In a Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI, Rainer Zietlow and his team have set a new course record in the renowned Carretera Panamericana race with a driving time of just 11 days, 17 hours and 22 minutes. This race runs the entire length of North and South America. As part of his post-race tour, the off-road enthusiast is showing the record-setting vehicle in Wolfsburg today.

Zietlow and his team covered a total of 22,750 kilometers on the route between Tierra del Fuego and Alaska; they passed through 17 countries as well as most of the Earth’s climate and vegetation zones in the record drive, which has been certified by the TUV Nord testing organization. Whether extreme heat, heavy rain, sandstorms or snow – the Volkswagen Touareg proved its efficiency and staying power under challenging course conditions. Zietlow broke the previous world record set in 2006 by four days. In the Touareg, the eco-friendly 3.0l V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine (165 kW/225 PS in the US version) consumes 30 percent less fuel and emits up to 25 percent less CO2 than other vehicles with petrol engines in its class.

Rainer Zietlow has documented his world record drive with extensive video and photographic materials at the following website: www.tdi-panamericana.com.

- Volkswagen AG

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1. Volkswagen Touareg TDI tackles the Panamericana Endurance Challenge

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Renowned adventurer and off-road driver Rainer Zietlow and his team today announced they will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the legendary Pan-American Highway with the ultimate endurance challenge. They will embark on a fast, two-week drive from Argentina to Alaska on the longest road in the world, covering 14 countries and nearly 16,000 miles in a 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI ® Clean Diesel SUV.

Zietlow, Carlos Fernandez and Marius Biela, all from Germany, will start on June 29 in Ushuaia, Argentina, located at the southern tip of South America. Their goal is to drive the entire length of the Pan-American Highway in 14 days, finishing in Deadhorse, Alaska. The crew will travel through 14 countries – Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada – and through challenging terrain, including the Atacama Desert, a 13,600-foot high Andean pass, humid rainforests in Central America and the Arctic tundra in Alaska.

As with all of his previous challenges, Zietlow will donate 10 Euro cents for each kilometer driven during this trip to two villages in Latin America managed by Plan International, a charity organization that works in 48 developing countries to promote children’s rights and lift millions of children out of poverty.

“We want to celebrate the important role the Pan-American Highway has played in bringing commerce and unity to countries along the route, while demonstrating the power and durability of a clean diesel vehicle. The 75th Anniversary of the Pan-American Highway provides us with a great opportunity to do both,” said Rainer Zietlow, manager of the German car event agency, Challenge4 GmbH. “While we have completed a number of long distance drives, the TDI-Panamericana Endurance Challenge will be one of our most meaningful and exciting challenges to date.”

Taking five-hour driving shifts, the team will drive non-stop for the full two weeks, testing both the drivers’ will and the Touareg’s endurance. People can follow the drive online by visiting www.tdi-panamericana.com. The site will feature a map and live streaming video to show the Touareg’s real-time progress on the route, as well as photos, video highlights and blog posts to document the thrill of the endurance challenge from start to finish.

The Challenge4 crew will drive a single 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI® Clean Diesel SUV the entire route, demonstrating how the Touareg’s German engineering and powerful engine handle even the most challenging driving conditions. Zietlow chose the Touareg TDI® Clean Diesel for its durability, high-performance and long-range fuel efficiency. Its turbocharged 3.0L V6 TDI® engine, which delivers 225 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, is designed to perform on rugged terrain and mixed road surfaces at varying altitudes.

Additionally, as a clean diesel SUV, the Touareg consumes 30 percent less fuel and produces up to 25 percent lower CO2 emissions than comparable gasoline vehicles. The Touareg’s TDI® clean diesel technology is a key component of “Think Blue.”, the philosophy behind Volkswagen’s holistic approach to preserve the environment through fuel-efficient, high-performing vehicles; sustainable production and advanced technologies.

“The Volkswagen Touareg TDI® Clean Diesel SUV is well equipped to handle the distance and challenges of the Pan-American Highway. It is one of the most efficient vehicles in its class, and offers the durability, reliability, comfort and power that Rainer Zietlow and his team need to complete a drive of this magnitude,” said Rainer Michel, vice president of product marketing, Volkswagen of America. “The TDI-Panamericana Endurance Challenge is an excellent way to demonstrate the many advantages of clean diesel technology.”

