Nigeria - VW Touareg: Bigger, lighter, faster...still desert warrior
By Moses Akaigwe
Friday, November 12, 2010
Sun News Online
Before Volkswagen officially unveiled the 2011 Touareg some months ago and staged a grand outing for it at the Geneva Motor Show, there were speculations that it was going to cut some of its off-road capabilities in the next reincarnation. It has since been confirmed that the premium SUV with enviable fording and desert-maneuvering abilities has been imbued with what it will take to even reinforce this reputation.
Even after shedding hundreds of pounds off its weight, the new Touareg retains its almost whimsical degree of free-roaming and rear differentials capability. All-wheel drive-4Motion in VW-speak-will be standard, with uplevel models receiving an upgraded version called 4XMotion that includes a two-speed transfer case and locking centre and rear differentials.This latest of the Touareg is the first to reach the Middle East, a road-biased version equipped with the full-time 4Motion drive system.
Not surprisingly, over the bumps, the new Touareg feels light, responsive and extremely stable, flying across washboard roads with hardly any complaints from the passengers, a very different experience from its leaden predecessor. In fact, the new Touareg is a revelation and a product which may upset the status quo in the premium luxury segment of the SUV market in Nigeria, where it is marketed by Stallion Motors (Volkswagen Centre)
Despite the fact that it now does without the old low range transmission (a move which resulted in the aforementioned weight reduction) this version uses electronics to achieve pretty much the same result.
According to a team of drivers from Gufnews.com that tasked the vehicle on various terrains recently, it feels sure-footed even in soft sand and accomplishes that neat trick of floating over the surface rather than cutting down through it.. Thanks to the light weight and a more aerodynamic shape, it is significantly more fuel efficient (good news for the teaming Touareg lovers in Nigeria who will surely be attracted by the new endowments). And strangely, although it looks more compact, it's actually 41mm longer than the old model. In fact, it's bigger all round - it's now 4,795mm long, but at 1,709mm tall, nearly 17mm lower than before. Most of the increased length went into the wheelbase which is up 38mm to 2,893mm and the width has also grown, by 12mm to 1,940mm.
It's in the back that you most appreciate this increase in size. The interior itself is bright and spacious, beautifully finished and with very luxurious materials. The front seats adjust almost infinitely and while they hold you firmly over the bumps, they are supportive but soft enough to feel comfortable over long distances. But the back seats were a revelation - legroom in the rear is increased by 41mm, which makes a world of difference.
The dashboard, while loaded with technology, is elegant and uncluttered and the technology itself is fairly intuitive The rest of the interior has been thoroughly refreshed. Our test car was kitted out with leather and light wood, which was very beautiful,
The Toureg with Volkwagen's VR6 FSI (280bhp) engine that was test-driven was expectedly less thirsty, offering nearly 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and at 23.76mpg, saving a useful 2.5 litres for every 100km. That also means a reduction of 60g of CO2 to reinforce Volkswagen's green credentials. Helping in this regard is the all new eight-speed automatic gearbox, a first in the SUV sector. The seventh and eighth gears are especially long to improve fuel efficiency and provide for very relaxed cruising indeed.
Like all modern VWs, the Toaureg likes to lunge for as high a gear as possible as quickly as it can, but there is a switchable Driving Mode controller that allows for more spirited response if you desire. The "Offroad driving programme", controlled via a two-position rotary switch, tunes the ABS, EDS and ASR for off-road duty, activates Hill Descent Assist and adjusts the shift points of the gearbox.
On the open road it is quiet and smooth and deceptively fast, sprinting to 100kph in a shade under eight seconds and running on to a (restricted) top speed of 228kph. Such is the ease with which it accelerates that using the cruise control is essential if you want to avoid the road marshals. The cruise control itself is easy to use and effective and has all sorts of clever tricks up its sleeve to make driving safer: Adaptive Cruise Control managesa safe distance to traffic ahead and cannot only accelerate but also brake to a stop in an emergency. The space in front of the vehicle is monitored by two radar sensors and when a slower vehicle appears in the Touareg's driving lane, the system automatically brakes to maintain a safe distance ahead.
The adaptive cruise control system even works in traffic jams, closing the gap to the car in front automatically and following on at a safe distance as the traffic moves forward. You could almost drive this car in traffic with your eyes closed. The Lane Assist programme warns you if you make unexpected lane changes without indicating.There's plenty of technology to keep you interested in the new Touareg.
The highlights include an electronic parking brake, electronic engine oil level display, a stop-start button on the keyless entry model and a key that can be turned either right or left to start the car on all models, an electronic height programmable tail gate, ambience lighting, four Area View cameras that provide a 360-degree view around the car, a panoramic sunroof, park distance control and bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.
Checks at the Volkswagen Centre showroom at Gbagada, Lagos, indicate that the new Touareg will be available in the Nigerian market in the first quarter of 2011.
