Sydney Motor Show 2007: Volkswagen Touareg R50 offers lots of diesel performance
Volkswagen is really into diesels these days as an alternative to hybrids (but don't forget this announcement). Just like Lexus is doing with their so-called "performance hybrids", Volkswagen has decided to power up their Touareg TDI. As if the huge, and hugely powerful, V10 diesel engine that is available in the Touareg is not enough, they have decided to one-up themselves with the new R50. Boasting 350 HP at 3,500 RPM and peak torque of 627 lb.-ft. at 2,000 RPM, Big Blue can reach 50 mph in just 6.7 seconds while emitting plenty of spent hydrocarbons all the way up to 146 miles per hour.
Autoblog has a blogger at the Sydney 2007 Motor Show, and he was able to snap off a few pictures of the new R50.
Gallery: VW Touareg R50
Live photos ©2007 Siddharth Raja / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Autoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tim 1:00PM (10/11/2007)
So, exactly how is this conservative? It seems pretty liberally wasteful of fuel to me.
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Phil L. 1:12PM (10/11/2007)
I understand the appeal of this Uber-diesel VW. But I have no desire to own one.
How about a family-affordable Toureg 6 cylinder diesel somewhere in the 3 liter size area?
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GoodCheer 2:47PM (10/11/2007)
I agree with Phil L.
For a while, when I was in middle school my parents had one of those '80s vintage diesel Toyota LandCruisers, sorta like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DIESEL-6-CYLINDER-5-SPEED-AIR-CONDITIONING_W0QQitemZ250173552927QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250173552927
I was under the impression that the one we had was a 4-banger. It would run forever on a tank.
Sure it was slow (on the track) by today's standards, I'm perfectly happy with 0-60 in 15 seconds if I can get utility and fuel economy. They just don't make things like that any more. Everybody thinks 0-60 in 10 seconds is unimaginably slow, though you never use even that on the street.
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dean 1:53AM (10/12/2007)
Tim, I doubt the normal V10 diesel is about conservation either. Nor is any V10! Am I right?
But phil's right, if VW could get a V6 diesel US emissions compliant, that would be a great engine. Probably get 18/23 or better.
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mike 5:13PM (10/11/2007)
Lesson Screw the Consumer: How to build a diesel that gets less then 30mpg.
You've been schooled.
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stubbs031 3:20PM (10/12/2007)
this is no different from the current huge, luxury vehicle v8, v10 and v12 huge displacement gassers. All of them are inefficient and powerful. However, simply because this engine is diesel it will get better mileage than if they threw a huge gas v8 or v10. if they threw a diesel particulate filter on there, it would have less emissions than the big gas engines anyway, so it actually makes sense. not to mention this would be a fun car to drive
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ProDiesel 12:42PM (1/12/2008)
Many of you are misinformed, the VW Touareg V10 TDI already does have a particulate filter. Also, you don't need to convert it to a V6 to achieve 23mpg. I regularly get 23 combined and 27/28 mpg on the highway. Bought it to get the most conservative yet capable vehicle I could find. Stepped out of a Pontiac Vibe, getting nearly same mileage in a much more functional vehicle. I strongly believe diesel is the best alternative for all but 100% urban applications.
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