VW debuts 2nd Gen Touareg with hybrid powertrain at NY Auto Show: 3 engines to be offered

Published April 1, 2010 by Gerry Miles

Filed Under: Auto Shows, Hybrids/Green, New Models

Volkswagen of America, Inc., unveiled its second gen Touareg, Wed., March 31, showcasing the brand’s first-ever hybrid at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.

Taking the Touareg to the forefront of its class are three available engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSI® gasoline engine, a V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSI® gasoline hybrid engine.

With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter, 375 hp, supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is mated to an electric motor that cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent. It has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.

An 8-speed automatic transmission – the first of its kind in an SUV – produces credible 21 city and 25 highway EPA numbers. A special clutch disengages the transmission from the engine when the engine is not in use, allowing Touareg to coast emission free to boost fuel savings. Energy is also recaptured during braking to recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack.

Clean diesel engine

VW also offers a 3.0-liter, V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, which offers improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and greater power versus a similarly-sized gasoline engine, and is an excellent complement to the new Touareg’s athletic design.

3.6-liter V-6 gas engine

A 3.6-liter, V6 FSI® gasoline engine comes standard with the 2011 model.

On all Touareg models, Volkswagen’s 4MOTION® all-wheel drive system is ready to tackle nearly any driving condition encountered on and off the road.

New Styling

Up front is a narrower grille opening that wraps around trapezoidal headlights and LED running lights and HID headlights. The housings flow into new fender flares. Fog lights at the bottom of the fascia are visible underneath front air intakes.A raised hood bump accents the muscular appearance.

On the backside, there’s purposeful curves around the hatch, LED taillights, a black bumper and chrome exhaust tips.

On the inside

The Touareg’s interior has also been refined, making for a better use of space for both the driver and passengers, as well as in the cargo area. The greater use of curves and further attention to details on the door and dash trim coincide with redesigned, full leather seating for five, and cross-stitching on all panels and surfaces. Both the front and rear passengers can enjoy greater legroom with the Touareg’s new overall dimensions and fully adjustable seats, while the rear seatback can be folded at the touch of a button in the trunk, for more storage and convenience.

A 7-inch widescreen color display located between the main gauges in the dash provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information, including of the drive system in the hybrid model, turn-by-turn navigation directions, and more.

Volkswagen’s new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and Satellite/FM/AM stereo. The navigation system can display maps and directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmark highlights to further assist when traveling.