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Ready For Roads, Trails, And The Unknown In Between: 2010 Volkswagen Touareg

HERNDON, VA. - The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg is designed to tackle just about any type of adventure, all while providing the driver and passengers with a blend of German style, usability, and engineering.  With a comprehensive collection of standard features that can be enhanced by four available trim packages, and a starting price of $40,850, the 2010 Touareg goes beyond what drivers have come to expect from the modern sport utility vehicle.

Exterior

At every angle, the 2010 Touareg carries clean lines that give a sense of luxury without taking away from the SUV's ready-for-anywhere attitude. Up front, halogen headlamps and fog lamps (Bi-Xenonä High Intensity Gas-discharged headlamps with AFS can be ordered) keep the road well-lit. An understated front grille sits above the chromed center bumper section, and the standard, blacked out lower front bumper provides a welcome contrast. The Touareg's profile is marked by chrome window trim and silver roof rails, along with chrome trim at the bottom of both doors. The tail lamp lenses are smoked red, sitting above the clear turn signal and reverse light lenses, and a chromed rear bumper insert gives an extra touch of subtle style.

The 2010 Touareg can also be ordered with special exterior upgrades, including a chrome grille, a sport front bumper, body-colored lower front bumper and side skirt areas and special metallic paint. All-season tires are fitted on the standard 17-inch, and the optional 19-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels.

Interior

No matter the conditions outside, the inside of the 2010 Touareg is always prepared with a unique combination of comfort, convenience, and technology. Both the front and rear seats are covered in soft yet durable V-Tex leatherette, in either beige or anthracite, while walnut wood accents abound throughout. Also available are full leather seating in four different color schemes, along with Vavona wood, Poplar wood, or "Engine Spin" metallic trim, depending on the desired interior package. A 12-way power driver's seat gives the ultimate in commanding adjustability, and a standard manual adjustable passenger seat up front (a 12-way power adjustable unit is also available) keeps the navigator comfortable, too. In all packages, both front seats are heated, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel not only can handle turning duties, but also allows for instant access of a variety of interior systems, from the standard AM/FM/Sirius/CD stereo and available navigation system, to the hands-free, Bluetoothä calling setup.

The Touareg's CLIMATIC? dual-zone air conditioning allows for customized cooling and heating up front, while a large power sunroof can let in loads of sun and fresh air from above. Out back, a power lift gate makes for easier storage and removal of groceries, sporting goods, and more. The standard stereo system includes ten speakers, and six months of complimentary SIRIUS Satellite Radio service. The optional Dynaudio Premium Sound System comes with upgraded speakers, a 600 Watt amplifier, and Digital Sound Processor (DSP) technology.

The optional premium navigation system adds a 6.5" high resolution touch-screen display (which works with the available rearview camera), an integrated 30GB hard drive (10GB for navigation, 20GB for audio), WMA / MP3 audio CD playback, DVD video playback when the Touareg is not in motion, an SD memory card slot, an auxiliary input connection, and three months of Sirius Traffic programming. A special Media Device Interface with iPod® cable can be added for playback and control of USB-based devices or drives.

Engine and Transmission

The 2010 Touareg can be fitted with one of two worthy powerplants, each packed with acceleration, usability, and fuel economy: Volkswagen's efficient yet torque-laden 3.0-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder clean diesel TDI® engine, or the compact 3.6-liter, narrow angle V6 gasoline engine.

Able to delicately balance hauling power with decreased emissions and fuel consumption that are usually enjoyed with smaller engines, the 3.0L TDI clean diesel engine is a perfect complement to the Touareg's "drive anywhere" spirit. Four valves per cylinder, common rail direct fuel injection with a high pressure pump, and eight-hole piezo injectors make sure the precise amount of fuel is used regardless of the situation. A special DeNOx catalytic converter, augmented by a special injection system that sprays a synthetic urea-based solution (AdBlue) into the exhaust, helps reduce Nox emissions by up to 90 percent, and lets the 3.0T meet the Tier 2, Bin 5/ULEV II standards imposed across all 50 U.S. states. In terms of driving force 3.0L TDI gives 225 horsepower at 3,500 to 4,000 rpm , and 407 lbs.-ft. of torque at 1,750 to 2,250 rpm - all while returning EPA-estimated 25 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg in the city. With a full tank of fuel (26.4 gallons), the Touareg TDI clean diesel can travel more than 600 miles before needing to refuel.

