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LOVE AT F

1st January 2004, Page 44
1st January 2004
Page 44
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Page 44, 1st January 2004 — LOVE AT F
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The VolKswagen Touareg is not a vehicle you need, so much as lust after. Sometimes your heart must rule your head.

Normally, we'd be the first to admit that being born British is one of the best things that could happen. But occasionally,just occasionally, it's good to be foreign. Right now, for example.you might be one of those Dutch van drivers who's been handed the keys to a Volkswagen Touareg.

Based on the Touareg SUV, it has the roof raised slightly to give sufficient internal space to qualify as a van under Dutch law and,naturally. the rear seats have been replaced by a flat floor.The good news is that it comes with the Touareg's full range of engines, including the VlOTDI priced at €65290 ex-VAT (currently £45,380).Although we were unable to get our hands on the van. we've done the next best thing. In an act of pure selflessness we bring you a taste of the UK-spec passenger version.

The Touareg is a joint venture between Volkswagen and Porsche; it marks both companies' first foray into the premium 4x4 market.The VW and Porsche versions have a common platform and sub-structure but with different external panels. interiors and engines.

The Porsche version.the Cayenne, is widely seen as having less auraefive styling; it only has petrol engines and costs a whole lot more.

The Touareg V10's biggest claim to fame is the 7501im of torque that it produces.To put that into perspective, it's not far off a decent figure for an l 8-tonner.The only smaller vehicle on UK roads that can match it is another Volkswagen product, the latest Bentley Continental. If you

want another V10, you're restricted to the Dodge Viper which. as 1110. well as being hampered by an 8.3-litre petrol engine with a mere 678Nm. can't match the Touareg's luggage space or off-road ability.

The engine is a true work of art. essentially composed of a pair of the latest VW Transporter T5 five-cylinder TDI engines joined at the aluminium crankcase and fed by VW's PD electronic unit injectors operating at 2.050 bar with a brace of electronically controlled turbochargers Getting all that torque to the ground is a challenge for any transmission.A specially designed six-speed auto box, with a high aluminium content, comes as standard, as does 4Motion automatic four-wheel drive with a 2.66:1 reduction transfer box.

Fully independent suspension is by double wishbones front and rear with air suspension. Ride height is adjustable over a 140mm range; in 'normal' mode it's speed sensitive — the faster you go the lower it gets. Naturally, all of the latest electronic chassis aids are fitted, including speed-sensitive damper control, automatic dill locking, hill descent control and stability control.

Productivity

Measured in conventional productivity terms the Touareg is pretty useless. Its net payload of just 556kg is in Fiat Punto van territory, while its fuel economy of around 24mpg is almost matched by a 7.5-tonne Daf 45. But the Touareg is hardly a conventional vehicle. If you need to carry four people (or,in the Netherlands.two people and half a dozen bags of cement) safely and in great comfort across all terrains and conditions at high speed, it has few equals.

Thanks to the ever watchful trip computer we established that our fuel consumption of 24mpg was relatively easy to achieve, even in the novelty period of flooring the pedal at every opportunity. Given a bit more restraint something approaching the official extraurban figure of 28.8mpg should be a realistic proposition.

On the road

The Touareg's first party piece is revealed before you even get in. So long as you have the ignition key (which looks disappointingly like the key of a basic Golf) in your pocket the keyless entry system will recognise you and let you in.Then, with your foot on the brake. press the silver button on the centre console and the engine rumbles into life.

If you just tickle the throttle the Touareg wafts away like a limo.but mash it to the floor and you discover a whole differ ent experience.The phrase "shock and awe" comes to mind as you unleash that 750Nm and hurtle down the road with the intelligent allwheel drive performing a miracle of traction. Although a 0-100km/h time of 7.8sec is modest by supercar standards. it feels damned fast for a vehicle of the Touareg's weight and bulk.

If the Touareg disappoints anywhere it's in its ride corn fort.The opulent surroundings cocoon you in a world of limousinelike luxury which leads you to expect a similar level of comfort. While the ride is never uncomfortable, the suspension is tuned too firmly for some tastes even on the 'comfort' setting. We found it best to set the ride setting to 'auto' and leave it to its own devices.

The good side of the firm suspension is that it handles in a way that a three-tonne offroader,especially one with an engine weighing around 700kg up front. has no right to. True, even good basic design and lots of electronic control can't defeat the laws of physies.but if you do lose the Touareg you're probably going so fast that the impact will wipe out three parishes.

Needless to say. 55 grand buys you plenty of toys.The list starts off with the traditional leather and wood and goes through to an audio system which includes a 7in colour TV. sat-nay and 11-speaker,eight-channel CD player. Other stuff includes Xenon headlamps. 12-way adjustable heated seats. dual-zone aircon and enough airbags to keep it afloat. •

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