The new generation of the German Volkswagen Touareg crossover has become one of the most anticipated premieres of 2018. The editors of Auto Yuga.ru got the opportunity to test the car before the official presentation in the Krasnodar Territory.
In Russia, "Touareg" is popular from the very first copies that broke into our market in the 90s. The army of fans of this model is impressive, and, as the creators of the new generation (third in a row) are convinced, its ranks will replenish in the near future.
Compared with the previous generation, the crossover has changed without exaggeration completely. It makes no sense to compare with the predecessor because the manufacturer is positioning the new car a class higher. The place of "Touareg" in the market and in the VW line was taken by the more impressive Teramont in size. Thus, the novelty has risen to the top of the Volkswagen hierarchy. Another question - what is the position of the VW brand itself relative to Audi or Skoda? But that is another question.
Appearance of the new "Touareg"
The exterior is made in the modern tradition of the Volkswagen brand. Corporate features could be traced earlier in the new generation of Tiguan and Teramont. At Touareg, these features are almost perfected. A continuation of the parallel chrome lines of the new radiator grille is the optics pattern. Visually, this solution makes the machine wider.
The feed and profile of the new VW Touareg also abound in sharp lines. Is it good or bad? Rather, a tribute to fashion, trends. Beautiful or not? A matter of taste. One thing worth noting - the changes were needed, and they were made.
The creators of the new Tuareg are particularly proud of the matrix headlamps with the function of adapting to weather conditions and time of day. This has not happened here before. I would also like to note the taillights, made with some hint of lambo style. It looks quite appropriate.
T he dimensions of the new Tuareg slightly increased: it became 44 mm wider and 78 mm longer. At first glance, this is not so obvious due to the very new “sharp” design. Previously, the crossover was a kind of "barrel", but now - a piece of rock. Keeping up with the times, as they say, now it’s fashionable. In addition, the car has become more than a hundred kilograms lighter. This is the result of working with the layout of nodes and the use of modern materials.
By the way
Here is what else we learned during our test drive:
- The average fuel consumption, taking into account tests on the highway and on the ground outside the roads, was 8.3 liters per hundred kilometers (7.1 according to the passport).
- Acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h took 7.3 seconds. According to the passport, we won’t study the numbers, because the motor is supplied to us in a shrink up to 249 hp format.
- The turning radius was approximately 12.5 meters. According to the passport
- approximately 11.2 (with rear-wheel steering wheels). That is, to turn around on a standard two-lane road in three steps is real.
New generation VW Touareg interior
Panoramic roof, high-quality trim, full of free space - this is understandable. Another thing is the cockpit of the driver. Here it is difficult to describe feelings with words, it is easier with gestures. A fully electronic dashboard and a 15-inch multimedia system monitor give the impression that you are in the cockpit of a fighter, such as the F-35 from Lockheed Martin. Yes, gesture control is not just interesting, but convenient and safe. It’s difficult to get used to getting used to it. So if you see a “penny” driver on the road, who is waving at a surprise, you can be sure that he is driving a VW Touareg test drive.
As for security systems, the example of Touareg makes it obvious: technology is gradually and inevitably moving towards unmanned control. A system for preventing a frontal collision, recognizing pedestrians (including at night), lane tracking, assistance with parking and leaving a parking space, active cruise control, and so on, on, on and on. I want to give up the steering wheel and give the car all the power on the road. Moreover, your humble servant did so several times during a test drive in a closed area (on public roads, this is not worth doing so far).
How the new VW Touareg rides
Another, no less important object of consideration in the design of the new VW Touareg is an active suspension, which, when choosing travel modes, is able to increase ground clearance up to 30 cm, become softer or tougher, and generally adapt to certain operating conditions at one time or another. We move along the highway - we switch to the “sport” mode, where the clearance decreases, the shock absorbers work harder and the electromechanical roll suppression system starts active work. This allows you to increase maneuverability and directional stability, as well as stability on bends. These chips are returned to the design of cars after thirty years. In the 80s of the last century, we recall that the adjustable suspension and steering wheels were trending. Recall the legendary Citroen DS and Toyota Celica models.
But now these ideas are realized, of course, at a completely different technological level.
New Volkswagen Touareg
As for the all-wheel drive mechanism, the Torsen clutch is responsible for the distribution of moments (and not Haldex, as many colleagues mistakenly report). That is, the Touareg is not yet all-wheel drive "pop", but a pretty good alternative to it. Comparatively, of course.
Torsen coupling (from Torque sensing). A mechanical system that controls the degree of blocking depending on the change in torque on each vehicle axis. It is driven, as a rule, without the intervention of electronics, which makes it possible to call it the last of these four-wheel drive solutions in the world of SUVs (we do not take into account the Russian auto industry). In general, differences of opinion on four-wheel drive is a separate topic for discussion. We will certainly raise it in the near future.
We went to off-road expanses - we put the “mountain” mode on the washer switch: the suspension is softer, the clearance is increased. You can drive along mountain streamers, gravel road or light mud without any problems, which we did. Fortunately, a mountainous area with a primer ground with bulldozers was nearby. The crossover did just fine.
Someone is sure to insert, they say, here the old "penny" will pass, and the UAZ - will fly with a whistle. Yes, that’s it. But how many crossovers can boast of at least some cross-country ability now? I’m sure not.
Motors of the new crossover
Under the hood of the new Volkswagen Touareg, in our case, a diesel 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 unit with a capacity of 249 hp "hid" The unit is good both on the track and outside it. Let's just say: it is enough for the purposes for which the Tuareg was created, and this is asphalt and adequate off-road. It is worth noting the maximum torque of 600 Nm, which is already available in the range from 1500 to 2750 rpm. Impressive.
New generation Volkswagen Touareg
As an alternative to a heavy fuel-powered unit, two gasoline engines. The first is a 2.0-liter 249-horsepower TSi engine (370 Nm). The second is a 3.0 ‐ liter gasoline V6 with 340 horsepower. at 450 Nm of maximum torque. An 8-speed automatic gearbox is used as the transmission.
What is the result
Based on the results, we can state the fact of the appearance on the market, including the Russian one, of a perfect new car in the Volkswagen lineup. Yes, Tuareg, as the manufacturer promised, has risen one step higher than its predecessor. And his niche was carefully taken by the previously presented full-size Teramont crossover (which, by the way, was with us for a test drive).
Otherwise, everything is decorum and harmonious in the Volkswagen crossover family, and the new Touareg family added this as a missing cube on top of the castle.