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By
EWAN KENNEDY
23 July 2007
Volkswagen Australia has just launched the latest version of
its big Touareg 4WD. Note that we use the term ‘4WD’ rather than the
softer ‘SUV’. The latter stands for ‘sports utility vehicle’ and
is often, though not always used to describe a crossover vehicle that’s
more car than 4WD.
But the big VW wagon, in its new format, has again impressed us
with its genuine off-road ability under rugged conditions – so
it’s certainly a ‘4WD’ in our books.
Despite the drive program for the launch of the new Touareg
covering some pretty hairy surfaces there wasn’t a single
puncture. Something that can’t be said about several competing
vehicles that have given us trouble in recent times.
Changes aren't all that obvious on the outside but, in a very
German manner, the real work has gone into out-of-sight areas. To
the extent the company assures us that there are 2300 newly
developed components within the new Touareg. Obviously some of
that impressive figure is in basic parts like nuts and bolts and
other fasteners, but there are some serious changes as a result.
In particular, there are several new primary safety features.
The ABS braking system has been extensively uprated to make it
better suited to dirt roads as well as full off-road driving. This
is especially useful to Australian drivers as adventurous types
may spend hundreds of kilometres on unmade roads on many of their
weekends.
We are most impressed by the way the ABS system keeps the tyres
slightly locked up at times to let them cut through to the harder
surfaces below the dusty top layer. Measurements by Volkswagen
show that stopping distances can be reduced by as much as 20 per
cent. Which is good news for dopey kangaroos who don’t look both
ways before crossing the track!
Volkswagen gives its new system the somewhat messing looking
acronym of ABSplus.
Rollover protection is now built into the VW Touareg. Should
the vehicle sense that it’s starting to roll it backs off power
and/or locks individual wheels to get the attitude back to a safer
level. We will make our usual statement at this time, pointing out
that it’s still up to the driver to avoid the problem in the
first place – and keep in mind that physics will always win in
the end if you go to extremes.
There have been changes to the front end styling to give the
Touareg an even bolder look. The result is a single-grille type of
look to give it a resemblance to the sportier models within the VW
car range. Train spotters will also notice differences in the
shape of the door mirrors and bumper bar, even a tint in the
tail-light lenses.
Inside the cabin are minor changes to the finish of the
instrument panel and dial finishes. A reversing camera is now an
option, but only on vehicles that have already been specified with
the screen for a satellite navigation system.
There are choices in the trim materials, including one that’s
adapted from the luxurious Volkswagen Phaeton saloon, a model that’s,
sadly, not sold in Australia, because of its high price. Also on
the upmarket options list is an audio system developed for
Volkswagen by the Danish company Dynaudio.
Under the bonnet there are no changes, the same engines choices
as before: five-cylinder turbo-diesel, V6 petrol, V6 turbo-diesel,
and the huge V10 turbo-diesel. Likewise the transmission remains
at in six-speed automatic format with manual overrides.
Even better news is that there are also no changes to the
Volkswagen Touareg price list:
R5 TDI 2.5-litre diesel: $64,990
FSI V6 3.6-litre petrol: $74,990
V6 TDI 3.0-litre diesel: $74,990
V10 TDI 5.0-litre diesel: $121,990
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Marque Publishing Company
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