2011 Volkswagen Touareg 2

Specifications prices Modifications and Image 2011 Volkswagen Touareg 2
The second generation of Volkswagen’s full sized SUV, the VW Touareg has made its first appearance on the internet, before we actually see the new car in flesh this March at the Geneva Motor Show. Aside from the revised exterior styling, the new Touareg will be the first and only off road capable vehicle in Europe built by a German car maker to be offered as a hybrid when it goes on sale this April.

INTERIOR
The Touareg's interior features are high on quantity and quality. While reviewers used to find the button-heavy dashboard confusing, the controls and systems inside the redesigned 2011 model are more intuitive. All models come with a seven-inch widescreen display between the main gauges.
Volkswagen has not released specs on the new Touareg, but all trims are expected to come with a navigation system – a rare standard feature even in a luxury SUV. Reviewers really like the system because it displays maps and directions in a three-dimensional view. The navigation system also comes with a 60-Gigabyte hard drive and satellite radio.

 EXTERIOR
The new Touareg is a much more elegant SUV thanks to the addition Volkswagen’s new "design DNA" that includes touches like a leaner more athletic body featuring more horizontal lines on the front end as well as distinctive headlights that give the new Touareg an unmistakable appearance at night; and will be offered with a choice of FSI V6, TDI V6 and V8 as well as a hybrid version that replaces the old gas burning V8 mill for most markets. The hybrid versions combines a high voltage electric motor with a direct injected gas burning supercharged TSI V6 cranking out 333 HP, like in the S4, and an 8 speed automatic transmission that gets nearly 29 MPG and is able to operate under battery power alone as a Zero Emissions Vehicle up to 31 MPH.

ENGINE
The new Touareg Hybrid comes with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine paired with an electric motor. The powerplant makes a combined total of 375 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. The Touareg’s other two engines are carryovers from 2010. The base 3.6-liter V6 makes 280 horsepower, while the 3.0-liter six-cylinder common-rail diesel makes 225 horsepower. All three engines are mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Test drivers say all three engines have plenty of power, but they are most excited about the new hybrid powetrain. They say that the transition from gasoline to electric power is barely detectable. The hybrid even has the ability to “coast” after the engine shuts down. That means that all systems, such as power steering, continue working even when you’re using solely electric power.
The EPA estimates that the 2011 Touareg with the 3,6-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission will get 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highwway.  That's about average for the class.  Volkswagen estimates the hybrid will achieve 21 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway, which is one of the highest ratings in its class. The diesel engine gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway.
In the Touareg’s class, you can easily find SUVs with better fuel economy than the base model. The Lexus RX 350 starts at about $4,000 less than the Touareg and has a much better 18/25 mpg fuel economy rating (incidentally, that rating matches the diesel Touareg’s rating, but the RX 350 costs $7,000 less than the Touareg TDI). You can even get better fuel economy than the Touareg Hybrid by opting for the Lexus RX Hybrid. It has a 32/28 fuel economy rating and starts at $8,000 less than the Touareg.

 SAFETY
The federal government has not yet crash tested the 2011 Touareg. However, the 2011 Touareg does very well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, earning "Top Safety Pick" status.
The Touareg came standard with anti-lock brakes, Anti-Slip Regulation, Engine Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution, driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, and front and rear side-curtain head airbags. A rearview camera is also standard, as is a rollover sensor.
Optional safety systems for the 2011 model  include a lane departure warning and blind spot detection system.reference:usnews.rankingsandreviews.com,www.topspeed.com

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Specifications prices Modifications and Image 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
There's a gray area between mainstream crossover SUVs and luxury models and that's where the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan resides -- a niche where economy and utility collide with upscale appointments and badge recognition. The big question is, can a vehicle be both mainstream and luxury? The short answer is a waffling, "maybe."
The VW Tiguan's interior is a welcome departure from the plastic-trimmed cabin of the typical compact crossover. The quality of materials in this VW approaches that of premium brands like Audi, while the solid construction of this VW's interior eclipses that of its competition in the segment. Even the Tiguan's road manners achieve a certain level of sophistication. Compared to its rivals, the Tiguan is, in a single word, European.
The Tiguan's styling cues place it somewhere between the larger VW Touareg SUV and smaller VW Golf hatchback. The Tiguan's look has been updated ever so slightly for 2011, notably with a new grille. Other than this, the only substantive change for 2011 is the elimination of the Wolfsburg Edition trim level. All this suits us just fine, as the mix of European charm and engaging driving dynamics is what sets the Tiguan apart from the rest of the compact crossovers, not simply its styling.
At the same time, the 2011 VW Tiguan comes up slightly short in terms of space and utility. The Tiguan's passenger space is decidedly smaller, and luggage capacity behind the rear seat is substantially less than that of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Even when the rear seat is folded down, the VW's maximum cargo space still comes up about 25 percent shy of its bigger Japanese competitors. Buyers who place a premium on pure utility would probably be better served by something else.
Buyers whose priorities are weighted toward quality and refinement, however, will find the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan a compelling proposition. Of course, even the Tiguan's mix of style and refinement now has been embraced by some of its competition, notably the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. The VW still has an edge when it comes to interior quality, but we think it best to check out all of the alternatives before saying "maybe" to the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan.

 INTERIOR
The Tiguan has the straightforward, versatile, and comfortable interior that compact crossover shoppers look for. Sporty and supportive seats give good comfort and an excellent driving position in front, and the flexible interior package includes second-row split bench seats designed to slide and tilt. Even larger adults will be very comfortable in the front seats, thanks to generous headroom, shoulder room, and legroom, and the back seats are ample for adults. The cargo compartment has a small hidden storage bin underneath the load floor, and with the 60/40-split back seats folded there's 56 cubic feet of expanded cargo space. A twin glove box up front adds convenience, and there are numerous other cubbies.

Overall, the Tiguan has a very refined, high-quality feel inside. Fit and finish and build quality in the Tiguan are top-notch, and while there's a little wind noise on the highway, the Tiguan's cabin is well isolated from road and engine noise.

EXTERIOR

The Tiguan looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg midsize SUV until you step around back, where it looks like the rear end of a Golf compact hatchback. Unlike the Touareg line, which is exceptionally heavy — to the detriment of performance and gas mileage — the Tiguan's weight is more in line with its car-based competitors.

Exterior features include:

• Standard 16-inch wheels
• Available 17- and 18-inch wheels
• Standard wheel locks
• Standard rear spoiler
• Standard chrome grille and exhaust tip

  

ENGINE

The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. All trim levels come standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional on the SE and SEL. A six-speed manual is standard on the Tiguan S, while a six-speed automatic is optional on the S and standard on the SE and SEL.
In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which is about average for other crossovers in this class. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy is again average at 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for both the front- and all-wheel-drive models with the automatic, while the S trim's standard manual is essentially the same at 19/26/22.

 SAFETY
With the Tiguan, Volkswagen keeps to its commitment to safety features and top-notch occupant protection. Standard features include front side airbags, side-curtain bags, and stability control, while rear side thorax airbags—not often available in this class—are an option. On all-wheel-drive versions, hill descent control is also included, to help control speed on steep slopes. Safety results have been excellent.reference:www.cars.com,www.thecarconnection.com,www.edmunds.com