In addition to Volkswagen, a number of other major sponsors are supporting the Challenge, including 3M, Allianz, Bosch, Castrol, Continental Tire, ESL, Exide Technologies, Federal Mogul, Getac, Inmarsat, Kruse, Kuehne+Nagel, PIAA, Sonax, Tag Heuer and Volkswagen Credit.

Zietlow has conquered a number of extraordinary challenges with Volkswagen in recent years. In 2005, he and his partner Ronald Bormann drove a Volkswagen Touareg to a height of 19,947 feet (6,080 meters) which earned him a Guinness World Record for the highest altitude achieved in a standard vehicle. Zietlow also conquered immense distances in a Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel and in a Volkswagen Passat EcoFuel powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). In 2006 and 2007, he and his team circumnavigated the globe in a natural gas powered Volkswagen, which earned him a second Guinness World Record.

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Saturday Night Live comedian Bill Hader and Volkswagen Product Specialist Danielle Gumro discuss the 2011 Touareg in our hilarious new educational series, “Inside the VW Academy.”

**The Touareg Hybrid is available in the U.S. in very limited quantities and only at participating Volkswagen dealers.

21 city/25 highway mpg (2011 3.0L supercharged hybrid, automatic transmission). EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary.

Maximum 7700 lbs. (brake weight) towing capacity requires optional factory-installed towing package. Maximum towing capacity of 1650 lbs. (unbraked weight) without factory-installed towing package. See owner’s manual for details.

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Volkswagen Group has been on a tear in the past few days in Qatar. Bugatti shows the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, Lamborghini and their Gallardo LP 560-4 Bicolore and now the Touareg Gold Edition complete with 24-carat gold inside and out. The V8 is even dusted with a bit-o-gold.

The Touareg Gold Edition would certainly be able to handle a journey around the world – but bear in mind, this car should only be parked where there is good surveillance. That is because – living up its name – certain areas of this SUV are upgraded with 24-carat gold. On the outside, they include the custom designed 22-inch wheels, roof rails, protective guard strips and window frames, mirror caps and parts of the air intake frame, “Touareg V8″ signature and boot sill trim. Like the Race Touareg 3 Qatar, this SUV is also painted in “Magic Morning” body color.

Inside, 24-carat gold also adorns many of the car’s accents and switches, making the entire car unique. The interior design itself has a pleasant, bright appearance in the “Luna” trim color. The Alcantara roof-liner shows this color as does the Nappa leather of the seats, which is decorated with ornamental stitch detailing.

On the other hand, the dashboard is trimmed in a natural brown leather; contrasting seams in “Magnolia” color perfect the color scheme. Natural brown with leather inserts in “Luna” adorn the floor mats. Automotive craftsmanship at its finest is reflected in the Walnut Burr accents with genuine gold marquetry – also crafted into an ornamental pattern. This is in keeping with the general image of the Touareg, which – in the “normal” production version – is one of the most sophisticated SUVs in the world.

- Volkswagen

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The new Touareg is now also available as a luxurious Volkswagen Exclusive model. The vehicle boasts a range of features including seats in a high-quality two-tone leather combination, 19-inch wheel rims and decorative elements in real wood.

Exclusively equipped model leaves nothing to be desired

In the Touareg Exclusive, high-quality seats in the two-tone leather combination “Nappa” are fitted as standard. The finely worked leather is available in the colour combinations Pepper Beige–Titan Black and Dark Burgundy–Titan Black. As well as being aesthetically appealing, the two-tone leather offers a special practical feature: it is so-called “cool leather”, which prevents the seats from becoming too hot in direct sunlight.

The leather seat system includes heated front seats with electric 12-way settings, electro-pneumatically adjustable backrest side bolsters and head restraints with longitudinal and height adjustment. Likewise inclusive are the leather door inserts, a black headliner and sill panel strips in stainless steel with exclusive lettering. Decorative elements made from real wood in “Olive Silk Gloss” round off the exclusive ambience of the interior.

The 19-inch “Salamanca” alloy wheels, painted in Sterling Silver, are fitted as standard. The “Girona” wheel has the same dimensions and is available to order at no extra cost. A further option is the extravagant 20-inch “Tarragona” wheel, which gives the Touareg a particularly individual flair. The exterior is characterised by the “Chrome & Style” package and roof rails in anodised silver.

The Touareg Exclusive starts at € 58,150 (V6 TDI BlueMotion Technology) and is available to order with all engine variants, for example the hybrid.

