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So, different cars for different needs, although we’re pretty sure that there are plenty of thrill seeking sheiks with a gold fetish out there interested in buying both, should the concepts ever make it into series production.
Powered by an unspecified 310HP engine, the Race Touareg 3 is a no compromise beast capable to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than six seconds, built with know-how acquired in one of the toughest rally races in the world.
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“We will be looking to really grow, particularly in the compact SUV segment”, VW's U.S. chief Jonathan Browning told Bloomberg news. “Over time, I think there's also scope for growth in terms of a larger SUV within the portfolio”.
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Volkswagen is changing this by introducing the “Augmented Reality” technology designed to offer its service personnel a virtual X-ray-like view of the car. According to the automaker, employees will make use of this technology to improve their training and knowledge of the cars.
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For the time being, the only available engine kit is for the 4.2-liter TDI V8 diesel unit that increases output from 340HP and 800Nm of torque to 410HP and a monstrous 930Nm or 686 lbs-ft, respectively. As a result, 0-100km/h (62mph) drops from 5.8 seconds to 5.4 seconds while top speed is increased from 242km/h to 269km/h or 167mph.
For example, there's the Touareg hybrid that features a TSI V6 hooked up to an E-Motor which put out a combined 380 horsepower (while reaching a top electric speed of 50 km/h and maintaining a fuel economy of 8.2L/100km / 29 MPG US).
Also, all other engines have either improved significantly in fuel economy and emissions or have been replaced. The 280-horsepower 3.6 liter V6 uses 9.9L/100 km (24 MPG US) and releases only 236g of CO2 per kilometer.
The V6 TDI is even better, at 7.4L/100km (32 MPG US) and 195g/km; in European guise it even puts out 240 horsepower and 550 Nm / 406 lb-ft of torque.
Set for a Geneva Motor Show debut on March 2 with European sales to follow in April, the new 2011 Touareg shares most of its underpinnings with the forthcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne.
At a first glance, it appears that the designers kept the basic shape of the current model and added a new face that's inspired from the firm's latest production and concept models such as the Golf VI, Polo and the NCC study.
Look closer though and you'll see that there's new sheetmetal everywhere with the most important stylistic changes concerning the lower roofline and the curvier profile lines.
The images suggest that Volkswagen's designers more or less kept the basic shape of the current model and sprinkled it with the firm's latest styling cues (we know, how exciting....) especially up front which appears to share a lot with the most recent VW's like the Golf, Polo and Scirocco.
Also part of the German tuner's kit are a set of 20-inch "Prado" alloy wheels in silver with a stainless steel lip that are wrapped in tires size 265/40 20. Hofele Design did not announce pricing for the limited edition package.
In anticipation of the 2010 Dakar Rally that leads through Argentina and Chile from 2 to 16 January 2010, Volkswagen has launched a new iPhone application for the event. Named "Volkswagen Rally mobile – 2010 Dakar", the free of charge app will send news, results, videos and background information on the German firm's five factory-prepped and -fielded Race Touaregs directly to the user's iPhone display."Volkswagen has always stood for innovations in motorsport," said the German automaker's motorsport director, Kris Nissen.
"The iPhone application for the Volkswagen's involvement in the Dakar is unique in the world of rally racing to date as well and offers users of the cult mobile the chance to stay informed about current Dakar events around the clock."
Those of you interested can download the application directly from Apple's online store at www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/dakar_iPhone
Volkswagen's U.S. division has issued a recall notice on 14,416 Touareg SUVs from the 2007-2009 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, on these particular models, the fastening struts on the roof spoiler may crack, causing the spoiler to become loose and quite possibly, fall off from the vehicle without any warning at all. The German automaker said that its dealers will install reinforcement wedges to the roof edge spoiler on the affected models free of charge.
Blue is Volkswagen's way of saying green with the automaker applying its ecological brand to the most efficient and economical models in each range. The latest BlueMotion model is based on the Touareg SUV and is equipped with a more efficient but less powerful version of the standard car's 3.0-litre V6 TDI common rail diesel engine which develops 225HP and 550Nm (405-lbs/ft) of torque, and drives through a six-speed automatic tiptronic gearbox. 
Like all BlueMotion models in the Volkswagen range, the Touareg features a number of modifications to improve fuel efficiency including revised aerodynamics, an optimized engine with a more efficient alternator, low rolling resistance tires and a 25mm lower ride height to reduce drag.
Altogether, these revisions help the Touareg BlueMotion boost fuel economy from 30.4mpg UK (23.3mpg US or 9.2lt/100km) to 34.0mpg UK (28.3mpg US or 8.3lt/100km) while cutting down CO2 emissions from 244 g/km to 219 g/km.
improved fuel efficiency and, well below the tax threshold of less than 225 g/km. Prices for the most efficient version of Volkswagen's luxury off-road vehicle start at £34,150 on the road RRP for the entry level model and rise to £37,545 for the SE.
Performance-wise, the Touareg BlueMotion is a tad slower than its standard 3.0 TDI counterpart with a 0 to 62 mph (100km/h) time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 126mph or 203km/h (vs 8.0 sec and 207km/h respectively).
Prices for the BlueMotion version of Volkswagen's luxury off-roader start in the UK at £34,150 for the entry level model and rise to £37,545 for the SE. The first examples are scheduled to arrive in showrooms in September.
