Featured Vehicles

Volkswagen Touareg TDI

The 2013 Touareg offers a choice of three highly-advanced powertrains that each offer unique driving characteristics. 

The 3.6-liter VR6 FSI® gasoline engine is one of the most powerful that Volkswagen builds. With double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection, it produces 280 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Exceptionally quiet and refined, it delivers impressive off-the-line acceleration, strong mid-range response for fast, safe passing, and relaxed high-speed cruising. Coupled with the eight-speed automatic transmission that’s standard on all 2013 Touareg models, the VR6 has EPA estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. 

The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine in the TDI® Clean Diesel model has been significantly revised, with an engine block that is constructed from compacted graphite iron (CGI). This material matches conventional cast iron for strength but allows for a significant reduction in mass to the tune of 55 pounds compared with the previous V6 TDI unit. The engine now produces 240 horsepower (up from 225) and delivers a mighty 406 lb-ft of torque from just 2000 rpm. It also delivers an EPA-estimated 29 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in city driving. 

To achieve its 50-state-legal emissions qualification, a deNOx catalytic converter, augmented by a special injection system that sprays AdBlue into the exhaust, helps reduce NOx emissions by up to 90 per cent. This lets the engine meet the Tier 2, Bin 5/ULEV II standards imposed across all 50 U.S. states. 

Like the Touareg VR6, the TDI comes standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This transmission configures seventh and eighth gears as fuel-efficient overdrives: top gear reduces engine revs by 33 percent over sixth gear. (The car’s maximum speed is reached in sixth gear.) In addition to offering significant fuel economy benefits, it makes for quieter, more relaxed highway cruising.

The transmission also features manual gear control along with Sport mode and a Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) that adapts to the driver’s individual style and adjusts the shift points accordingly.