V8 diesel for VW Touareg

Volkswagen’s second-generation Touareg looks set to be crowned by a new range-topping V8 diesel model in Australia, where the German giant has received federal approval for the bahnstorming V8 TDI model.

Also seen in the Audi Q7 4.2 TDI, the oil-burning twin-turbo bent-eight produces 250kW and no less than 800Nm, and returns combined fuel consumption of just 9.1L/100km in the Touareg.

Matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission (rather than the six-speed auto of the 2440kg Q7) the VW 4.2 TDI engine is likely to propel the MkII Touareg, which weighs up to 222kg less than the original it replaced here in July 2011, faster and more efficiently than the Q7 4.2 TDI, which can hit 100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

The 2264kg Touareg 4.2 TDI will also be cheaper than the Q7 4.2 TDI ($129,300), and should top the range at around $115,000 – significantly more than the entry-level 3.0 150 TDI ($62,990), the mid-range 3.0 V6 FSI and TDI ($77,990) and the 3.0 V6 TDI 4Motion ($82,990).

Volkswagen Group Australia General Manager Press and PR Karl Gehling would not confirm the 4.2 TDI’s introduction to the local Touareg range, saying only: “We obtain Australian Design Rule approval for a range of models for a number of reasons.”

However, the cost of homologating a new model can be more than $100,000, and the 4.2 TDI – which has been available in New Zealand since launch - received ADR approval alongside a range of other MY13 Touareg models with carryover engines on June 26.

Like its V6 petrol and diesel-powered siblings, the Touareg 4.2 TDI has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg (750kg unbraked), but comes with larger 360mm front brake discs and rides on larger 18-inch alloy wheels.

Options available across the MY13 Touareg range will include airbag suspension, gas discharge headlights, adaptive front lighting with cornering lamps, daytime running lights and an emergency stop signal.

If it does go on sale here, the 4.2 TDI won’t be the first Touareg V8 or the first Touareg performance diesel. The first-generation model was available with a 4.2-litre petrol V8, as well as a 5.0-litre V10 turbodiesel that produced some 258kW in the top-shelf Touareg R50, which was discontinued here in February 2010.

There is still no sign of a replacement for the original R50 or – for Australia – the fuel-sipping supercharged petrol-electric Touareg Hybrid sold overseas, but Volkswagen is quick to point out the new 4.2 TDI consumes 2.8L/100km less than the previous Touareg R50.

This is thanks largely to an eight-speed auto that contains two overdriven ratios, with top gear reducing engine speed by 34 per cent compared to sixth gear.

Like all new Touaregs, the 4.2 TDI’s body is five per cent more torsionally rigid than the model it replaces, as well as being bigger (at 4795mm long, 1940mm wide and 1709mm high), offering more rear legroom and cargo space - between 660 and 1642 litres.

For the record, the Touareg Hybrid produces 240kW/360Nm, can sprint to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and returns 8.2L/100km, while the 176kW V6 TDI is also fitted with an idle-stop function and returns 7.4L/100km. The V6 TSI petrol model returns 9.9L/100km.

The MY13 Touareg 4.2 TDI won’t be VW’s only new model release during 2012, when the manual-only Up! three- and five-door city hatch becomes available in October, followed by the high-riding Passat Alltrak 125TDI crossover later that month.

Volkswagen will now not launch its new-generation Beetle in Australia until early 2013, and says the convertible version is not yet confirmed for Australia.

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