Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[First Drive: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/first-drive-volkswagen-touareg-tdi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/first-drive-volkswagen-touareg-tdi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/first-drive-volkswagen-touareg-tdi/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Volkswagen Touareg TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

The way Volkswagen talks up the $42,800 Touareg V6 TDI, you'd almost think it was the ninja of SUVs: a single package with so many highly developed capabilities that its gas-engined foes are annihilated and left on the side of the road with ninja shuriken lodged in their tailgates before they even realize they've been outdone. The engine alone promises reduced fuel consumption, fewer emissions, more power, more torque, better responsiveness and quiet progress. The only questions then are: Does it deliver and will anyone buy it? We took it for a spin to find out. Follow the jump for the story.


Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI

First Drive: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the VW Touareg Lux Limited Edition

The VW Touareg Lux Limited Edition is a 'ute that's been on a shopping spree to J. Crew and High Street, or at least a mainstream, aftermarket shop. Available on either the gasoline- or diesel-engined SUVs - and only in America - the Lux Limited gets side skirts and slightly tweaked front and rear aprons to differentiate it from the run-o-the-mill Touareg. The wheel selection is called Ayer's Rock (not "Uluru"?) and only available in the 20-inch variety.

VW took the color wheel out one night and got it drunk. Exterior hues for the Lux Limited are Biscay Blue, Campanella White, Galapagos Gray, and Black Magic Pearl Effect. The interior cricket leather is done up in one of two duo-tone color choices with complementary accents - like Latte Macchiato and St. Tropez white with poplar grain decor. And if anyone can tell us what "Engine Spin dark" decor looks like, we are all... eyes. So put on the Hootie, order some chablis and brie, have a look at the press release after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Volkswagen Touareg Lux Limited

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Touareg Lux Limited sports J. Crew colors

Detroit 2009: Volkswagen Touareg Lux Limited sports J. Crew colors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res image gallery of shots from the 2008 Baja 1000

Autoblog got its feet muddy - and did its best to avoid the cow pies - at the Baja 1000 a few weeks ago with Volkswagen. While things could have gone better for the 550-hp diesel Race Touareg2, finishing in 13th position with a relatively untested truck is a fine result. Finishing the Baja 1000 at all is a fine result, in fact. Check out the full story and video after the jump, and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: VW Race Touareg 2 at the 2008 Baja 1000

Continue reading Visions from the Baja 1000: VW puts its diesel in the dirt [w/VIDEO]

Visions from the Baja 1000: VW puts its diesel in the dirt [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 baja 10002008Baja1000baja 1000Baja1000featuredmotorsportsrace touareg 2RaceTouareg2touaregtouareg dieseltouareg2TouaregDieselvolkswagenvolkswagen race touareg 2volkswagen touaregvolkswagen touareg tdi trophy truckVolkswagenRaceTouareg2VolkswagenTouaregVolkswagenTouaregTdiTrophyTruckWed, 10 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Touareg 2 Race

Volkswagen Motorsport is putting four factory-backed teams in next year's 'Dakar' Rally, which will actually be held in South America, and they'll all be driving the new Race Touareg 2. The insanely intricate spaceframe chassis vehicles are being built in Germany and will use will use a 2.5-liter TDI with 276 hp and. The 15-stage race is expected to be more grueling than usual because of the extreme changes in altitude and terrain, but perhaps it will give other teams a chance to break Mitsubishi's seven-year chokehold on the winner's dais. Volkswagen's best chance at victory could be with driver Carlos Sainz, the 1990 WRC champion, and navigator Michel Perlin, a three-time Dakar winning navigator. The last -- and only -- time VW won the Dakar Rally was in 1980, with the Volkswagen Iltis.

Gallery: Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

Continue reading Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar

Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click on the image above for our high-res gallery of the Golf VI

Volkswagen officials gave Autoblog some insight into their new model roll-out plans when we met with them earlier this week at the media drive for the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. First into showrooms will be the 3.0-liter Touareg TDI, scheduled to start production in Mid-February 2009. It will followed by the MK VI GTI, based on the new Golf making its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The 2.5-liter Rabbit (gas) and 2.0-liter Rabbit TDI (diesel) will follow in the fall. Absent from VW's diesel lineup is the Tiguan. Larger and heavier than the compact cars currently utilizing the 2.0-liter TDI, the engine would need an urea injection to meet emission standards -- and the crossover wasn't designed with a storage tank in mind. Sorry diesel fans, the Tiguan will be sitting this one out for a while.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf VI

