TOUAREG GAINS POWER BOOST AS NEW R50 MODEL GOES ON SALE

Volkswagen has revealed full details of its range-topping Touareg luxury 4x4 – the R50 – which offers customers more power and equipment, and boasts one of the most powerful diesel engines available on the market.

At the heart of the Touareg R50 is Volkswagen’s award-winning 5.0-litre V10 TDI engine, uprated from 313 PS to produce 350 PS at 3,500 rpm. Beyond the power output, the R50’s engine has also been given a substantial boost to produce an extra 100 Nm of torque: if the standard car’s 750 Nm was more than enough to enable the Touareg to tow a Boeing 747, pulling power of an enormous 850 Nm (627 lbs ft) sets the R50 yet further apart from the crowd.

These figures translate into on road performance which would leave many hot hatches standing. The R50 accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.7 seconds, and can hit a top speed of 146 mph. Compare this, for example, with the ‘R’ branded Golf, the R32, which goes to 62 mph in 6.5 seconds and has a 155 mph top speed. Yet, despite its extra punch the Touareg R50 has the same fuel economy and CO₂ output as the standard V10 TDI (22.4 mpg combined and 333 g/km). Naturally the R50 benefits from standard 4XMOTION four-wheel drive which is channelled through a six-speed automatic gearbox. CDC (Continuous Damping Control) with sports modification which sees the car lowered by around 20 mm is also a standard feature on the R50.

Distinguishing the R50 from the previous range-topper, the Altitude V10 TDI, are a set of 21-inch ‘Omanyt’ ten-spoke alloy wheels as well as the Touareg ‘R’ design package. This includes at the back a body-coloured roof spoiler, restyled body-coloured bumper and oval tailpipe trims. Wheel arch extensions and blue brake callipers enhance the distinctive wheels, while at the front the R50 gains a matt chrome radiator grille and louvres as well as honeycomb-style inserts in the airdams.

Inside, and on top of the Altitude V10’s already luxurious specification, the R50 has ‘R’ logos on the pedals, door sill protectors and Nappa leather sports seats, as well as heated outer rear seats, a ski sack and a net partition.

The R50 is priced at £61,885 (RRP OTR), representing a £3,885 premium over the Altitude V10 TDI. Prices for the Touareg range start at £29,880.

83 MPG, 89 G/KM OF CO2: INTRODUCING THE GOLF TDI HYBRID CONCEPT

The challenge: to create a viable, highly-efficient family vehicle capable of emitting less than 90 g/km of CO₂. The Volkswagen engineers’ solution, unveiled on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, combines an advanced diesel engine with an electric motor and the very latest generation of seven-speed DSG gearbox. The so-called Golf TDI Hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 83 mpg on the combined cycle and emitting just 89 g/km of CO₂ – while around town the vehicle reverts to purely electric mode to be emission-free.

At the core of the new Golf TDI Hybrid is a highly-efficient 1.2-litre three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine developing 75 PS and 132 lbs ft of torque. Working either in tandem with the diesel engine or, if required, on its own, is an electric motor developing 27 PS and 103 lbs ft of torque. The electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging.

It can also operate as a generator, recovering kinetic energy from the car during braking to charge the 220 volt, 45 kg nickel metal hydride battery which has a capacity of 1.4 kW hours.

In practice the electric motor powers the vehicle from standstill with the diesel engine only engaging should additional acceleration be required or at higher speeds. In these situations the diesel engine takes over with the electric motor only working if required to supplement the combustion engine – for example, during overtaking manoeuvres. When at a standstill the diesel engine shuts down completely to conserve fuel and increase efficiency. The energy split is relayed to the driver and passengers through a graphic display accessed through the touchscreen satellite navigation screen.

Drive on the concept car is channelled through the new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox. This features a pair of dry clutches as opposed to the wet clutches and sets a new energy efficiency standard for automatic gearboxes.

Visual changes which differentiate the Golf TDI Hybrid include a new, unique grille design, smaller front air intakes to reduce aerodynamic drag and subtle ‘TDI-Hybrid’ badging. The Golf TDI Hybrid also sits lower than the standard Golf on revised suspension and adopts the front splitter from the Golf GTI Edition 30 to help further reduce aerodynamic drag. A unique interior further distinguishes the Golf TDI Hybrid from the conventional vehicle.

The Golf TDI Hybrid is currently a concept vehicle, but a version of this vehicle is likely to go into production in the future.

PACE, STYLE AND ADVANCED DYNAMICS: THE NEW SCIROCCO

The Scirocco’s back. Beneath striking new styling lies the most dynamic and technologically advanced production coupé Volkswagen has ever built.