The also available 3.6L VR6 engine is outfitted with 24 valves, dual overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, and direct fuel injection, to produce a Touareg-worthy 280 total horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 265 lbs.-ft. of torque starting at 2,750 rpm. When mated to the six-speed automatic transmission with TiptronicÒ mode, healthy EPA estimates of 19 mpg highway, and 14 mpg city, can be achieved.

The transmission found on both the 3.0L TDI clean diesel and 3.6L VR6 model Touaregs can not only reward drivers with noteworthy fuel economy, but also gives drivers an even greater sense of control. When in Tiptronic mode, a simple up or down flick of the gear lever shifts through each of the six gears. The transmission's sport mode ensures the engine stays in the power "sweet spot," while the Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) allows the transmission to specifically adapt to different driving styles. The selectable low range first gear adds greater confidence when traversing more slippery and hilly terrain at low speeds.

Chassis and Suspension

With the 2010 Touareg, Volkswagen developed a versatile suspension package that enables it to stay grounded yet run easily through the turns. Starting with a double wishbone front arrangement that is outfitted with MacPherson struts and heavy-duty coil springs, and finishing with an independent four-link setup for the rear, the suspension lets the Touareg and its passengers go farther: The Touareg has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, a 19.7-inch maximum fording depth, the capacity to climb up to 45-degree inclines with up to a 28-degree approach angle, and even take on lateral inclines of up to 35 degrees.

Electro-mechanical, power rack-and-pinion steering makes for comfortable turning of the wheel. When it comes time to stop, the Touareg's braking system comes into immediate play with four-wheel discs (330 x 32 mm front and 330 x 28 mm rear vented rotors) and an Anti-lock Braking System. Volkswagen's 4XMOTION® all-wheel drive system completes the package, continuously monitoring road conditions and driver inputs to best adjust power sent to each of the four wheels for maximum traction, performance, and, ultimately, safety.

Active and Passive Safety

The 2010 Touareg contains more than 45 active and passive safety features, which are part of Volkswagen's standard Prevent and Preserve Safety System, to keep the driver and passengers safe. Six airbags, including dual front units (dual-stage for the driver, single stage for the front passenger), thorax units for the driver and front passenger, and side curtain units for the front and rear outboard passengers, all are standard on the Touareg. Each of the five available seating positions has a three-point safety belt, with a pre-tensioner and height adjustment for the driver, front passenger, and rear outboard passengers. For younger occupants in the Touareg, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) make it easy to add a child car seat.

The Touareg also includes the following safety programs and management systems for a smooth, poised ride through most any situation: an intelligent crash response system, Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) for the center differential, Engine Braking Control (EBC), Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution, Hill Descent Assist (HDA), Hill Climb Assist (HCA), which can only be engaged in low gear, a rollover sensor system, and Volkswagen's Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP).

The choice to include ESP standard on the Touareg and all other 2010 Volkswagens, comes ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) mandate that by the 2012 model year, all vehicles produced will need to include some form of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). According to NHTSA, having ESC in a vehicle results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars.  Volkswagen's ESP compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's actual direction. If a discrepancy is detected, ESP automatically brakes individual wheels and/or reduces engine power to help maintain directional control.

Warranty

The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg includes 24-hour Roadside Assistance for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first) as standard, plus:

    * Five-year / 60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty
    * Three-year / 36,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty, with wear and tear items and adjustments.
    * 12-year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation

The Touareg and all other 2010 Volkswagens are covered by the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program.  Under this program, all scheduled maintenance, as described in the cars' maintenance booklets, is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty - three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.  Additionally, all current Volkswagens, including the Touareg, use synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering, eliminates the need for a 5,000 mile oil change, and allows owners to drive farther between scheduled oil changes.