Volkswagen Touareg : 2004

The Touareg name is taken from a nomadic tribe in the Sahara. VW says it has aimed for a best combination of two usually separate SUV worlds. On-road, the Touareg serves as a luxury sedan, and off-road, it attacks terrain with a "mountain-goat attitude."

The Touareg's U.S. lifetime will start in June 2003, when it hits VW stores at a rate of 45,000 or so a year. Price of the base model with a 3.2-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive will be in the $35,000 neighborhood. Add the optional 4.2-liter V-8 from the Audi A8, or the 420-hp W-12 expected in 2004, plus air suspension, and you'll knock on 50 large.

The Touareg is a new platform to be shared with Porsche (its version is the Cayenne, due out by March of 2004).

It's a unit body with independent suspension on both ends. The 112.6-inch wheelbase is relatively long for the 187.0-inch overall length, which translates to short overhangs and therefore athletic approach and departure angles (28 degrees). The machinery is tucked up high in the underbody to minimize dragging the belly over humps (breakover angle is 22 degrees) and drowning in deep water (fording depth is 23 inches).

The optional air suspension lifts ground clearance to 11.8 inches.

All Touaregs (say twah-reg) will have six-speed automatics and electronically controlled all-wheel-drive systems with high and low ranges and a locking center differential. A locking rear diff is optional, and VW is working on a locking front, too.

The exterior dimensions are slightly smaller than the Acura MDX's, and the Touareg is about three inches longer than a BMW X5.

Interior room is closer to that of the X5, because big spaces are carved out for tire clearance (18-inch wheels are standard, 19s are optional) and powertrains. There's no third-row seating. Entry and exit for the second row is easy, with excellent room for two adults. Three across is tight, however. In front, the space is sportily intimate rather than Suburban-style expansive.

This is a muscular-feeling car, with tight roll angles and quick reaction times. Tire grip is high, especially with the optional 275/45ZR-19 tires. There's none of the tippy feeling you expect of trucks.

(source: Car&Driver)