The essence of the original Scirocco is apparent in its modern day successor. The mix of distinctive coupé styling, a practical hatchback boot, a transversely mounted four-cylinder engine channelling drive through the front wheels and sharp, responsive dynamics that made the Scirocco such a success at launch in 1974 remains. Yet every element of the new vehicle’s construction belongs firmly in the present day.

Styled by a team led by Klaus Bischoff, Chief Designer at Volkswagen, the Scirocco draws inspiration from the Iroc Concept, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2006. Deep front airdams and a razor-thin grille element are framed by twin-lens headlight units. In a rare departure the Volkswagen roundel has been moved from the grille to the bonnet. Further back, pronounced haunches that sweep over the rear wheel arches are accentuated by a tapered sill line that pinches around the middle of the vehicle mimicking the look of the original Iroc Concept car. The haunches flow into the slim high intensity rear light units and a wide, practical hatchback boot, on top of which is a subtle aerodynamic wing.

The aggressive yet cohesive design of the exterior runs into the new Scirocco’s interior. The driver is placed in a highly supportive front seat beside which are beautifully crafted triangular grab handles. A contoured, flat-bottomed sports steering wheel frames dials that glow white at night. The interior is airy and light, while the option of an electrically-operated panoramic sunroof further emphasises the feeling of spaciousness.

Despite the focus on style and dynamics the Scirocco remains practical. The wide boot aperture leads to a 292 litre luggage space that can expand, via the split folding rear seats, to 755 litres.

The new Scirocco features four, individual sculpted seats finished in a choice of either cloth or leather. The sports seats aren’t just restricted to those up front – the contoured rear seats feature integrated headrests to offer plenty of support. Despite the sweeping roofline all four occupants of the Scirocco benefit from extensive headroom.

Proportions for the new Scirocco are classic coupé – short, low and wide. A long wheelbase measuring 2,578 mm brings with it stability and packaging benefits. The vehicle measures 4,256 mm long, 1,404 mm high and 1,810 mm wide. Compare this with the Golf GTI which has the same length wheelbase and dimensions of 4,216 mm long, 1,469 mm high and 1,759 mm wide.

Key to the advances made by the Scirocco are the new dynamic aids. All models feature advanced adaptive chassis control offering three driver-selected settings – comfort, normal and sport – allowing a balance between sharp responses and comfortable everyday accessibility. The system’s influence extends to the steering system: should ‘sport’ be selected the steering firms up to provide more feel while ‘comfort’ mode makes the steering lighter and easier to operate at low speeds or around town.

The Scirocco’s sharp dynamics are linked to a range of powerful yet efficient petrol and diesel engines. The new model will be launched in the UK fitted with a 2.0-litre T-FSI four-cylinder engine developing 200 PS and driving through the front wheels via a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed DSG gearboxes. A range of TSI and common rail TDI engines will also be offered linked to six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearboxes, from the end of the year.

A comprehensive range of safety features is fitted to the Scirocco as standard. These include six airbags, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) and ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist.

Full UK specification and pricing will be announced in June when the car will be opened for ordering, prior to the first UK deliveries in September. Prices for the launch model are expected to start at around £20,000.

The origins of the Volkswagen coupé

Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and assembled by Karmann in Osnabruck, Germany, the original Scirocco coupé arrived in the UK along with the iconic Golf GTI in 1974.

The engine line-up started with the modest 1.3-litre, four cylinder unit developing 60 bhp. By the time the model ceased production in 1993 it was topped by a 1.8-litre 16v engine developing a more substantial 139 bhp to raise the top speed to 129 mph and drop the 0 to 62 mph dash to 8.1 seconds.

The Mk I Scirocco marked the debut of the iconic wedge shape that would be carried over in slightly smoothed off form – dropping the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.38 in the process – for the Mk II vehicle which broke cover in 1981. Despite the visual similarities the Mk II Scirocco featured an all-new chassis as well as an updated interior and engines.

Over two generations and 19 years, a total of 77,460 Sciroccos were sold in the UK alone. In this time various special editions and performance models were offered including the GLI, GTI, the Storm in 1984 and the 16V GTX in 1985.

In 1989 the Corrado model was introduced. Sitting above the Scirocco range the Corrado adopted its wedge styling in a completely new chassis featuring active aerodynamics in the form of a rear wing that rose at speeds of over 45 mph. Featuring a choice of three new engines topped by the 2.9-litre 190 bhp VR6 unit the Corrado went on to replace the Scirocco in 1993 as the coupé in the Volkswagen range when sales ceased.

The UK market accounted for 10,155 sales of the Corrado between 1989 and 1996.