VW wants to Expand its SUV Line-up, Plans to Triple U.S. Sales by 2018

Volkswagen hasn’t given up on its plans to become the world’s biggest automaker and for that it needs to sell more cars in the U.S. The Germans want to triple their American sales in the next seven years and one solution is to expand their SUV line-up in order to catch up to GM and Toyota.

“We will be looking to really grow, particularly in the compact SUV segment”, VW's U.S. chief Jonathan Browning told Bloomberg news. “Over time, I think there's also scope for growth in terms of a larger SUV within the portfolio”.

Volkswagen sold 20,946 Tiguans and 4,713 Touaregs in the U.S. last year, which is insignificant compared to the total of 3.3 million SUVs delivered in the country.

“VW is simply not a player in the American SUV segment”, said Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany. “Their models aren't being recognized as sufficiently competitive”.

The automaker is exploring other means to increase its sales as well, one of them being the all-new New Mid-Size Sedan (NMS), which is set to debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show.

The yet to be named model will be assembled at the company’s new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with deliveries programmed to start in the third quarter of 2011.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Bloomberg

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ABT Sportsline Presents Discrete Tuning Package for 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

According to ABT, the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg should be tuned without diluting its distinct character. As a result, the Bavarian specialist concentrated on increasing the power of the German SUV, while keeping the exterior changes to a minimum.

“More power wouldn’t hurt with a car as diverse as this, but it was important for us that the tuning suited the characteristics of the Touareg”, the company’s general manager, Christian Abt, explained.

Tipping the scales at 2.5 tons, the Touareg is certainly no featherweight, so adding more power and torque to the mix is probably a good idea. Engineers developed the ABT Power kit for 3.0-liter diesel V6, which increases peak output from 240 hp to 282 hp. The second stage of the engine conversion is called Power S and delivers 310 hp.

Garnished with a similar power upgrade, the 4.2-liter V8 diesel also benefits from extra oomph, churning out 385 hp (+45 ponies) and an even more impressive 870 Nm (642 lb-ft) of mountain-moving torque (+70 Nm or 52 lb-ft).

As mentioned previously, exterior appointments are discrete as they are limited to a new front grille, rear wing and rear apron, alongside a 4-pipe exhaust system. ABT BR or CR wheels, which can be specified in various sizes up to 22 inches complete the finishing touch.

By Csaba Daradics

The new ABT Touareg – dates and facts
ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
Engine: 3.0 TDI, 2967 ccm, V6
Performance tuning: ABT POWER
Performance: 282 PS/207 kW (standard: 240 PS/177 kW)
Engine: 3.0 TDI, 2967 ccm, V6
Performance tuning: ABT POWER S
Performance: 310 PS/228 kW (standard: 240 PS/177 kW)
Engine: 4.2 TDI, 4134 ccm, V8
Performance tuning: ABT POWER
Performance: 385 PS/283 kW (standard: 340 PS/250 kW)
ABT AERODYNAMICS
ABT front grille
ABT rear spoiler
ABT rear skirt
ABT EXHAUST SYSTEM
ABT 4-pipe-exhaust-system
ABT SPORTS WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
ABT BR and CR up to 22 inch

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Volkswagen Service Personnel make use of Virtual X-Ray Vision Tech

At some point, every child would like to be a superhero with X-ray vision. Adults too, though they would use the ability for very different purposes... Until now, only a select few, like TSA personnel, have had the opportunity to see what’s it like to have superhuman vision.

Volkswagen is changing this by introducing the “Augmented Reality” technology designed to offer its service personnel a virtual X-ray-like view of the car. According to the automaker, employees will make use of this technology to improve their training and knowledge of the cars.

“Augmented Reality” utilizes a video-based positioning software to determine the position of the image projector and viewer in relation to the studied vehicle. That means that computer-generated details can be projected with extreme precision onto the car’s body, thus giving the onlooker the opportunity to study what’s under the sheetmetal without ever opening the bonnet.

“Three-dimensional design data is projected onto the surfaces of a production vehicle, in the correct position and in perspective even from different viewing angles. This creates a kind of 'virtual x-ray vision' for the viewer, which enables them to see otherwise hidden components and structures inside the vehicle” explained Prof. Jürgen Leohold, Head of Volkswagen Group Research.

The system also allows for individual components or component designations to be placed over or, if necessary, to project other prepared animations onto the vehicle.

This technology was first used on the Touareg Hybrid, shown in the gallery below, during training sessions for importer instructors and for service training on the new Sharan as well.

The new tgechnology was developed in-house by Volkswagen Group Research and Volkswagen Service Academy and its use is going to be extended in the near future for international training, vehicle development, production planning and even marketing.

By Csaba Daradics

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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