Volkswagen Again Announces Plan to Launch a Touareg Hybrid, This Time in 2010
By Scott Doggett February 2, 2009
Volkswagen says it's planning to launch a high-performance, all-wheel-drive hybrid version of its Touareg SUV in 2010, which the automaker claims can achieve 26 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
We certainly hope this is the case. You might recall that VW announced plans to introduce a Touareg hybrid in 2008 that would feature a 50-horsepower electric engine in conjunction with a 3.6-liter V8 engine producing 280 horsepower. Never happened.
VW says the Touareg BlueMotion Hybrid planned for 2010 will feature the new 333-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter TSI V6 from the recently-announced Audi S4. A 38-kilowatt electric motor will be sandwiched between the engine and an all-new 8-speed automatic transmission.
The V6 TSI - a highly advanced gasoline direct injection engine boosted by a mechanically-driven supercharger - on the Touareg hybrid would generate a maximum 440 pound-feet of torque, matching the torque of the standard V8-fitted Touareg.
However, when the nickel metal hydride battery is fully charged, the total output from the powertrain jumps to 374 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, permitting the Touareg to reach 62 miles per hour from a standstill in a claimed 6.8 seconds and to tow up to 7,100 pounds.
In other words, VW is claiming it will offer a Touareg hybrid that's every bit as powerful as the gas-only version (pictured), but 17 percent more fuel efficient. Assuming the price of the vehicle isn't outrageous, VW has to be pleased with itself.
The better mileage can be attributed to a start-stop system, regenerative braking and VW's so-called E-motor technology, which allows the hybrid version of the vehicle to be operated on the electric motor alone at speeds up to 31 mph, reducing fuel consumption in city driving.
When powered solely by the electric motor, the V6 is off and disconnected from the transmission by a disengagement clutch.
Also, as soon as the driver removes his foot from the gas pedal, a clutch disengages the V6 from the transmission. This eliminates mechanical drag losses, which in turn makes the Touareg coast significantly better, improving fuel efficiency.
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