- Volkswagen

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The second generation all-new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg combines cutting-edge German design, even more versatility and an array of standard features, all while providing a combination of usability and world-class engineering that drivers and passengers have become familiar with in Volkswagen vehicles.
The class changing 2011 Touareg offers three powertrain choices, including Volkswagen’s first-ever worldwide use of a hybrid engine. All three engines — the 3.0L V6 TSI® supercharged hybrid, 3.0L V6 TDI® clean diesel and 3.6L V6 FSI® gasoline — are mated to Volkswagen’s first eight-speed transmission, along with Volkswagen’s 4MOTION® all wheel drive system.

Supercharged Hybrid

As Volkswagen’s first production hybrid electric vehicle, the all-new Touareg 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions compared to the previous V8 FSI model. The electric motor is paired with a nickel metal-hydride battery pack fitted beneath the luggage compartment. The 288 volt battery consists of 240 individual cells and offers an energy density of 1.7 kWh. Both systems are capable of running independently or together and when combined, produce a total of 380 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque. The new supercharged hybrid allows Touareg to offer customers V8 power with better fuel efficiency than a V6 engine.

The eight-speed automatic transmission ensures power is always available, while helping the Touareg Hybrid achieve an EPA estimated* 25 mpg during highway driving. When the driver releases the gas pedal, the engine will shut off while a special clutch disengages the transmission from the engine, allowing it to “coast” forward emission free without electric or combustion power to further aid in fuel savings.

Regenerative breaking also allows the electric motor to recover kinetic energy during coasting and braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack. Touareg Hybrid can drive up to 30 mph on pure electric power.

Another first for the Touareg hybrid is the standard Start-Stop system, which automatically stops the engine during idling, for example while waiting at a red light. In this system, the brake is the control mechanism and when activated, stops the engine. When the brake is released, the engine starts again. This function improves fuel economy and reduces emissions, especially during city driving conditions.

Exterior

The exterior changes to the 2011 Touareg reflect the refinements under the hood. Compared to its predecessor, the 2011 Touareg is wider and has a shorter overall height for a stronger presence. A longer wheelbase and greater length provide more room inside the cabin, while the use of new materials and other adjustments have removed approximately 350 pounds from the vehicle.

At the front is a narrower grille opening that seamlessly connects to the trapezoidal headlight housings that carry U-shaped LED running lights and Bi-XenonTM High Intensity Gas-Discharged headlamps. The housings flow into the new fender flares, and a pair of compact fog lamps at the lower portion of the front fascia stand underneath the Touareg’s front air intakes.

The hood features a raised portion that runs from the grille back, finishing at the side mirrors and giving a more muscular appearance. A chrome accent strip carries from behind the front wheels, and runs along the bottom of the doors to complement the chrome touches bordering the windows.

The back of the Touareg is defined with pronounced curves around the hatch area, new “L-Design” taillights, and a blacked out lower bumper with a set of shaped, chrome exhaust tips.

Another new design feature in the second generation Touareg is the automatically opening and closing tailgate that can be operated from inside the vehicle, at the tailgate itself or through a remote control on the fully redesigned key fob.

The Touareg will be available in nine different colors including five new colors: Cool Silver Metallic, Flint Gray Metallic, Toffee Brown Metallic, Night Blue Metallic and Tungsten Silver Metallic (Hybrid only).

The V6 and TDI® Clean Diesel powertrains will be available in three different trims: “Sport,” “Lux” and “Executive.” Each trim will come with one of three different wheels. The “Sport” trim will have the 18” Tacora alloy wheels, “Lux” trim will be equipped with 19” Everest wheels and the “Executive” trim will come with 20” Pikes Peak wheels. The Hybrid will only come in one trim, with 19” Everest alloy wheels. All Touaregs will come standard with all-season tires.

Engine and Transmission

In addition to the Volkswagen’s first Supercharged Touareg Hybrid, the vehicle is also available with a 3.0-liter turbochargedV6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, which offers class leading fuel economy (28 MPG hwy/19 MPG city EPA estimates), greater power versus a similarly-sized gasoline engine and super-clean 50 state legal emissions. A special DeNOx catalytic converter, augmented by a special injection system that sprays a synthetic urea-based solution (AdBlue) into the exhaust, helps reduce Nox emissions by up to 90 percent, and lets the engine meet the Tier 2, Bin 5/ULEV II standards imposed across all 50 U.S. states.
A 3.6-liter V6 FSI® gasoline engine comes standard with the 2011 model, providing smooth acceleration and all around performance offering 23 MPG hwy/16 MPG city EPA estimates, which represents a combined 19% improvement over the previous model.

