Volkswagen launches 28 mpg (U.S.) Touareg TDI BlueMotion in Europe
Over the past couple of years, Volkswagen has been introducing low CO2-emitting variants of several of its mainstream car models under the BlueMotion banner. The latest addition to that lineup is the big Touareg SUV which is getting some tweaks to reduce its fuel consumption. Like its smaller siblings, the Touareg gets low rolling resistance tires and revised final drive ratio to lower engine revs. Aerodynamic drag is reduced by dropping the body one inch closer to the ground than regular models.
The 225 hp 3.0-liter V6 diesel earns a 28.3 mpg (U.S.) rating on the EU combined driving cycle. That's a 10 percent boost over the standard Touareg TDI with the same engine. That's also an improvement over the 26.1 mpg (U.S.) of the recently demonstrated Touareg hybrid. Europeans will be able to get the Touareg TDI BlueMotion for €50,450 effective immediately.
[Source: Volkswagen]
press release as translated by Google
Touareg V6 TDI: consumption of around 10 percent
BlueMotion technology to the luxury SUV-ordered
Wolfsburg, 22 May 2009 - Volkswagen is expanding its range of vehicles with more environmentally friendly BlueMotion technology: Effective immediately, the Touareg V6 TDI with BlueMotion Technology ordered. A consumption of 8.3 liters, this luxury SUV from Volkswagen, despite the all-wheel drive and a power of 165 kW (225 hp) is possible.
A combination of different measures makes this possible: An intelligent energy management charges the battery during the push phase of the vehicle and it also relieves the engine. A 25 mm lowered chassis reduces air resistance. Optimized tire rolling resistance, longer axle as well as many internal measures also contribute their part in making the consumption by over 10 per cent. This leaves the functionality of the exception received full-Offroad: trailer loads of up to 3.5 tonnes, he coped well as the playful ride through rough terrain.
The Touareg V6 TDI with BlueMotion technology is equipped with a 6-speed automatic and a particulate filter fitted. Externally, it is only by the corresponding letters on the stern and the standard 17-inch alloy wheels "Makalu" visible. In addition, the CD-radio "delta", an air-conditioning, the useful speed control system and the multifunction leather steering wheel in this package with on board.
The Touareg with BlueMotion technology is now available for order. The basic price is € 50,450, in combination with the special model "North Sails" at € 59,500.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
blazineric 9:45AM (5/24/2009)
Stupid USA..... I used to have a T-reg and loved the car, but with my 30k miles per year I couldnt deal with the 15-16 mpg I was getting, and the V-6 didnt get much better maybe 1 or 2 mpg overall so i stuck with the V8 when i bought it.
If however VW offered these TDIs in the USA, that does not include the uber expensive V10TDI I would easily buy one.
A mid size SUV with over 20 mpg overall is practically unheard of in the USA and 28 is outright incredible.
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downtoearth 10:37AM (5/24/2009)
And there we go again. Yet another completely misleading article with fake mpg ratings, obviously with no adnotation. Good job, Sam.
blazineric:
> Stupid USA.....
??
USA market offers alternatives to diesels that are far superior in both fuel economy and performance.
Data in the post above are highly misleading cause results quoted are from EU driving cycle which completely overestimates real life fuel economy.
2010 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI realistic EPA ratings are 17 city/25 hwy. Real life fuel economy observed by MotorTrend was 20.5 mpg.
Meanwhile the 2010 Lexus RX450h delivered real life observed mpg of 23. The Lexus hybrid SUV does 0-60 in 6.4 sec as measured by the MotorTrend, the Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI is significantly slower at 7.4 sec.
Source: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0904_diesel_hybrid_suv_comparison/specs.html
Edmunds Insideline, when testing the same RX450h hybrid, observed 26 mpg of real life combined fuel economy.
> A mid size SUV with over 20 mpg overall is practically unheard
> of in the USA
Toyota Highlander Hybrid with seating capacity of 7 delivers real life observed 24-25 mpg, doing 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. Lexus RX400h (previous gen) delivers similar readings.
Source: http://fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Toyota&model=Highlander%20Hybrid%204WD
> and 28 is outright incredible.
As mentioned above, this Volkswagen Touareg will never deliver it. Real life mpg of non BlueMotion is about 20 mpg, the badged one will maybe get 21.
Meanwhile, you may be interested what sort of mpg VW Touaregs V6 TDi in Germany really return. Well, there it is: 11,96 l/100 km = 19,7 miles per gallon (sample size: 24 vehicles). As you can see, it perfectly corresponds with MotorTrend test results.
Source: http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/50-Volkswagen/458-Touareg.html?fueltype=1&power_s=160&power_e=170
You can also pick Lexus RX400h vehicles using this page. The real life average reading for 36 cars will be 9,81 l/100 km = 24 miles per gallon which, again, perfectly corresponds with American estimates.
If we consider the fact that diesel fuel is 15% more energy dense than gasoline, the results will be even more dramatic in favor for hybrid SUVs (which are also much faster, by the way).
Swede 12:26PM (5/24/2009)
dto: tl;dr.
Rick 4:33PM (5/26/2009)
@downtoearh- Good points, but the Lexus looks like crap. Looks are also a factor when people spend their money. So you can post your pro-Lexus notes and links all day, it's still an ugly SUV and I'd take the Touareg over it all day.
downtoearth 5:29PM (5/26/2009)
Rick:
> So you can post your pro-Lexus notes and links all day [...]
How can you call my posts biased?
Does anyone that shares truth backed by true sources has to be "pro something"?
If A is more fuel efficient than B and I state this, does it mean I'm "pro A"?
why not the LS2LS7? 3:45PM (5/24/2009)
28mpg (US gallons) on the European combined cycle isn't much to brag about.
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Mike Z 6:04PM (5/24/2009)
The 2006 Touareg was the last Diesel version to be offered in the US and got 15/20 (17 combined) on the US cycle.
Of course it was a V-10
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Hoosierron 9:45PM (5/24/2009)
The 2010 Equinox will get 30 mpg hwy without diesel or hybrid technology.
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bonao99 10:58PM (5/24/2009)
Popular Mechanics achivied 29 MPG
"The Touareg's five-passenger cabin is roomy and quiet at highway speeds. In the best conditions—constant-speed traveling with cruise control engaged—we pulled an impressive 29.3 mpg from the diesel V6, according to the onboard digital trip computer. We would have preferred to measure our consumption the old-fashioned way (by filling up and dividing the gallons used by the miles driven), but our incremental use of fuel coupled with the Touareg V6 TDI's gargantuan 26.4-gal fuel tank wouldn't have produced a particularly accurate reading. Some more disciplined long-distance drivers have reported over 30 miles per gallon from the V6 TDI, which is believable since our 65-mile-per-hour pace wasn't the optimum speed for fuel economy."
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4297474.html
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Sam 2:20PM (5/25/2009)
wow, the anti- Diesel troll is at it again.
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Justin 3:01PM (9/15/2009)
Are people seriously comparing this to Highlanders and Equinoxs? This thing pulls 7700lbs!
To put it in perspective, it'll get the fuel economy of a CRV while towing everything a Pilot can PLUS a CRV (that's 3200lbs more than a Pilot).
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