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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 @ Feb 11th 2008 1:00PM
Movie prop?
overengineered @ Feb 11th 2008 1:07PM
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)
Brent @ Feb 11th 2008 1:10PM
It better have the V10 TDI.
Ken @ Feb 11th 2008 1:16PM
LOL, hope they don't shoot their antennas!
rar @ Feb 11th 2008 1:20PM
I wonder if it will have as many problems as my sisters Touareg? Nice suv, but in the shop all the time.
Martin @ Feb 11th 2008 1:24PM
I want one.
Yar @ Feb 11th 2008 1:28PM
If your army uses this, the terrorists win.
Ben @ Feb 11th 2008 1:30PM
What on earth did they do with the luxury-laden interior? Anybody?
Richard @ Feb 11th 2008 1:39PM
Nothing against my good friends - and I mean that - at Thule, but that rack is gone after about 10 rounds from the gun.
Nucbuddy @ Feb 11th 2008 1:58PM
Is it really true that deserts are green-colored?
lovice @ Feb 11th 2008 5:34PM
Not every country wants to fight in middle east!
Dude @ Feb 11th 2008 2:15PM
I'll take 2.
pixelnate @ Feb 11th 2008 2:24PM
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?).
Aki @ Feb 11th 2008 2:44PM
You'd be driving in style until your electricals fizzle out in the middle of a war zone.
ckm @ Feb 11th 2008 2:48PM
Love the matte paint. That's awesome. I'll take one in matte dark blue..
Das Boese @ Feb 11th 2008 3:06PM
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).
mk @ Feb 11th 2008 3:39PM
Wow, the return of the VW Thing in military dress.
LMBVette @ Feb 11th 2008 3:39PM
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.
Rocketboy @ Feb 11th 2008 3:49PM
You know what happened the last time the Germans started putting guns on vehicles....
Taylor @ Feb 11th 2008 4:01PM
I'll gladly park this in my driveway...Show those pesky neighbors...