Volkswagen Expands Touareg Range with Exclusive Edition

To keep up with the Joneses, Volkswagen has added a new trim level to its Touareg range. The Exclusive Edition adds certain upgrades such as two-tone leather combinations and unique alloy wheels for a more individualized touch. These features were previously available as standalone items on the options list.

Customers can choose between Pepper Beige and Titan Black or Dark Burgundy and Titan Black. The center sections of the seats are trimmed in what VW calls "Cool Leather" which is said to reduce surface temperature from intense sunlight.

The leather seating system also treats occupants with heated front seats with electric 12-way adjustment, electro-pneumatically adjustable lateral seat supports and head restraints with longitudinal and height adjustment. In addition, the package includes leather door inserts, stainless steel tread plates, a black roof-liner and special 'Olive Ash satin' wood trim.

For the exterior, the Exclusive Edition adds machine-polished 19-inch "Girona" alloy wheels with 265/50 R19 tires or optionally, 20-inch "Tarragona" wheels, a "Chrome & Style" package and a silver anodized roof railing.

The Exclusive Edition is available with all engine options, with prices in Germany starting from €58,150 for the V6 TDI model.

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Cobra Technology Accessorizes New Volkswagen Touareg

The second generation of Volkswagen's Touareg has only been available in the European market since April, but the SUV has already started attracting a lot of attention from the aftermarket industry. One of the latest tuners to get their hands on the Touareg is Cobra Technology, which has just released a first batch of accessories for the SUV model.

The German tuning firm offers a stainless steel lower guard for the front bumper (you know, to protect the car from those pesky side curbs during parking), along with 80mm thick sidebars with rubber stepping surfaces plus a set of 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 275/45 R20 tires.

The front bumper guard is priced at €395, the side bars at €763 and the alloy wheels at €510.

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JE Design Redefines the New VW Touareg SUV

Some may like the all-new, second generation VW Touareg the way it leaves the factory, but for those that wouldn't mind sprucing it up a bit, German tuning firm JE Design has released its first line of enhancements for the SUV model.

For the time being, the only available engine kit is for the 4.2-liter TDI V8 diesel unit that increases output from 340HP and 800Nm of torque to 410HP and a monstrous 930Nm or 686 lbs-ft, respectively. As a result, 0-100km/h (62mph) drops from 5.8 seconds to 5.4 seconds while top speed is increased from 242km/h to 269km/h or 167mph.

The SUV's suspension is upgraded with an electronic lowering module that brings the vehicle 35mm closer to the ground.

An aerodynamic kit for aesthetics and airflow purposes is available for all Touareg models, and includes a new front grille and spoiler, wheel arch extensions, a rear apron and a roof spoiler. The treatment also comes with custom exhaust tail pipes and a choice of alloy wheels shod in sticky new tires.

If you go for the 'Full Monty' (including the 4.2 TDI engine kit), you'll have to surrender to the German tuner a hefty €19,750 or about US$25,300 at today's exchange rates.

Source: JE Design, Via: Autoblog.nl

VW Motorsport Reveals its Latest, Greatest Touareg Sand Stormer

For those who own a Volkswagen Touareg and don't follow motorsports, shame on you. What you're driving is related to a Dakar Rally winner. In fact, if you haven't seen the racing variant of Volkswagen's bruiser hopping dunes, go download some Dakar Rally torrents from the past, oh, six years. That's how long an iteration of the Touareg has been competing, and it's been consistently good.

Now, the Race Touareg 3 is upon us, and my money's on a top-three finish in 2011. Under the new and wind-tunnel approved carbon fiber and Kevlar body is a steel spaceframe, the necessarily tough suspension hardware, and a 300-horse / 442 lb-ft twin-turbo 2.5 TDI mill that VW has reworked to handle the current rally's significant shifts in altitude. Power hits the dirt through a 5-speed sequential gearbox and three limited-slip diffs.

VW says the Race Touareg 3 has the ability to accelerate to 62 mph (100km/h) in 6.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 117 mph (188 km/h) "in nearly any conditions."

Expect to see the latest of VW's blue bombers wearing the new LED lights and 16-inch wheels shod in a set of specially developed BF Goodrich 235/85 R16 tyres while it's out having fun.

And fun it shall have, considering the hellish testing it's been through. VW says the truck has "undergone shakedown tests comprising 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of simulated special stages" so far, which is twice as long as the rally. Looks like Volkswagen's in it to win it.

By Phil Alex