What they said when the Volkswagen Touareg was new… (Apr 1 2003)
A MONSTER is coming and it is in the form of the largest diesel engine ever to be fitted in a production car.
This mighty V10 twin turbo engine will power the Volkswagen Touareg and it is simply an awesome experience to drive the beast.
Developing more than 300bhp and with maximum power coming on stream as low as 2,000 revs it can propel all two-and-a-half tons of the Touareg from 0 to 60mph in a shade over 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 140mph.
Amazingly for a vehicle with such power it can still average more than 23 miles per gallon, and thanks to a fuel tank of equally large proportions the Touareg has a range close on 500 miles.
Such is the technology included in this five-litre, four wheel drive giant that it requires two batteries, a twin speed alternator and a specially designed six speed automatic gearbox to handle its output.
On sale as of May 1, the V10 Touareg will be the piece-de-resistance of VW's first foray into the off-road market. It is an incredible vehicle that can idle at engine speeds as low as 500revs but explodes into life at the touch of the throttle.
Huge amounts of torque arrive instantaneously and the roar from under the bonnet is unmatched in any other car. As diesels go the Touareg can out-perform anything else in its class.
Air suspension with continuously variable damping is standard fit on the V10 and despite its bulk it handles impeccably.
At £50,440 the V10 will be the top of the Touareg range and with prices starting at £29,335 for a 3.2 litre V6 petrol model it is locking horns with the likes of the BMW X5 and the Volvo XC90, as well as the Mercedes M Class and the Range Rover.
Unlike the BMW and the Volvo, the Touareg is a fully equipped off-roader with low ratio gears and a lockable differential putting it in the same league as the Mercedes and any Land Rover.
In the mire the VW is highly capable. It has permanent four wheel drive as well as traction control and advanced braking, and the torque available gives it excellent mud plugging credentials. With the advantage of being able to raise the ride height, thanks to the air suspension, the V10 can also wade through water at depths of almost two feet.
Like the X5 and the Land Rovers, the VW features electronic hill descent control, but unlike its competitors the system on Touareg can be set to hold the vehicle's speed at anything up to 12mph. All versions, whether fitted with manual or auto gearboxes, have a hill start device to stop running backwards on a slope.
As well as the V10 and V6 engines, the Touareg will also be available as a 4.2 litre V8 petrol and a 2.5 litre diesel, but such is the clout of the big diesel none come near it in terms of performance.
All models come with dual zone climate control, front and side airbags, cruise control and ten speaker entertainment systems, as well as very effective sound insulation which keeps road rumble and wind noise to a minimum.
Mid-range V8 versions, which are automatics only and start at £41,795, include leather uphosltery, electronically adjustable heated front seat and automatic windscreen wipers, while the V10 comes with a keyless entry system, seat memory and parking sensors among its standard features.
Those items are available across the range as cost options, as is air suspension to replace the steel arrangement fitted on all but the V10.
In terms of comfort the Touareg is big and spacious all round, while the boot has a capacity of 20 cubic feet extending to 56 if the rear seats are folded. The extra battery in the V10 means its cargo area is slightly smaller, but all models have opening rear screens which is a real boon when the car is fully laden.
From the driving seat comes a feeling of absolute command, such is the bulk of the car, and while the layout of the instrumentation is absolutely functional, some may not like the brightwork which surround some of the controls on an all black panel. That panel also contrasted sharply with the light coloured trim which was fitted on the cars I drove.
Nevertheless the Touareg is a class act and part of VW's strategy of going up-market into the luxury sector - the other being its executive saloon, the Phaeton, which is due to arrive in the summer.
While all versions of the Touareg are highly impressive it is the V10 that is the real wonder. Its ability almost leaves you speechless, and just to own the most powerful diesel car in the world is going to be a temptation many will fail to resist.
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