All Touareg models now come with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. 7th and 8th gears are laid out as fuel-efficient overdrive gears. The 8th gear reduces engine speed by 33 percent compared to 6th gear, which reduces fuel consumption and significantly lowers emissions.

The Touareg will continue its tradition of providing superior high-torque performance. The V6 engine will provide the driver a maximum torque of 265 lbs.-ft. at 2,500 to 5,000 rpm while producing 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm. The TDI provides an impressive maximum torque of 406 lbs.-ft. at 1,750 to 2,250 rpm while producing 225 horsepower at 3,500 to 4,000 rpm.

All Touareg models, regardless of the powertrain configuration, have a towing capacity of 7,700 lbs. when equipped with the factory-installed tow package.

Interior

The Touareg’s interior has also been refined with a focus on comfort and functionality. Cabin noise has been reduced compared to the previous model through optimized insulation and acoustics. The greater use of curves and further attention to details on the door and dash trim coincide with redesigned, available leather seating surfaces for five, and cross-stitching on all panels and surfaces. Both the front and rear passengers can enjoy greater legroom with the Touareg’s new overall dimensions and fully adjustable seats, while the rear seatback can be folded from a release in the luggage compartment, for more storage and convenience.

When looking up at the roof, drivers and passengers will enjoy the new optional panoramic sunroof which is a full 350% larger than the sunroof in the previous model. A ventilated, power release wind deflector eliminates turbulence and associated noise to help ensure a quiet drive even when the sunroof is open. The sunroof is standard in the “Lux”, “Executive” and “Hybrid” trim lines.

A 7” display, located between the main gauges in the instrument cluster, provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information, including turn-by-turn navigation directions, information from the drive system in the hybrid model, and more.

Standard and found only in the Touareg is Volkswagen’s new premium RNS850 touch screen radio-navigation system. It features a large 8-inch screen, with a DVD/CD player that has MP3 playback capabilities and Satellite/FM/AM stereo, along with a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload media. Located conveniently in the glovebox is access for iPod® or auxiliary input, SD cards, and a DVD drive. The navigation system can display maps and directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmarks to further assist when traveling.

In addition to navigation, the Touareg “Sport” comes standard with a multitude of premium interior features including navigation with rearview camera, BiXenonTM headlights with LED daytime running lights, an 18” alloy wheel, power adjustable and heated front seats in V-Tex leatherette, Bluetooth® connectivity, Sirius Satellite Radio®, Climatronic® dual-zone A/C and silver metallic interior inlays with a black high-gloss center console and trim surrounds.

In addition to the “Sport” features, the “Lux” trim features a 19” alloy wheel, large two piece panoramic powered sunroof, 12-way power adjustable front seats and leather seating surfaces with driver memory, power lumbar and Burr Walnut interior inlays with a wood center console.

The “Executive” trim offers all Lux features along with a 20” alloy wheel, heated multifunction steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, keyless entry system with push-button start, rearview camera with Park Distance Control (PDC) and a Dynaudio® premium sound system.

Chassis and Suspension

The design changes in the all-new 2011 Touareg resulted in a reduction of approximately 350 pounds, from the previous model, creating a more responsive and precise driving experience. The Touareg’s optimized running gear offers very good vibration control and ride comfort, a low roll angle, responsive handling and excellent dynamic stability.

The Touareg utilizes aluminum in its double wishbone suspension, which helped with reducing the weight of the vehicle. The vehicles 4MOTION® all-wheel drive system is mated to a rear limited-slip Torsen differential. The pairing results in a 40:60 distribution of the propulsive force between the front and rear axles to improve the vehicles weight and efficiency while improving overall driving dynamics.

The steering of the new Touareg is configured as a standard speed-dependent hydraulic rack steering system with variable ratio. The ratio is more directly configured across the entire steering stroke compared to the previous model.

Active and Passive Safety

The 2011 Touareg contains an impressive number of standard active and passive safety features to help keep the driver and passengers safe. Six airbags, including dual front units (dual-stage for the driver, single stage for the front passenger), thorax units for the driver and front passenger and Side Curtain Protection® for the front and rear outboard passengers, all are standard on the Touareg.

