.
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Yar 1:28PM (2/11/2008)
If your army uses this, the terrorists win.
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Ben 1:30PM (2/11/2008)
What on earth did they do with the luxury-laden interior? Anybody?
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Richard 1:39PM (2/11/2008)
Nothing against my good friends - and I mean that - at Thule, but that rack is gone after about 10 rounds from the gun.
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Nucbuddy 1:58PM (2/11/2008)
Is it really true that deserts are green-colored?
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lovice 5:34PM (2/11/2008)
Not every country wants to fight in middle east!
Dude 2:15PM (2/11/2008)
I'll take 2.
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pixelnate 2:24PM (2/11/2008)
Could be a test mule for a radio controlled or autonomous urban "protection" vehicle. Didn't a group of students win the DARPA competition with an autonomous Tourege (sp?).
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Jeff 4:07PM (2/11/2008)
Screw the military....that ride says "Commuter Vehicle" all over it to me......perfect for here in Phoenix, AZ. I bet a few rounds over their hood from that roof mounted machine gun will move any of those pokey drivers in the left lanes out to my way... woohoo! Now it just needs a tube of Hellfire missiles hanging off the side to complete the package....
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mk 3:39PM (2/11/2008)
Wow, the return of the VW Thing in military dress.
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Aki 2:44PM (2/11/2008)
You'd be driving in style until your electricals fizzle out in the middle of a war zone.
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ckm 2:48PM (2/11/2008)
Love the matte paint. That's awesome. I'll take one in matte dark blue..
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Das Boese 3:06PM (2/11/2008)
according to a few german google results this was VW's idea for a new light armored command/utility vehicle... and apparently it failed utterly, which doesn't surprise me at all. I mean... it's a goddamn SUV. No matter what you do to it, it will never be as capable as a purpose built military/offroad vehicle. Better stick with the Wolf (military version of the Mercedes G-class).
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LMBVette 3:39PM (2/11/2008)
I thought VW was against using their products in anything associated with War? I recall reading that's why VW would not allow The Transformers Movie to use a yellow VW bug as BumbleBee.
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Rocketboy 3:49PM (2/11/2008)
You know what happened the last time the Germans started putting guns on vehicles....
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