Paris show: VW Touareg makes world premiere

THE Paris motor show saw the world premiere of the Porsche-engineered Touareg - like the Porsche Cayenne a five-seat monocoque-based wagon with permanent four-wheel drive.

Touareg will arrive in Australia around the middle of next year, following the Passat W8 which goes on sale in March as the second phase of Volkswagen's luxury product offensive. The Phaeton saloon will follow in 2004.

In somewhat of a coup over its development partner Porsche, VW wheeled out an astonishing twin-turbocharged diesel V10 flagship producing 230kW at 3750rpm and a Cayenne beating 750Nm of torque at just 2000rpm.

The 20-valve (only two per cylinder) long-stroke 5.0-litre engine pushes the six-speed Tiptronic-only Touareg V10 to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds, and to a top speed of 225km/h.

The volume selling Touareg in Australia will be the 3.2-litre V6 producing 162kW at 5400rpm and 305Nm of torque at 3200rpm. It and a 4.2-litre V8 version will comprise the launch range with pricing pitched at the BMW X5 Mercedes-Benz ML range.

The V10 Touareg probably won't make it here until 2004.

Touareg drives via a permanent a four-wheel drive system - with transfer case and standard off-road reduction ratio - called 4XMotion, which comprises a centre differential lock and (optional) rear differential lock - both of which can be locked manually via a rotary interior switch, over-riding the locks' automatic control.

Torque is distributed 50/50 per cent front/rear during normal driving, but up to 100 per cent can be transferred automatically via the centre diff to either axle if conditions demand it, with a four-wheel Electronic Differential Lock also directing torque in concert with the Electronic Stability Program.

V10 Touaregs are fitted with Continuous Damping Control air suspension which increases ground clearance from 237 to 300mm, the ramp-over angle from 22 to 27.2 degrees, the approach and departure angle from 28 to 33.2 degrees and water crossing ability from a depth of 500 to 580mm. CDC also automatically reduces ride height as speeds rise.

Touareg options include Phaeton's four-zone Climatronic automatic air-conditioning system and (for the V6) a keyless start system and Tyre-pressure Control System.

Like Cayenne, Touareg comes with twin front, four side and full curtain airbag protection and a 3500kg towing capacity, while there's 555 litres of luggage space (500lt in V10).