For the 2011 Touareg, Volkswagen developed an improved head restraint system. The whiplash-optimized head restraint (WOKS) rear impact protection system uses the contours and foam firmness in the backrest to help reduce relative movements of the torso and combines a patented shape of the head restraint structure to minimize head rotation after contact.

The Touareg also includes the following safety programs and management systems for a smooth, poised ride through most any situation: Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Auto-Hold and Hill Hold Assist and Volkswagen’s Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC).

The choice to include ESC standard on the Touareg and all other 2011 Volkswagen models, comes ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mandate that by the 2012 model year, all vehicles produced will need to include some form of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). According to NHTSA, having ESC in a vehicle results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars. Volkswagen’s ESC compares the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual direction. If a discrepancy is detected, ESC automatically brakes individual wheels and reduces engine power to help maintain directional control.

Roadside Assistance and Warranty

For added convenience, the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg includes 24-hour Roadside Assistance (third party provider) for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first) as standard. Meanwhile, limited warranties found standard on all Touareg models are:

Five-year / 60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty
Three-year / 36,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty
12-year unlimited distance Limited Warranty Against Corrosion Perforation

The Touareg, like the full line of 2011 Volkswagen models, is covered by the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. Under this program, all scheduled maintenance, as described in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet, is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the Touareg uses synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering, eliminates the need for a 5,000 mile oil change, and allows owners to drive farther between scheduled oil changes.

* Fuel economy values for the hybrid are based on manufacturer’s preliminary testing and are not the official EPA fuel economy values. Fuel economy values are subject to change pending completion of the emission certification process and testing.

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Dynamic main beam control automatically adapts light distribution to traffic situation

The new Touareg features a revolutionary innovation called Dynamic Light Assist (DLA) which makes for safe driving in the dark. The new headlights with variable light distribution combine familiar systems such as cornering light, dynamic headlight leveling or main beam control to give drivers extra comfort and safety. Other road users benefit, too: DLA is glare-free main beam lighting. Dynamic Light Assist is currently the world benchmark.

So what’s new about DLA? When DLA is activated, the camera system in the windscreen recognizes cars or other road users via an image processing system and this information is passed to the cornering light control module. This is where other information such as speed and the turning angle of the steering wheel is also collected. The electronic system then calculates the optimum light distribution and relays the appropriate control commands to the headlights.

And that is where the second element of this unique innovation comes into play: Variable light distribution is able to project a partial main beam with a vertical light-dark boundary onto the road. The vehicle in front is not exposed to the beam of light. The light only travels as far as the rear of the vehicle, and then past the car laterally. This is achieved by means of an aperture which is located in the imaging level of the optical system rather like a slide in a slide projector. When appropriately controlled, this aperture creates differing light-dark boundaries between the reflector with the xenon light source and the lens.

In oncoming traffic, the main beam light stops in front of the oncoming vehicle. The nearer the vehicle approaches, the more the left-hand headlight shines to the left until the aperture masks out the vehicle.

In urban mode – when the camera registers street lights – the system creates illumination that is optimized to urban traffic. The country road mode is activated at higher speeds. Compared with normal low beam, illumination of the left-hand side of the road is better and the range greater.

The highway mode is activated at speeds of 110 km/h or higher: This mode involves automatic headlight leveling In short, Dynamic Light Assist automatically determines the shape of the light beam as a function of the traffic situation, steering the light in the desired direction and controlling the length of the beam.

The headlights are equipped with mercury-free DS3 lamps – another first. Here, Volkswagen is once again anticipating international legislation that will prescribe mercury-free lighting in the future.

- Volkswagen Group

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When the Touareg was first launched in 2004, Volkswagen was already fashionably late to the SUV party and needed to make a solid impression. While most of us expected the archetypal suburban utility vehicle, VW instead introduced a vehicle with the off-road worthiness of a Range Rover and the comfort of the best luxury sedans, genuinely impressing everyone with its ability to take passengers comfortably to the farthest reaches of terrain. With a true low-range gearbox, locking center and rear diffs, electronically adjustable ride height, variable rate shock absorbers and a plethora of electronic gizmos, the Touareg was a much larger tour de force than any of us expected — it even captured Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year award in 2004. So after selling close to 500,000 units since its introduction the time has come for an all-new second generation. Bigger and stronger, yet lighter and more economical, the new model has received significant improvements; after driving it in Europe we can report that it is a worthy sequel to the original.

