Volkswagen Debuts 2005 Touareg W12 Sport in Paris

Wedged between the fenders of the W12 Sport is Volkswagen's one-of-a-kind W-shaped 12-cylinder motor, fitted exclusively to

Volkswagen's one-of-a-kind W-shaped 12-cylinder motor, found in the Phaeton W12 and new Bentley Continental GT, will power the top of the line Touareg. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

VAG high-performance, luxury vehicles such as the Phaeton W12 and new Bentley Continental GT. Tweaked to 450 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, it's the most powerful version of the motor aside from the twin-turbocharged version applied to Bentley's six-figure super coupe. The six-liter, twelve-cylinder SUV now matches the reigning champ Porsche Cayenne Turbo for horsepower, and has made Mercedes' most menacing and BMW's best look weak kneed to say the least.

The W12's nearly unstoppable power allows the Touareg to post performance figures which would cause most serious sports cars to tremble in their tire tracks. Harnessed by

The Touareg W12 Sport has been tastefully modified by Volkswagen Individual, VW's own specialty division that caters to its client's luxury and styling desires. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

means of a six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox and Volkswagen's 4X-Motion permanent all wheel drive system, the W12 Sport can hit 100 km/h in a scant 5.9 seconds before reaching an electronically limited 250 km/h.

Inside and out, the Touareg W12 Sport has been tastefully modified by Volkswagen Individual, VW's own specialty group set up for customizing and catering to its client's luxury and styling desires. To help this range topper stand out from other Touaregs, exclusive new bumpers featuring larger intakes and metal accents are included, as are unique wheel arch extensions, while a chrome-plated rooftop spoiler and exhaust tips accent the SUV's aggressive appearance. The package is finished off with 275/40 R 20 wheels within performance tires. As for the Deep Blue metallic paint, it is exclusive to the W12 Sport model.