Autoblog

Volkswagen Sweden builds a Touareg tank to tackle winter

George Kennedy — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Europe, Volkswagen, Specialty, Off-Road

When it comes to the ingenuity of the automotive aftermarket, a good bit of inspiration often seems to come from the creator's native market. Lifted Jeep Wrangler creations climb out of mountainous regions like Moab, while low-riders flow from the massive urban sprawl of Los Angeles. The vehicle you see above is no different. Dubbed the "Snowareg," it is a creation by Volkswagen of Sweden, and is perfectly suited for harsh Swedish winters. Based on a Touareg V8 TDI, the Snowareg sends 340 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque to a modified set of treads at each wheel.

Very little information is given outside of that, but from what we can tell from these photos, anyone lucky to venture into the elements with the Snowareg will be doing so in style. It appears to come with the full bevy of VW options, including Dynaudio stereo, panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate control and (of course) heated seats. As we said, very little information was given, but it's a fair assumption that this monster isn't foreshadowing any future options packages...

Volkswagen Sweden builds a Touareg tank to tackle winter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome

Chris Paukert — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Technology, Videos, GMC, Specialty, Off-Road

Clearly, we weren't the only ones who spent the better part of their childhoods building all manner of strange and wonderful Lego vehicles. We're pretty sure we had this design knocked out back in the early 80s, but as far as we know, exactly no one has figured out how to fit easily removable tracks to a conventional vehicle in real life. We've seen some pretty neat track conversions, mind you, but they've always required a fair bit of work and the removal of a vehicle's wheels. But not the Track N Go.

This creative solution for foul-weather-mastery comes from AD Boivin, a company better known for marketing products for powersports vehicles like motocross bikes and snowmobiles. The company says that this is the world's first wheel-driven track system, and judging by the video available after the jump, it appears quite capable when fitted to what looks like stock GMC Sierra and Ford F-Series Super Duty 4x4 pickups blasting through the snow.

The video indicates that the system is a prototype, and it doesn't show how easily the tracks can be secured to the vehicle's wheels (though it does briefly show that you drive onto the tracks before locking them in place - no jacking required). AD Boivin doesn't say if and when the Track N Go will actually come to market, let alone what sort of fitments will be available and how much the system will cost. While we're waiting, we'll just watch the video one more time...

Continue reading Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome

Track N Go treads dangerously close to awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2002 Subaru WRX makes tracks into our heart [w/video]

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Subaru, Off-Road

Among the many exploits of Ken Block we've posted on over the years, we've always loved this video of his Subaru WRX STI fitted with tracks at all four corners. So when we got a tip on an eBay Motors auction for a similarly equipped WRX, we were tempted to head up I-75 to check out the car in person.

The Subaru is for sale in Chassell, MI, some 550 miles north of Detroit in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, way up in the Keweenaw Peninsula, which extends into the middle of Lake Superior. With apologies to our friends in Canada, it's about as far north as you want to go when the snow flies. And the snow flies a lot in the Keweenaw, thanks to a wicked lake effect that dumps more than 200 inches of the white stuff every winter. Yes, that's over 17 feet of snow, but it's nothing compared to the winter of 1978-1979, when the area got almost 30. So if you're wondering why anyone not named Ken Block would fit a track system to their Impreza, well, now you know.

Alas, this year Michigan has not seen much in the way of winter, even up in the frosty north country. With just 120 inches of snow through the end of February and temperatures that pushed into the upper 70s on St. Patrick's Day, getting around the Keweenaw right now does not require tank-like traction - or even four-wheel-drive.

Whether that's motivated the seller or not, we don't know, but we do know what would motivate us to buy: The promise of next winter.

Click past the jump to see video of this eBay Motors find kicking up rooster tails, or check out all the pictures in our gallery.

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 2002 Subaru WRX makes tracks into our heart [w/video]

eBay Find of the Day: 2002 Subaru WRX makes tracks into our heart [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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