Read the complete review over on vwvortex.com

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Volkswagen of America, Inc. today unveiled the second generation Touareg, showcasing the brand’s first-ever hybrid at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.

Taking the Touareg to the forefront of its class are three available engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSI® gasoline engine, a V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSI® gasoline hybrid engine.

With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent.

An eight-speed automatic transmission – the first of its kind in an SUV – keeps power always available while helping the Touareg Hybrid achieve approximately 25 and 21 mpg during highway and city driving respectively. A special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, allowing it to coast forward emission free to further aid in fuel savings. The electric motor can also recover kinetic energy during braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack. With the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of 375 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque are available, allowing for full towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds.

Also available is Volkswagen’s 3.0-liter, V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, which offers improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and greater power versus a similarly-sized gasoline engine, and is an excellent complement to the new Touareg’s athletic design. A 3.6-liter, V6 FSI® gasoline engine comes standard with the 2011 model, providing smooth acceleration and all around performance. On all Touareg models, Volkswagen’s 4MOTION® all-wheel drive system is ready to tackle nearly any driving condition encountered on and off the road.

Matching the new Touareg’s refinements under the hood is a fully-revised exterior that embraces the brand’s new face and styling cues, created by Volkswagen’s chief of design, Walter de’Silva.

At the front is a narrower grille opening that seamlessly connects to the trapezoidal headlight housings that carry U-shaped LED running lights and Bi-Xenon High Intensity Gas-Discharged headlamps. The housings flow into the new fender flares, and a pair of compact fog lamps at the lower portion of the front fascia stand underneath the Touareg’s front air intakes.

The hood features a raised portion that runs from the grille back, finishing at the side mirrors and giving a more muscular overall appearance. A chrome accent strip carries from behind the front wheels, and runs along the bottom of the doors to complement the chrome touches bordering the windows.

The back of the Touareg is defined with pronounced curves around the hatch area, LED illuminated taillights with housings to match up front, and a blacked out lower bumper with a set of shaped, chrome exhaust tips.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2011 Touareg is wider and has a shorter overall height for a stronger presence. A longer wheelbase and greater length provide greater stability, and more room inside the cabin, while the use of new materials and other adjustments have removed nearly 450 pounds from the vehicle.

The Touareg’s interior has also been refined, making for a better use of space for both the driver and passengers, as well as in the cargo area. The greater use of curves and further attention to details on the door and dash trim coincide with redesigned, full leather seating for five, and cross-stitching on all panels and surfaces. Both the front and rear passengers can enjoy greater legroom with the Touareg’s new overall dimensions and fully adjustable seats, while the rear seatback can be folded at the touch of a button in the trunk, for more storage and convenience.

A seven-inch widescreen color display located between the main gauges in the dash provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information, including of the drive system in the hybrid model, turn-by-turn navigation directions, and more.

Volkswagen’s new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and Satellite/FM/AM stereo. The navigation system can display maps and directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmark highlights to further assist when traveling.

- Volkswagen AG

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Select options of the Volkswagen Exclusive product brand can now be ordered on the new Touareg. Upgrades such as two-tone leather combinations and other high-end details add an even more individualized touch.

Volkswagen Exclusive options for the new Touareg include seat covers in a two-tone leather combination in ‘Nappa’ Cool Leather. This luxuriously worked leather is available in the combination Pepper Beige – Titan Black or Dark Burgundy – Titan Black. In addition to the visual charms of the two-tone leather seat covers, they also offer a very practical special feature. An innovative production process turns the leather into what is known as ‘Cool Leather’. This reduces heating of the seats from intense sunlight – an unbeatable advantage in the summer.

The Volkswagen Exclusive leather seating system treats customers to conveniences such as heated front seats with electric 12-way adjustment, electro-pneumatically adjustable lateral seat supports and head restraints with longitudinal and height adjustment. It also includes leather door inserts, elegant tread plates and a black roofliner. The two-tone leather combinations are available option prices starting at 1,725 Euros (in the Touareg Hybrid, V8 TDI).

Other examples of Volkswagen Exclusive options: high-end genuine wood inserts in ‘Olive Ash Silky Lustre’ and machine-polished 19-inch ‘Girona’ alloy wheels with 265/50 R19 tyres, which can be had starting at 1,205 Euros.

- Volkswagen AG

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