New Volkswagen Scale Models Hit Official Store

More often than not, when a new Volkswagen model is presented to the public, the German automaker commissions a matching scale replica, and this week, we have not one, but four new miniature vehicles that go on sale through the company's official store.

These include the production versions of the new up! city car and the Beetle along with the two-seater XL1 diesel-electric hybrid study and the Race Touareg 3 competition vehicle.

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Union of Concerned Scientists Releases 2011 Hybrid Scorecard: Prius = Good, Touareg Hybrid = Bad

The Union of Concerned Scientist, a non-profit science advocacy group in the U.S., has released its second annual Hybrid Scorecard. The organisation criticised hybrid car manufacturers for not delivering on the technology’s promise, for placing performance above fuel efficiency and environmental benefit and burdening hybrids with features that put them out of the price range of average Americans.

A total of 34 hybrid vehicles from the 2011 to 2012 model year were tested for their fuel efficiency, environmental impact, value-for-money and their so-called “forced-feature premium”. The latter is features that don’t improve fuel efficiency but probably make the cars more appealing to money-conscious consumers.

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Hofele-Design Rocks the New Volkswagen Touareg II with Royal GT 470

And the train of Volkswagen Touareg tuners continues to grow. The latest to join the German SUV’s tuning fan club is Hofele-Design with its new Royal GT 470. The upgrade package is comprehensive and includes modifications to the exterior, interior as well as the chassis and the available V6 diesel.

The tuning shop’s aero kit comprises of a new front apron with integrated LEDs on both corners, matching wheel arch extensions, side skirts and a rear apron housing a diffuser and a choice of two different sets of exhaust tail pipe designs. A hood scoop, Hofele-Design’s bespoke front grille and 20- or 22-inch alloy wheels complete the changes.

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VW Premieres Sharan and Passat Variant Emergency Vehicles at the 2011 RETTmobil

After Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Volkswagen also revealed its dedicated lineup at the annual RETTmobil exhibition, which is dedicated to emergency and rescue vehicles. The Wolfsburg-based manufacturer premiered the Sharan and Passat Variant as emergency vehicles together with new features for its range of specialty cars. Read more »

Volkswagen Introduces New Accessories for the Touareg

Volkswagen has launched a new range of aftermarket accessories for the Touareg SUV. Among other features, there’s a new underbody protection kit for the front and the back of the Touareg. Available in a two-tone design (black and silver), the kit promises to protect the underbody of the SUV from solid objects as well as from heavy dirt. Buyers can also opt for wide plastic protections for the wheel arches which are available either in black or in the same color as the vehicle.

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Volkswagen Intros New R-Line Sport Package for Touareg SUV

Volkswagen Touareg shoppers now have one more box to tick on the options list as the German automaker has released the third and final R-Line package for the luxury SUV model, aptly called 'Exterior'. As its name suggests, the new package gives the Touareg a more aggressive appearance on the outside. It includes a bodykit with a front apron, chunky side skirts, a bespoke roof spoiler and a rear apron that incorporates a diffuser in a matte black finish with openings for the chrome tail pipes.

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Volkswagen Brings Some Bling to Qatar with Touareg Gold Edition and Street-Legal Race Touareg Concepts

The Volkswagen Group's Qatar Motor Show rollout continues in full force today, as the German automaker lifted the veil off two all-new SUV concept cars bearing the Touareg nameplate. The Race Touareg 3 Qatar is a street legal version of the racecar that took part in this year’s Dakar competition, while the Touareg Gold Edition is a one-of-kind special decorated with 24-carat gold parts.

So, different cars for different needs, although we’re pretty sure that there are plenty of thrill seeking sheiks with a gold fetish out there interested in buying both, should the concepts ever make it into series production.

Powered by an unspecified 310HP engine, the Race Touareg 3 is a no compromise beast capable to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than six seconds, built with know-how acquired in one of the toughest rally races in the world.

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VW wants to Expand its SUV Line-up, Plans to Triple U.S. Sales by 2018

Volkswagen hasn’t given up on its plans to become the world’s biggest automaker and for that it needs to sell more cars in the U.S. The Germans want to triple their American sales in the next seven years and one solution is to expand their SUV line-up in order to catch up to GM and Toyota.

“We will be looking to really grow, particularly in the compact SUV segment”, VW's U.S. chief Jonathan Browning told Bloomberg news. “Over time, I think there's also scope for growth in terms of a larger SUV within the portfolio”.

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ABT Sportsline Presents Discrete Tuning Package for 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

According to ABT, the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg should be tuned without diluting its distinct character. As a result, the Bavarian specialist concentrated on increasing the power of the German SUV, while keeping the exterior changes to a minimum.

