The Touareg is one of the world’s most successful premium-class sports utility vehicles. Within a decade, the automaker sold around 720,000 units of this SUV; last year alone over 70,000 drivers chose a new Touareg, which combines the best of the off-road and passenger car worlds in one concept. Now, VW is presenting a world premiere of a further advanced version of the Touareg at Auto China in Beijing.
The 2015 Volkswagen Touareg can be made out by the new rear and front designs and by its new wheels and colours. In terms of technology, all V6 TDI models now come standard with bi-xenon headlamps, coasting function and automatic post – collision braking system. While coasting, the engine is decoupled from the eight-speed automatic transmission to utilize the vehicle’s kinetic energy on mountain descents or in driving phases in which acceleration is not needed.
Upgraded And Networked
The interior of 2015 VW Touareg is marked by new features; these include leather colours, new accents, controls and lighting solutions. In the initial phase, the following will be available: map display via Google Earth mapping service, POI (Points-of-Interest) search via Google, “online traffic information” and Google Street View functionality. The latest version of Touareg will available in petrol (FSI and TSI), hybrid (TSI plus e-motor) and diesel (TDI) models this summer.
Exterior Design And Features
The front-end design of 2015 Volkswagen Touareg was completely redesigned, particularly unique are the headlamps that are now bigger; moreover, bi-xenon headlamps are now standard on all versions. The trapezoid-shaped lights create a line towards the revised radiator grille in the middle of the vehicle. In contrast to its predecessor, the grille is trimmed with 4 transverse chrome fins instead of two; the two lower fins are visually extended into the headlamps.
The 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is available in a total of twelve body colours; five of these colours are new to the programme: “Sand Gold Metallic”, “Light Silver Metallic”, “Black Oak Brown Metallic”, “Reef Blue Metallic” and “Moonlight Blue Metallic”.
Interior Design And Features
The interior of VW Touareg reflects an extraordinary alliance of sophisticated premium-class elements and rugged SUV elements. SUV elements in the Touareg include the running gear adjustment, aluminum rotary knobs for the Climatronic system, radio-navigation system, air suspension, the air vent knobs and mirror adjustment – they have now all been replaced by a new style of rotary knob, which has been perfected both to touch and to look.
The V6 FSI and V6 TDI models feature all -wheel drive, bi-xenon headlights, cruise control system with multifunction steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, stop-start system, RCD 550 infotainment system with touchscreen, coasting function, regenerative braking, Climatronic climate control system, ESC with trailer stabilization function and servo steering. The Touareg Hybrid and V8 versions are distinguished by additional standard features; “Chrome & Style” design package, 18-inch alloy wheels, fine wood accents, comfort seats in “Vienna leather”, antitheft warning system, Keyless Access locking and engine starting system and electric opening and closing function for the boot lid.
Engine And All-Wheel Drive Technology
The all-wheel drive Touareg is available – depending on the sales region – as a model with petrol (V6 and V8 FSI), a turbodiesel (V6 and V8 TDI), Hybrid (V6 TSI & electric motor) drive system and turbocharged petrol (V6 TSI). The V6 engines are mated to 8-speed automatic transmission and have a start-stop system as standard; they also use regenerative braking for recovering kinetic energy.
The base variant features 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with Torsen differential lock (max. climbing angle: 31 degrees), while others have an off-road driving programme, which is operated through a 2-stage rotary switch. It configures the EDS, ASR and ABS systems for off-road use and activates hill climb assist and gearshift points of the automatic gearbox.
The V6 TDI in Touareg is good for churning out 190 kW / 258 PS of power with the Terrain Tech package. In Europe, shoppers can choose from the Touareg Hybrid and three TDI powerplants. The TDI generates 190 kW, whereas the Hybrid has a total system power output of 279 kW.
In Europe, the automaker is offering the Touareg Hybrid that has a 245 kW V6 TSI turbocharged direct petrol injection engine together with 38 kW electric motor. When the two drive sources are working together, the maximum torque of 580 Newton meters and maximum system power of 279 kW are attained. In Asia, the new Touareg is offered with two diesel and three petrol engines. The petrol engines for China produce 213 kW and 235 kW (both V6 TSI) and 265 kW. For Russia, the automaker offers Touareg with two petrol engines; they generate 183 kW (V6 FSI) and as in China 265 kW (V8 FSI). In Canada and USA, Volkswagen will offer Touareg versions with Hybrid drive system (279 kW), V6 TDI (176 kW) and V6 FSI (206 kW).
In everyday driving, fuel consumption is also reduced by an optimized start-stop system and by regenerative braking function. In addition, a standard coasting function for V6 versions optimizes fuel economy in everyday driving. How it works: as soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the engine is decoupled from the transmission; this is also known as “coasting”. This is even possible at vehicle speeds up to 130 km/h, so it can be used in motorway driving.
