With the help of California governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, Volkswagen unveiled its all-new Touareg TDI – powered by a 221-horsepower V6 engine. Unlike the last diesel-powered Touareg to visit North America, the new V6 is intended to be a diesel-sipping, mass-market model.
Once Arnie stepped out of the Touareg V6 TDI, we learned that the SUV’s 3.0 liter turbodiesel will be 50-state compliant and put out an impressive 407 lb-ft. of torque, 9 lb-ft. more than the Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTec and more than 30 lb-ft. more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD.
VW says that the Touareg V6 TDI, which has a 26.4 gallon fuel tank, will be rated at 25 mpg on the highway.
Pricing for the most efficient Touareg sold in North America will start at $42,800, about $3,500 more than the gasoline V6 Touareg.
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11/20, 1:13 AM
posted by:
justagigilo85
“Let off some steam, Bennett!”
11/20, 8:26 AM
posted by:
Gundy
Ouch, 25 mpg is the best they can do?! If it was 40 mpg I could see bragging about it. 25 mpg isn’t ground-breaking mpg for a Greyhound Bus in 2008. (well, maybe I exaggerated a bit there)
11/20, 8:57 AM
posted by:
BMW M1
“I’ll be back!”
11/20, 8:58 AM
posted by:
BMW M1
Haha, que Little Tortilla Boy over here
11/20, 10:16 AM
posted by:
cskoeshall
I’m hoping that 25mpg is a conservative number for the Touareg…kind of like how the original EPA for the Jetta TDI was conservative.
11/20, 12:08 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
“GET TO THE CHOPPAAAAA”
11/20, 12:51 PM
posted by:
nickkop
vw should bring the I-5 turbodiesel they offer in europe… around $35k . less power but more efficient… it will help spread awareness of efficiency benefits of small(er) diesels and how fitting they are for an SUV. better yet we need a 2.0TDI tiguan for under 30… that would be the icing on the cake…
11/20, 1:33 PM
posted by:
A4
this is an awesome vehicle… will they continue offering the V10?
11/20, 2:12 PM
posted by:
The Stig
“I’ll drive.”
11/20, 2:40 PM
posted by:
Borat
Interesting, Q7 with the same mill and tranny does a bit better mileage (actual is in the 30’s neighborhood). It is also interesting to note, that actual mileage of hybrids usually underperformed their ratings, while diesels outperforms. Go figure.
11/20, 4:25 PM
posted by:
nickkop
true.. and the reason the toureg is a little lower is it’s beefier AWD system with capability of locking center differential, and optional locking rear
11/20, 4:26 PM
posted by:
nickkop
touareg*
11/20, 4:28 PM
posted by:
nickkop
the touareg is a true dual purpose SUV with on and off road performance, while the Q7 is more of a crossover-like variation on the same chassis
11/21, 1:06 AM
posted by:
VWgrouP
Ive always loved the Touareg. Its beautiful outisde but more so inside. Ive test driven the Touareg on more than one occasion, and I love that hefty V8.
11/22, 12:30 AM
posted by:
jonmiles
^nickkop- correct.
A full-sized suv with the power of a V8 and better gas mileage than a passat? sign me up.
11/22, 12:09 PM
posted by:
nickkop
yeah this thing is going to be sweet though.. can’t wait to test drive one..
12/29, 9:50 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I love touaregs but they have their fair share of problems being in the VW family. I think that v6 tdi has some great numbers by the way.