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Volkswagen Service Personnel make use of Virtual X-Ray Vision Tech

At some point, every child would like to be a superhero with X-ray vision. Adults too, though they would use the ability for very different purposes... Until now, only a select few, like TSA personnel, have had the opportunity to see what’s it like to have superhuman vision.

Volkswagen is changing this by introducing the “Augmented Reality” technology designed to offer its service personnel a virtual X-ray-like view of the car. According to the automaker, employees will make use of this technology to improve their training and knowledge of the cars.

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CoverEFX Wraps Touareg W12, Gives it 500-Horsepower

Sitting before you is a W12 Touareg Sport Edition swathed in matte gunmetal and gloss-black CFC film, brought to you by Erftstadt-based CoverEFX. The gloss black also gets around to touch-up duty on all trim, including mirrors, vents, and other "hang-on parts", while the tail-lights get a glazed-and-hazed treatment.

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2011 Volkswagen Touareg: Full Gallery with 70 High-Res Photos

Volkswagen just released a boatload of pictures showcasing its new Touareg which is set to hit European dealers next month. The German automaker's second-generation SUV, looking just as quirky as the last, has gotten itself upgraded with a bunch of efficient new power trains.

For example, there's the Touareg hybrid that features a TSI V6 hooked up to an E-Motor which put out a combined 380 horsepower (while reaching a top electric speed of 50 km/h and maintaining a fuel economy of 8.2L/100km / 29 MPG US).

Also, all other engines have either improved significantly in fuel economy and emissions or have been replaced. The 280-horsepower 3.6 liter V6 uses 9.9L/100 km (24 MPG US) and releases only 236g of CO2 per kilometer.

The V6 TDI is even better, at 7.4L/100km (32 MPG US) and 195g/km; in European guise it even puts out 240 horsepower and 550 Nm / 406 lb-ft of torque.

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2011 VW Touareg: Photo Gallery from VW's Late Night Show-Style Presentation

Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of its new Touareg SUV with a special event in Munich, Germany this week. More than 600 guests and celebrities hailing from radio and television, industry and politics enjoyed a 'Late Night Show' themed presentation that led up to the official reveal of the firm's new SUV model that will have its first public outing at next month's Geneva Salon.

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VIDEO: 2011 VW Touareg SUV Having Fun in the Desert

Aside from VW's own test drivers, certain members of the media and maybe some carefree folks from the Middle East, we seriously doubt that anyone else would have the opportunity (and deep enough pockets) to enjoy the new 2011 Touareg SUV in the desert. Nevertheless, if you follow the jump, you can get an idea of what you're missing out on.

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2011 VW Touareg Debuts with New Hybrid Powertain - First Official Photos

[Updated] Volkswagen today took the wraps off its second-generation Touareg SUV that is slightly longer yet more than 200kg or 440 pounds lighter than its predecessor and will be offered right from the beginning with a clean, or rather cleaner, hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain.

Set for a Geneva Motor Show debut on March 2 with European sales to follow in April, the new 2011 Touareg shares most of its underpinnings with the forthcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne.

At a first glance, it appears that the designers kept the basic shape of the current model and added a new face that's inspired from the firm's latest production and concept models such as the Golf VI, Polo and the NCC study.

Look closer though and you'll see that there's new sheetmetal everywhere with the most important stylistic changes concerning the lower roofline and the curvier profile lines.

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2011 VW Touareg SUV Prematurely Revealed Through Scale Toy?

In the latest incident involving leaked photos of die cast replicas of future cars, two pictures depicting what is said to be a scale model of the next generation of the VW Touareg lit up the motoring press in Europe.

The images suggest that Volkswagen's designers more or less kept the basic shape of the current model and sprinkled it with the firm's latest styling cues (we know, how exciting....) especially up front which appears to share a lot with the most recent VW's like the Golf, Polo and Scirocco.

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Hofele Design VW Touareg Dakar 20.10 Special Edition

As we speak, Volkswagen is competing in the 2010 Dakar Rally across South America with the purpose-built Race Touareg and to honor the event, Hofele Design announced the launch of a special package for the road-going VW Touareg SUV. Named "Dakar 20.10", the package consists of a body kit with a new blacked out grille, and stainless steel underbody protection and side steps.

Also part of the German tuner's kit are a set of 20-inch "Prado" alloy wheels in silver with a stainless steel lip that are wrapped in tires size 265/40 20. Hofele Design did not announce pricing for the limited edition package.

LA Show: VW Race Touareg V12 TDI Trophy Truck

This dune monster is the VW Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck and it will run the 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race in the SCORE Trophy Truck class. As you may have already guessed, the race buggy doesn't share anything in common with the VW's luxury SUV other than its name and a small resemblance in appearance. The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck is powered by a 5.5 liter V-12 clean diesel engine that produces 550 horsepower and 625 lbs.-ft. of torque.

