Volkswagen of America announced that the 2011 Touareg lineup will include three powertrains – a supercharged hybrid with 3.0L V6 TSI, a 3.0L V6 TDI Clean Diesel and a gas-powered 3.6L V6 FSI.
The hybrid variant won’t be available in Canada, however. Thomas Tetzlaff, Public Relations Manager at VW Canada, told Auto123.com: "We have decided to launch our hybrid solution with the Jetta in 2012. It represents volumes that we can support properly."
VW’s first hybrid application
The 2011 Touareg will mark the German automaker’s first-ever worldwide use of a hybrid engine. The supercharged V6 with direct injection is paired with an electric motor and a 288-volt nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) battery pack fitted beneath the luggage compartment. Together, they send a total of 380 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through VW’s 4MOTION system and new eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to the company, the new supercharged hybrid allows the Touareg to offer customers V8 power with better fuel efficiency than a V6 engine. The vehicle achieves an EPA estimated 25 mpg on the highway (9.4 L/100 km).
Similar to a Toyota Prius, this environmentally-friendly SUV is a full hybrid, meaning that the combustion engine and electric motor are capable of running independently or simultaneously (up to 30 mph in pure electric mode).
Another first for the Touareg Hybrid in North America will be the standard Start-Stop system, which automatically stops the engine during idling, for example while waiting at a red light.
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| Photo: Volkswagen |
The hybrid variant won’t be available in Canada, however. Thomas Tetzlaff, Public Relations Manager at VW Canada, told Auto123.com: "We have decided to launch our hybrid solution with the Jetta in 2012. It represents volumes that we can support properly."
VW’s first hybrid application
The 2011 Touareg will mark the German automaker’s first-ever worldwide use of a hybrid engine. The supercharged V6 with direct injection is paired with an electric motor and a 288-volt nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) battery pack fitted beneath the luggage compartment. Together, they send a total of 380 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through VW’s 4MOTION system and new eight-speed automatic transmission.
 |
| Photo: Volkswagen |
According to the company, the new supercharged hybrid allows the Touareg to offer customers V8 power with better fuel efficiency than a V6 engine. The vehicle achieves an EPA estimated 25 mpg on the highway (9.4 L/100 km).
Similar to a Toyota Prius, this environmentally-friendly SUV is a full hybrid, meaning that the combustion engine and electric motor are capable of running independently or simultaneously (up to 30 mph in pure electric mode).
Another first for the Touareg Hybrid in North America will be the standard Start-Stop system, which automatically stops the engine during idling, for example while waiting at a red light.
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