Volkswagen Touareg test drive since 2010 SUV

Volkswagen Touareg. Optical illusion

Volkswagen Touareg. Price: Not defined. On sale: since July 2010

When the first time I saw Touareg in the photo, I thought that he looked somehow too miniature. And the point here is not in size, but in visual perception. Fortunately, acquaintance in real life crossed out my fears. The all -wheel drive Volkswagen looks as solid as before. But the once brutal SUV acquired aristocracy, and in some elements Cayenne easily guesses. Still, related ties no, no, and they will make themselves felt
 
Test pilot
Stanislav Pavlov, 38 years old, editor -in -chief of the magazine, driving experience for 20 years, personal car Mazda6

The risk, as you know, is noble. At least, so according to Volkswagen managers, who decided to radically change their bestseller. The new Touareg does not look like dad at all, but I would check the resemblance to neighbors. No need to look closely for a long time to find a lot in common with Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. If earlier the SUV was a true embodiment of brutality, now we have before us a fashionable dandy that spends most of the free time in a fitness club.

Regular physical education and rejection of harmful food (on average, the economy of engines for Touareg increased by 25%) could not but affect the figure. Judge for yourself in the basic version of the SUV lost 208 kg. At the same time, the rigidity of the torsion body increased by 5%, and the aerodynamic resistance coefficient decreased from 0.38 to 0.35. Despite the reduction in the total mass, the car has become more spacious. In particular, the legs for the legs in the rear due to lengthening the wheelbase by 41 mm reached 2893 mm.

For the test on Austrian roads, where the first acquaintance with the debutant took place, we chose the most powerful version. We are talking about a V-shaped diesel eight that replaced the V10 TDI. A new engine with a volume of 4134 cm3 and a capacity of 340 liters. With. Equipped with a direct injection system Common Rail. The average fuel consumption, taking into account the impressive power and the highest torque of 800 nm (the maximum is achieved in the range from 1750 to 2750 min-1) is only 9.1 l/100 km. For comparison, withdrawn from the production of V10 TDI with a capacity of 313 liters. With. He consumed 11.9 liters per hundred, that is, 2.8 liters more. But these are only numbers, and you can evaluate the real capabilities of the SUV only on the road. Gas to the floor, and the surrounding landscape turns into a lubricated picture of the impressionist. How much does this miracle bold accelerate for? We look into the passport data and understand that we scored a speed of 100 km/h for 5.8 s. Yes, now we can safely say that the technical revolution eliminated the already recently existing line between the SUV and the city car. Probably, the difference remained at least at maximum speed. We look into the cheat sheet (on public road, we did not dare to check this parameter) and we understand that here Touareg is not at all behind. Its maximum speed is 242 km/h.

Now let's talk about the full drive, which is still included in all the configurations. The buyer is offered to choose from two options. When installing the base version (4Motion), all Touareg is equipped with all -wheel drive with a self -locking differential Torsen (the maximum angle of rise 31). Here, a traffic mode is provided in the conditions of off -road, activated using a toggle switch with two fixed provisions. This mode involves the adaptation of differential electronic lock parameters (EDS), the anti -lock brake system (ABS) and the anti -bowing system (ASR) to the poor road conditions, as well as the inclusion of the assistant on the descent and optimization of the gear moment using the automatic transmission.

For versions with the V6 TDI engine, a higher class package, which is called Terrain Tech Paket, is offered as an option. Instead of the Torsen differential, it includes a more powerful differential, designed to use off -road, equipped with a lowering gearbox, as well as an average and rear differential with 100 percent locking (4xmotion: Rise angle 45). This version, like the first generation of Touareg, is equipped with one toggle switch with five fixed provisions. With it, the driver selects the optimal mode.

By the end of the year, versions with six motors: V6 TDI (204 and 240 hp) are debuted in the Russian market by the end of the year; V8 TDI (340 l. P.); V6 TSI (249 and 280 l. P.); V8 TSI (360 l. P.). Moreover, all these machines will be produced at the Kaluga VW plant. In a private conversation with the concern marketers, it was possible to find out what is now being considered the issue of delivering Touareg Hybrid to Russia. With the simultaneous operation of the V6 TSI and the electric motor, the total capacity of 380 liters is provided. With. And the maximum torque is 580 nm. At the same time, gasoline consumption does not exceed 8.2 l/100 km. And at a speed of up to 50 km/h, it moves exclusively on electricity. Great, of course, but this is a completely different story.

Always shine
In the head optics of the new Touareg, daylight LED lamps are used. Their bright U-shaped border is clearly distinguishable even in sunny weather. This makes the car more noticeable on the road, and therefore safer. LEDs are lit simultaneously with the start of the engine, which should like forgetting drivers who, even with poor visibility, often do not include headlights, creating problems for themselves and other participants in the movement. At the same time, LED lamps consume very little energy, and their service life is many times higher than the service life of ordinary incandescent lamps (ideally, their service life is equal to the service life of the car itself). Another feature of the Wolfsburg SUV is the Dynamic Light Assist system, which comes with bixenon headlights. Due to the presence of a video camera that recognizes the oncoming flow of cars, this system independently switches from high beam to the neighbor, allowing you to move along the highway at night, without blinding drivers traveling towards.



We do not love
The color display of a route computer is not only beautiful, but also informative. Clearly

The latest 8-speed automatic is put on all versions of the Tuareg. Modernly


Driving
Paric dynamics and controllability are combined with the alliance of this SUV.

Salon
By the capacity and luxury of the decoration of the salon, the new Tourareg is ready to argue with the VW Phaeton limousine.

Comfort
Thanks to the increased wheelbase, the rear passengers have more free space.

Safety
The arsenal has a complete set of passive and active safe products.
 

Price
For Russia, the price has not yet been determined, but, as expected, it should be at the level of the first generation model.


Advantages and disadvantages
+ The new Touareg is an ideal mix of comfort, dynamics and cross -country ability.

- The abundance of electronics calls into question its reliability in harsh Russian realities.
 

Specifications
Mark and model - Volkswagen Touareg
Dimensions - 4795x1940x1709 mm
Engine - diesel, 4134 cm3, 340 hp/4000 min -1
Transmission - automatic, 6 -speed
Dynamics - 242 km/h; 5.8 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Audi Q7, BMW X5


Our opinion
For Russians Touareg, the model is cult, and few doubt that the new generation of SUV from Wolfsburg will not be able to repeat the success of its predecessor. The main thing is that marketers do not go too far with a price, and then the VW plant near Kaluga will be littered with orders for several years in advance.


Author: Stanislav Pavlov


 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [July 2010]