According to the folks over at VW, the desert-bound Touareg features a wheelbase of 125 inches, overall length of 213 inches, width of 92 inches, an overall height of 78 inches and weighs 5650 pounds. It is fitted with a double A-Arm front suspension that allows 25 inches of wheel travel, and a 4-link rear suspension that allows 30 inches of wheel travel, combined with Fox Racing Shocks, Eibach Coils and BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17 off-road tires.

VW To Unveil Touareg V12 TDI Race Truck at L.A. Show

Volkswagen's LA Auto Show Touareg racer has as much in common with the firm's production SUV as a typewriter has with a laptop but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Touareg TDI Trophy Truck is a purpose-built racer or to put it simple, the ultimate dune buggy and it will compete in the 634-mile long 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. VW's professional dune buggy is powered by a 5.5 liter V12 clean turbo diesel engine that produces 550 horsepower and 625 lbs.-ft. of torque and is mated to an Xtrac 6 Speed Sequential transmission.

The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck features a wheelbase of 125 inches, overall length of 213 inches, width of 92 inches, an overall height of 78 inches and weighs in at a hefty 5,650 pounds or 2,562 kg for those that prefer the metric system.

The vehicle sports a double A-Arm front suspension that allows 25 inches of wheel travel, and a 4-link rear suspension that allows 30 inches of wheel travel, combined with Fox Racing Shocks and Eibach Coils while sitting on BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17 off-road tires

Volkswagen-Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDI

Specifications

  Powertrain

•   Engine             5.5 Liter, 90 degree V-12 TDI Twin Turbo Diesel
  

•   Valve train        4 valves per cylinder, DOHC
  

•   Induction          Dual Garrett TR 30 R with dual 43.5mm air-restrictors, 2.94 bar (absolute) pressure
  

•   Emissions          Dow Automotive Diesel Particle Filters (2)
  

•   Horsepower         550 HP (405kW)
  

•   Torque             625 ft-lb (850Nm)
  

•   Layout             Mid-engine, rear wheel drive
  

•   Transmission       Xtrac 6 Speed Sequential
  

•   Rear Axle          Custom Built solid 9" Rear Axle
  

  Suspension

•   Front              Double A-Arm Suspension - 25" wheel travel  (63 cm)
  

•   Rear               4-Link Rear Suspension - 30" wheel travel  (76 cm)
  

•   Front Shocks       Fox Racing Shocks - 3.0 Coil-over with 3.0,  Bypass/Multi-adjustable Dampener
  

•   Rear Shocks        Fox Racing Shocks - 3.0 Coil-over with 3.0, Bypass/Multi-adjustable Dampener
  

•   Springs            Eibach Coils
  

•   Wheels             KMC 17" Custom Forged Beadlock
  

•   Tires              BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17
  

  General

•   Owner              Volkswagen of America Inc.
  

•   Chassis Design     Arciero Miller Racing
  

•   Body Design        Volkswagen Design Center California
  

  Dimensions

•   Wheelbase          125 in. (317 cm)
  

•   Overall Length     213 in. (541 cm)
  

•   Track Width        92 in.  (233 cm)
  

•   Overall Height     78 in. (198 cm)
  

•   Weight             5650 lbs. (2562 kg)
  

•   Brakes             Brembo 6 Piston Calipers
  

•   Steering           Lee Manufacturing
  

•   Interior
  

•   GPS                Lowrance 9200 system
  

•   Seats              Sparco Carbon Fiber Racing seats
  

•   Fuel Cell          65 Gallon (240 Liter) Capacity, designed by Harmon Fuel Cells
  

•   Sponsors           Sponsored by Red Bull, BFGoodrich Tires, Dow Automotive, Oakley, KMC Wheels, Fox Shocks.

Ahoy! VW Touareg “North Sails” Study

Just in time for summer, VW has unveiled a one-off study inspired from the world of sailing boats. Created in cooperation with North Sails, the Touareg study will be shown to the public for the first time at the “Travemünder Woche” which is the second largest annual sailboat race in Germany. “North Sails” decals aside, the one-off Touareg is distinguished on the outside by the sea-blue colored turning lights and reflectors, the 19-inch alloy wheels and the pin stripes on the lower part of the doors. -Continued

Inside, the Touareg North Sails study boasts illuminated teak wood flooring, white leather seats and door inserts with aqua color stitching, a special bike (don't ask why) and a set of binoculars in case you get carried away in sea. Fortunately, VW has no intention of putting the Touareg study into production.