Rugged LuXury - Ten Years of the Touareg

In the market for a new SUV? In particular, a certain German SUV? If the Touareg has been on your short wish list, now might be the time to pull the trigger with the special edition Touareg X. 

The Touareg X has been released to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Touareg’s debut. The Touareg happens to be a former whip of mine, and one of my favorite vehicles in our line up. The Touareg has a perfect mix of luxury, performance, and practicality with it’s available super efficient clean diesel engine. When I was driving my TDI Touareg, I achieved in the low 30’s on the New Jersey Turnpike traveling back and forth from NYC to Philadelphia. That’s unbelievable fuel economy for a 5,000 lb vehicle. 

The name Touareg originates from the name of a North African tribe called the Tuareg. They are traditionally a nomadic group that moves throughout the Saharan parts of Niger, Mali, and Algeria. The Touareg has an elegant beauty about it, yet is as strong as the Tuareg people, coming equipped with 4 motion AWD and a towing capacity of over 7,000 lb. That’s tough.

The Touareg is a love child of a joint effort by Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. They wanted to create off-road SUVs that would still perform like a sports car. The result was the Volkswagen Group PL71 platform, which is shared by the Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi Q7. These vehicles are all currently built in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Touareg has had some awesome engines available in the U.S. throughout the years, including the petrol W12 engine and the V10 TDI engine. Although these powerhouse engines were beyond awesome for its performance, they weren’t the best on the pocketbook. To accommodate the best of both worlds, the Touareg now is equipped with 3 different efficient engines - A petrol 3.6L VR6, a 3.0L V6 TDI, and a supercharged 3.0L V6 gas engine and electric motor combined Hybrid engine. 

In my opinion, the Touareg TDI is the best option all around. This luxury vehicle’s EPA estimated fuel economy of 20 city/29 highway, it has a range of 765 miles on one tank. That makes trips from DC to Chicago possible without stopping for fuel. And unlike most SUVs, it picks up speed quickly with smooth transitions because of it’s DSG transmission and it’s 406 lb-ft of torque. For a moment you forget that you’re driving a mid-size SUV! The Touareg is also outfitted with premium features like 12-way power-adjustable, heated front seats with driver’s seat memory, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals and memory, and keyless access with remote start. 

Fortunately for you potential future Touareg owners, the special edition Touareg X will be equipped with a TDI engine, based on the Lux trim level. The Touareg X will be available only in a special Moonlight Blue exterior with a beautiful Truffle Brown leather interior. Special features also will include the following:

• 19-inch ‘Moab’ alloy wheels
• “Touareg X” badging and scuff plates
• Ambient lighting with illuminated doorsills
• LED taillights and LED license plate lightings
• Piano black interior trim inserts
• Ebony wood trim decor
• Alloy pedals

The Touareg X will be a limited production model with only 1000 units to be distributed. Luckily for you, there’s one available on Stohlman VW’s lot right now. Been itching to test drive a Touareg? I’d say there’s no better time than now. For more information about the Touareg X, tweet us @stohlmanauto. Until next time!

Esther Cho
Volkswagen Product Specialist
@esther_ch5

Happy Birthday GLI!

(@alyssa_mowery's 2013 Autobahn GLI)

The Volkswagen GLI will be turning 30 next year! In celebration, Volkswagen will be releasing the GLI Edition 30. The Edition 30 will come in two trim levels, and will be the only GLI models to be distributed in the United States beginning early 2014.

The GLI’s history starts in 1984 as a Mk1 (Mk - Mark - Generation platform name). It had the exterior of a Jetta, but a lot of the same drivetrain features as it’s hatchback sibling, the GTI. The Jetta GLI was to be the counterpart to the GTI, for those who wanted a fun and practical sports car, but still wanted a traditional trunk. The GLI would become increasingly popular for the U.S. market, who has throughout the years shared a serious love affair with sedans. 

(Mk2 turned to stock car, Southern Worthersee 2012)

The Mk2 GLI styling would become the most sold generation, ranging from 1985-1992. It was also when the 16 valve GLI was first introduced in 1987, and the Helios Special Edition in 1989. Volkswagen recently paid homage to the Helios Special Edition at SEMA, building a “tribute” mk6 concept car. 

In 1995, the GLX was introduced. The GLX would be the first to receive a VR6 in a smaller sedan, and came nicely equipped with leather seating, power windows, and luxurious features that the GLI had never received. The GLX offered a perfect balance of luxury, without straying from it’s sporty and practical GLI roots.

2002 marked the “Return of the GLI” (note Star Wars pun). The first few years, the GLI was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It had the same exterior of a normal Jetta, but was a monster on the inside, offering the 200 horsepower 24 valve VR6, or the 180 horsepower 1.8L Turbo engine.  It wasn’t until around 2004 that the GLI came with a body kit including 18” BBS wheels and Recaro seats. Finally, the GLI had an exterior to match what was underneath the hood.

(APR's Jeremy C's modified 2004.5 Special Edition GLI)

The Mk5 beginning in 2006 would be the introduction of the 2.0L Turbo FSI engine in the GLI and what would carry on to the Mk6 generation. The 2.0L Turbo had specs of 200 horsepower and 207 lb/ft of torque. 2014 models received a bump in power with it’s 3rd generation 2.0L TSI with 210 horsepower, and 207 lb/ft of torque.

Which brings us to 30 years. As mentioned in the beginning, the 30th anniversary model will come in 2 trim levels - Edition 30 and Edition 30 with Navigation. The Edition 30 will have 18-in “Laguna” aluminum-alloy wheels, red trim on the front grille, a rear spoiler, and Edition 30 badging. The Edition 30 with Navigation has red trim inside it’s Bi-Xenon headlights. Inside, the Edition 30 will offer contrasting color V-Tex leatherette seats with red accents and red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, armrests, shifter, and brake handle.

The Edition 30 will be well equipped offering standard features like front foglights, LED taillights, Premium VIII touchscreen radio, and Bluetooth. The Edition 30 with Nav comes also with the RNS 315 Touchscreen navigation system, a rearview camera, keyless access with push-button start, LED daytime running lights, and Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System.

Pricing has not been announced yet for the Edition 30, however current 2014 GLI’s start around $24,255 to $29,595 MSRP. The beautiful GLI offers the best of both worlds, offering the sportiness of the GTI, the practicality of the Jetta, and premium features of a luxury car. Who said you can’t have it all? Tweet us what you think @StohlmanAuto. Happy holidays and until next time!



Esther Cho
Volkswagen Product Specialist
@esther_ch5