For one week, Diesel Power had in its possession a turbodiesel 5.0L V-10 packing 553 lb-ft of torque achieved at 2,000 rpm. We eventually discovered a vehicle was attached to this engine. Once that realization set in, the goal was to judge the Volkswagen Touareg 2's capability and quality. The Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI Twin Turbo has more features built into its side mirrors than most vehicles have all together. Let us set all novelties aside and focus on what matters most-the turbodiesel. The VW has 10 cylinders cast in iron at 90 degrees, the crankshaft is forged steel, and the aluminum heads have two valves per cylinder. Intercooled variable vane Garrett (GT1852V) twin-turbos bring symmetry and 310 hp (underrated) to this tight, dense, clean machine. Bosch handles the fuel delivery with its EDC-16 system, capable of producing 29,700 psi of direct injection. The injector type is named "Pumpe Duse" (German for pump nozzle), which is another name for unit injector. The front of the engine does not have a mechanical fan or external belts. Instead, the accessories are driven inline inside a crankcase on the driver side of the engine.
From the front view of the engine, the only thing visible is a huge harmonic dampener. According to Worldcarfans.com, to further control vibrations a counter-rotating balancer shaft is used in conjunction with a crankpin offset of 18 degrees. Changing the oil on this beast requires 14.3 quarts with a filter.
Whereas most of its competitors add industrial hooks, multiple giant emblems, huge roof racks, plastic trim, etc., the VW has a simple appearance. The sheet metal is fully galvanized. The Galapagos Metallic paint is smooth and has little orange peel.
The air suspension raises and lowers just like a tortoise in order to keep its belly from getting hung up. When you put your foot down, the Touareg's chassis flattens like a turtle shell and scoots just like in Super Mario Brothers.
Here is a cutaway of the V-10....
Here is a cutaway of the V-10. Notice how there are no belts to drive the accessories since they are mechanically driven inline off the rear of the crankshaft right below the exhaust manifold.
The Touareg is like a football team's quarterback. While burly, it is designed not to get touched. To protect its blindside, there is a backup camera employing a digital grid. Radar sensors bring information to a display located on the dash to keep your bumpers from bumping. The 19-inch rims are concave and do stick out slightly past the tires. Be careful not to scrape them on rocks or curbs. The front skidplates are plastic, but there are two metal rails up front that would protect the underbody in many situations. Nothing hangs down and the air dam is about an inch in length. Such a short dam is possible because of the air suspension with six different ride heights. Dampening force is also adjustable with three different settings. The Touareg 2 features a symmetrical approach and departure angles of 33 degrees at maximum height. Extremely low gearing and a locker in both the transfer case and rear differential give the driver incredible traction. Computer systems make off-roading with the Touareg effortless. The challenge became trying to make this levelheaded beast lose control. If you drive this VW off-road, it will change your driving style. Although it can crawl, thanks to its smart traction devices, this rally car was born to go fast and relies on momentum more than articulation.
Volkswagen uses sound-dampening...
Volkswagen uses sound-dampening material in its engine cover to reduce noise levels.
The U.S. version of the Volkswagen Touareg 2 has its top speed limited to 130 mph. At 70 mph the engine turns at 1,800 rpm. This thing wanted to go faster than 80 mph, and luckily the VW engineers haven't quite created artificial intelligence.
At a standstill, there is virtually no noise, and this theme continues at highway speeds. In turns, the VW's 5,825 pounds feels more like 6,800 pounds. Its advanced and massive brakes can handle the weight and stopping is no problem. The power is smooth and constant, and whatever speed you want is a foot tap away.