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

VW Rabbit TDI confirmed for next fall, no diesel Tiguan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jetta TDIJettaTdiRabbit TDIRabbitTdiTDI RabbitTdiRabbitTiguanTiguan TDITiguanTditouaregtouareg 2touareg dieselTouareg2TouaregDieselVolkswagen TDIVolkswagenTdiThu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[<em>The Bourne Ultimatum</em>: Product placement done right]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/12/em-the-bourne-ultimatum-em-product-placement-done-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/12/em-the-bourne-ultimatum-em-product-placement-done-right/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/12/em-the-bourne-ultimatum-em-product-placement-done-right/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We were well aware of Volkswagen's placement in The Bourne Ultimatum thanks to press releases out of Wolfsburg that prepared us for an epic car chase involving a Touareg 2. When an automaker brags about its product placement, we usually start worrying that the movie will be overrun with subliminal adverts. For instance, before Michael Bay went shopping for actors at General Motors, there was the all-GM highway scene in Matrix Reloaded. The heavy-handedness of such product placement that GM seems to favor can instantly take a moviegoer out of the moment, so we were justifiably nervous to see the VW Touareg 2 make its big screen debut.

I've just returned from seeing The Bourne Ultimatum and can report that Volkswagen's product placement was very understated and tastefully done. The climactic car chase involving the Touareg 2 was incredible to watch (and sounded even better), but the fact you're watching a VW is hardly noticed since a fender bender early on completely rips off the Touareg's grille, taking the VW emblem with it. Likewise, Jason Bourne's world isn't populated entirely by late model VW, Audi and Lamborgini vehicles. A last-gen Lincoln Navigator figures prominently, as does a Chevy Impala cop car and many older Chrysler 300Ms.

There were two other vehicles in the movie that VW no doubt paid to have placed. One is a European spec Golf GT Sport briefly driven by Julia Stiles' character, and the other a previous-gen Audi A6. Both are onscreen for a short time only, and the fact the A6 is not the current generation model makes its placement even less noticeable.

While most marketers can't argue with the effectiveness of GM's overwhelming product placement in Transformers, regardless of how it negatively affected the viewing experience, we felt VW deserved an extra mention for its welcomed restraint in The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Bourne Ultimatum: Product placement done right originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car chaseCarChaseproduct placementProductPlacementthe bourne ultimatumTheBourneUltimatumtouareg 2Touareg2volkswagenvwvw touaregvw touareg 2VwTouaregVwTouareg2Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[New York Auto Show: Volkswagen unveils the Touareg 2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-volkswagen-unveils-the-touareg-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-volkswagen-unveils-the-touareg-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/new-york-auto-show-volkswagen-unveils-the-touareg-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image for 30 images of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2

Sequels have been all the rage in Hollywood, so why not in the auto industry, as well? Feast your eyes on the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2: Vee-Dubs revenge! The highlight of the new Touareg 2 is its mild exterior refreshening, which adds new headlights, dark-tinted brake lights and a version of the corporate VW chrome grille that dips far down the face of this SUV. New 17-inch wheels on the VR6 FSI model and 19-inch wheels on the V8 FSI and V10 TDI Twin Turbo are also available.

The VR6 FSI is 3.6 liters large now and replaces the old 3.2L mill. It produces 280 hp, up 40 from the 3.2L. The midrange engine is the V8 FSI producing 350 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs torque, while the monster 5.0L V10 TDI Twin Turbo delivers 310 horsepower and 553 ft-lbs. of torque, all while meeting new diesel emissions standards in the U.S. Regardless of the engine you choose, 7,716 lbs. of towing capacity will be at your disposal.

One trick feature of the new Touareg 2 is its "ABSplus" braking system that's designed to shorten stopping distances on loose roadbeds. It does so by temporarily locking the wheels to push some of the road material up into a block of sorts. Other nifty bits of technology include a new rollover sensor system, enhanced tire pressure monitoring system and rain brake support that wipes the rotors dry when the windshield wipers are activated.

Check out Volkswagen's official release after the jump, as well as our gallery of high-res live shots from the show floor and official shots from Vee-Dub.

You can view all the debuts and galleries from the New York Auto Show here.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Gallery: 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Volkswagen unveils the Touareg 2

New York Auto Show: Volkswagen unveils the Touareg 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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