Filed under: Motorsports, Volkswagen
LA Preview: VW to unveil diesel-powered Touareg TDI Trophy Truck
Click above for high-res images and renderings of VW's Touareg TDI Trophy Truck
If Formula 1 is the pinnacle of on-road motorsports, competitive off-roading hits its apogee with the Baja Trophy Truck series. With vehicles sporting over 20 inches of suspension travel both front and rear, along with massive power provided by V8 engines, these trucks travel over the worst terrain imaginable at ludicrous speeds. Sounds like fun, right? Volkswagen thinks so, and while it's older Beetle-based buggies often make it through the race unscathed, albeit much slower than their big brothers, the automaker has decided to enter the top rung of the SCORE series and will debut its latest Touareg TDI to tackle the course at the upcoming LA Auto Show.
Boasting a turbocharged diesel 5.5L V12 engine that puts out 550 horsepower and a stump-pulling 625 lb-ft of torque, the 5,650-pound race-prepped Touareg should have the guts to keep up with the rest of the field. This will be the first turbo-diesel ever to compete at the Baja 1000 in the Trophy Truck class. Custom double A-arms up front and a four-link rear suspension provide 25 and 30 inches of wheel travel, respectively, and 37-inch BFG's will do their best to provide traction. VeeDub is set to officially unveil the truck on November 19th, just ahead of the 41st running of the big race.
Gallery: VW Touareg TDI Trophy Truck
[Source: Volkswagen]
PRESS RELEASE:
VOLKSWAGEN TO UNVEIL PURPOSE BUILT RACE TOUAREG TDI TROPHY TRUCK AT L.A. AUTO SHOW
First turbo-diesel Trophy Truck in historic SCORE series
HERNDON, Va. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. will unveil its purpose-built Volkswagen-Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck, powered by a clean diesel TDI engine, during a news conference at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The news conference is scheduled for 10:45 to 11:10 a.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at the Volkswagen stand.
The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck that will run the 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race in the SCORE Trophy Truck class is powered by a 5.5 liter V-12 clean diesel engine that produces 550 horsepower and 625 lbs.-ft. of torque.
Staying true to the off-road prowess that the Touareg is best known for, the purpose-built Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck takes the Touareg's off-road tenaciousness to a whole new level. With a double A-Arm front suspension that allows 25 inches of wheel travel, and a 4-link rear suspension that allows 30 inches of wheel travel, combined with Fox Racing Shocks, Eibach Coils and BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17 off-road tires the Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck should have little difficulty maneuvering the highly difficult and technical 634 mile Baja 1000 course.
Chassis design and production was handled by Arciero Miller Racing located in Foothill Ranch, California. The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck features a wheelbase of 125 inches, overall length of 213 inches, width of 92 inches, an overall height of 78 inches and weighs 5650 pounds. The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck Body was designed by the Volkswagen Design Center located in Santa Monica, California.
The Volkswagen-Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDI is sponsored by Volkswagen of America, Inc., Red Bull, BFGoodrich Tires, Dow Automotive, Oakley, KMC Wheels and Fox Shocks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
estammel 8:01PM (11/12/2008)
That sounds like a conservative torque estimate.
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Upp 11:03PM (11/12/2008)
This looks like one amazing VW!
http://www.upp.me
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Joey Mazz 12:09AM (11/13/2008)
Hmmm, I certainly don't need a V12 turbo diesel, but I sure as hell want one. Too bad we'll probably never see that on a VW lot.
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AZZO45b 8:41PM (11/13/2008)
Sweet artwork/ concept sketches!!!
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Bubba 10:50PM (11/13/2008)
"competitive off-roading hits its apogee with the Baja Trophy Truck series"??
I disagree. The Dakar makes ANY Baja race look like a run to the store on a gravel road. The support vehicles in Dakar go through more in 2 weeks than any single Baja Trophy truck goes through in an entire season!
Cool vdub tho.
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