Off the line, the Touareg TDI launches like a rocket. First gear is over before it really begins and second gear only sticks
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| Volkswagen claims the V10 Touareg will sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in a sports sedan-like 7.5 seconds. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
around for the blink of an eye. Following that, third gear holds as the Touareg surpasses legal highway speeds with little weakening in its voracious appetite for hearty acceleration. Volkswagen claims the V10 Touareg will sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in a sports car-like 7.5 seconds. Passing slower traffic is an awesome experience, especially when factoring in the SUV's substantial weight. With only a 50 percent squeeze on the throttle, the autobox quickly downshifts to the most effective gear followed by a definitive surge of power. Thanks to its high torque, low-rpm output, the engine provides strong performance without the need to rev anywhere close to redline. Such composed performance helps keep noise and passenger disruption to a minimum. In addition to its spirited acceleration, I get the sense that the V10 TDI could pull a house from its moorings and drag it up the side of a rock-strewn mountain. With a maximum tow capacity of 3,500 kilos (7,700 lbs) there's little that it will be forced to leave behind.
Thanks to Volkswagen's sophisticated heavy-duty 4XMOTION, permanent electronic all-wheel drive technology and a low
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| Volkswagen's sophisticated heavy-duty 4XMOTION electronic all-wheel drive technology varies the amount of torque as needed. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
range set of gears, hill climbing is a Touareg specialty that's only limited by its 18-inch Pirelli Scorpion all-season tires, which lack an aggressive off-road tread pattern. A rotary knob on the center console allows the driver to easily activate the low-range gearing and lock the center differential, obtaining an equal split of power between the front and rear wheels. Otherwise the 4XMOTION system varies the torque as needed, sending up to 100 percent to a single axle. A further twist of the same knob will also lock the rear differential when the utmost in traction is essential. A matching rotary knob on the opposite side of the center console activates the pneumatic suspension system (optional on
V6 and
V8 models), raising or lowering the vehicle ride-height depending on whether speeding down a glass-smooth highway or clawing its way up a rocky precipice.
