Volkswagen will launch the third generation Touareg in 2010. Its design will be inspired by its baby brother Tiguan. The company is also considering a hybrid version that will be launch sometime in 2012. The next Touareg will go on sale at the end of 2010 and will be a serious competitor for the future Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

2008 Volkswagen Touareg III

Specifications
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  • Model: 2008 Volkswagen Touareg III
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The next generation Touareg will be lighter and more efficient than the current model. The exterior design will feature design elements from the current Tiguan. It will feature: wraparound headlamps, a large grille and big bumper incorporating a sump guard. The rear has a distinctive kink in the C-pillar, while a split tailgate will allow owners to open the glass independently.

But the exterior will not be the only one to be changed. The interior will also feature the latest high-tech materials and will also offer more room thanks to a wheelbase that’s been stretched by 50mm.

Volkswagen plans to use lots of aluminum on building the body, so the weight will be reduced by 300kg. This means more efficiency, more performance than the current Touareg.

Under the hood the engine range will start from a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine that delivers 276 hp and will go up to a 4.2-litre V8 that delivers 345 hp. Volkswagen will also offer two different diesel engines: a 2.7 litres and a 3.0 litres. All the engines will be matted with a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox.

The hybrid engine that will be offered in 2012 will be a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine combined with a powerful electric motor. The company intends to offer a economical, but also quick SUV. Same engine will also be used in the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7.

The 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in 7.5 seconds and will hit a top speed of 155 mph.

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History

Volkswagen launched the Touareg in autumn of 2002 in Europe and summer of 2003 in America. It is now the best-selling luxury class off-road vehicle on the German market continuing its recent success story. The Touareg name is derived from the French moniker for the nomadic Tuareg tribe. The proper pronunciation is TWAH-reg, however it is commonly mispronounced as "Tour-egg".

Volkswagen's Touareg claims to be the most advanced off-road vehicle of its era. This multi-purpose vehicle with permanent four-wheel drive (4XMOTION) is available as with a 5-cylinder TDI inline engine or as a V6, V8 or V10 TDI. All versions have a significant feature in common: an outstandingly high trailer load limit of 3,500 kg (braked, gradient up to 12 percent/1 in 8.3).

This value makes every Touareg an ideal towing vehicle. In particular riders, sailplane pilots and boat owners are likely to make the Touareg their favourite car for safe, convenient transport of their valuable freight to the next show jumping arena, airfield or marina.

This extremely high trailer load limit is explained in all cases by the high torque of the five-, six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder engines. Take for example the 5-cylinder inline TDI: this economical turbocharged direct-injection diesel (128 kW / 174 bhp) develops a maximum torque of 400 Nm in the Touareg, at the low engine speed of 2000 rpm. The well-equipped Touareg V6 (162 kW / 220 bhp ) has a maximum torque of 304 Nm, the sporty Touareg V8 (228 kW / 310 bhp ) develops no less than 410 Nm. And the Touareg V10 TDI (230 kW / 313 bhp) has the almost incredible peak torque of 750 Nm.

In 2006 at the Paris Motor Show Volkswagen launched the first facelift of the Touareg. A completely redesigned front end demonstrates the extent of the changes on Touareg 2. The new Touareg 2 now is instantly recognizable as a member of the Volkswagen family, with its new stylized front grille — chrome on V6 FSI and matte chrome on V8 FSI and V10 TDI — with chrome eyebrows standard on all models. A redesigned front bumper, new side mirrors with improved airflow, and sleek, new organically shaped headlamp housings with polycarbonate lens covers further distinguish the Touareg 2 from its predecessor.

The changes continue to the rear of the vehicle, where a new roof edge spoiler sharpens the look, improves aerodynamics, and aids fuel efficiency. The brake light housings have an improved LED lighting visual effect and feature a sporty new dark “glazing” treatment. Below the rear bumper, but not forgotten, the exhaust system tailpipes also have been massaged for a fresh new look.

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Competitors

 

BMW X5

The original BMW X5 brought up a brand-new type of vehicle. Now the second BMW X5 is here to raise the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) experience to an even higher standard. Featuring BMW high performance V8 and straight six engines, an unique suspension mixing dynamics and comfort, enhanced BMW X-Drive four-wheel-drive technology, as well as a light and extremely torsional stiff chassis interact to ensure excellent agility and dynamic performance.

The new BMW X5 is being offered in the U.S. with either a 4.8-liter V8 boasting 350 bhp or a 3.0-liter straight-six with 260 horsepower. The new X5 is the only car in its segment available with both Active Steering system developed by BMW, and Adaptive Drive (a mixture of Active Roll Stabilization and Electronic Damping Control). It is also the opening SAV to be fitted with run-flat tires in standard.

The dynamic character of the new BMW X5 is beautifully underlined by the muscular elegance of the exterior design, just like the adaptable and elegant interior. The inside of the E53 X5 was one of its trademarks. The interior of the new X5 combines highly sophisticated materials with abundant innovative options, offering a first-class ambience.

Porsche Cayenne

The Cayenne is starting a new chapter in its success story: four years after the model’s launch, Porsche is presenting the second generation of its sporty SUV. The new, attractively designed Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo models have been given more powerful, direct gasoline injection engines. These are known at Porsche as Direct Fuel Injection (DFI), and they lower the fuel consumption of individual models by over eight percent (NEDC).

With a striking new face that features a dramatic new headlight design and with a wide and muscular body accented by broad wheel arches, the 2008 Porsche Cayenne’s newly sculpted shape provides vivid visual testimony to the vehicle’s enhanced technical features. bThe 2008 model year marks the launch of the second generation of the Porsche SUV, and the new Cayennes back up their aggressive new design with larger and more powerful – but also more fuelefficient – engines.

All three 2008 Porsche Cayenne models feature engines that for the first time boast direct fuel injection, a technology that enhances fuel efficiency as well as power production. For the 2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo, that means a twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 that pumps out an astounding 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Flowing through a six-speed Tiptronic S transmission, that power feeds all four wheels and propels the five-passenger sports machine from a standing start to 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds. Top speed on the test track has been recorded at 171 mph (275 km/h).

Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 marks a new development in the sport utility vehicle segment by ingeniously combining sportiness, versatility, sophisticated technology and the luxury of a premium-class vehicle. On the road it excels with the driving performance and dynamics of a sports car; off-road it redefines the benchmark in its category. A vehicle that outwardly makes no secret of its qualities and whose technology delivers on its promise - on any road and in all conditions.

The Audi Q7 was introduced in North America with a 4.2 liter 350 horsepower V8 FSI engine. This V8 is a close relative of the equally large power plant that will drive the most dynamic Audi in the near future, the RS 4. Like the RS 4 engine, the V8 in the Q7 has FSI direct injection, which – following five victories in the Audi R8 Le Mans racing car – is now being introduced in a production eight-cylinder model.

The V8 has been retuned for use in the Audi Q7. A fuller torque curve up to nominal speed and spontaneous response – these are the characteristics of this new engine. The engine excels not only with its dominant power output (350 hp) at 6,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 324.5 lb. ft. at 3,500 rpm. The resultant driving performance is excellent, even in the face of tough competition. In just 7.4 seconds the new 4.2 quattro variant of the Audi SUV sprints from zero to 60 mph and accelerates superbly up to a top speed of 154 mph. (European times, North American times not yet available).