the touareg 2 up close

The Touareg 2 Up Close
By Benjamin Hudson

The first ever SUV that Volkswagen manufacturer of high quality VW fan has restyled for the 2008 model year is returning as the Touareg 2. The updated version is scheduled to hit showrooms later this spring and will feature an updated exterior styling, additional list of safety features and vehicle capabilities, plus three powerful engine options.

The Touareg 2 made its official debut at the New York International Auto Show. Its base price is $39,320. This new Touareg has derived its design cues from the other Volkswagen model lineup. Its exterior styling reflects the brand’s signature design with its new Volkswagen face particularly its chrome front grille.

The Touareg 2 was also given a redesigned aerodynamic and sporty rear spoiler with integrated third brake light. The other distinctive features of the new redesigned Touareg includes 17-inch alloy wheels, standard on the VR6 FSI, and 19-inch alloy wheels, standard on the V8 FSI and V10 TDI Twin Turbo models. It also has redesigned darkened taillights and headlamps, redesigned luxury seating system with standard 12-way power driver’s seat, and a four all-new exterior color options such as Alaska Gray, Galapagos, Cranberry, and White Gold.

The Touareg 2 also boasts of its three engine options with the VR6 FSI and V8 FSI upgraded. The Touareg’s 3.2 liter VR6 has been changed with a more potent 3.6 liter VR6 FSI which revs up an extra 40 horsepower delivering 280 hp of power. The FSI technology on the other hand has considerably improved the driving performance of the Touareg 2. Such significant performance upgrade is always followed by an increase in torque power.

The upgraded 4.2 liter V8 FSI is the first 8 cylinder Volkswagen engine with unleaded fuel direct injection producing an impressive 350 horsepower, an extra 40 hp than the previous V8, and 325 lbs. ft. of torque. The new Touareg’s 5.o liter V10 TDI Twin Turbo offering produces 310 horsepower and 553 lbs. ft. of torque. All of three engine options of the Touareg offer an amazing towing capacity of 7,716 pounds.

The Touareg 2 is also loaded with various safety and handling features such as the new rollover sensor system which records both turning angle as well as turning speed in order to determine whether the vehicle is likely to rollover. The rollover sensor also works in combination with the airbag control device to activate the side and side head curtain airbags in case a rollover accident happens.

The new Touareg is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system that notifies the driver of any changes in the tire pressure. This particular system is offered as a standard feature of the vehicle. The other safety features that are equipped in the Touareg 2 includes an Electronic Stabilization Program innovations comprising of the hydraulic braking assist, rain brake support, and an under steering control logic system that enhance the behavior of the car in times of under steering.

The Touareg 2 also offer a world’s first “ABSplus” braking system which is a patented system developed by Volkswagen to shorten the braking distance by up to 20 percent especially on loose roadbeds wherein it pushes a portion of the road material under temporary locked wheels to form a chock. This type of innovation is the first of its kind in the world and offered as an exclusive feature of the Touareg 2.

The new Touareg 2 includes a noteworthy array of vehicle capabilities such as the four-wheel-drive system 4XMOTION