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Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI |
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Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI at Pikes Peak |
17th August, 2006 The Touareg V10 TDI, a series production off-road vehicle, has reached the summit of Pikes Peak at 4,300 metres for the first time in the history of the legendary "Race to the Clouds". The competition, officially called "Pikes Peak International Hillclimbing Contest", provided the sporting backdrop for the market launch of the Touareg V10 TDI in the USA. On 1st September, the sale of the high-end off-road vehicle, which is equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard, will start in the USA. The Touareg V10 TDI is the first turbo-diesel off-road vehicle in the US market with a particulate filter (DPF). Volkswagen is, in this way, once again setting a trend for drive technologies. In comparison to similarly equipped petrol engine vehicles, the Touareg V10 TDI is approximately 30 percent more efficient. As is the case in Europe, Volkswagen is seen as the leading manufacturer of diesel passenger vehicles in the USA. A total of twelve percent of all Volkswagens sold across America already have the TDI logo, and this trend is increasing. In the TDI versions, the New Beetle and Golf are, according to the "U.S. Environmental Agency" (EPA) and the "U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)", the most economical vehicles in their class on the US market. The Touareg V10 TDI with diesel particulate filter will now augment the US off-road vehicle segment, which is dominated by petrol engine models, with a particularly fascinating, responsive, but also economic model. The three Touaregs participating in the "Race to the Clouds" were the same as the standard production model, with the exception of special safety equipment for the competition (roll-over cage, fire extinguisher, sports seats with five-point seat belts). The three vehicles used diesel fuel with low sulphur content. Racing driver Mark Miller (who also drove at the Rallye Dakar 2006 for Volkswagen) was the fastest up the mountain: after 14 minutes and 8 seconds he saw the finish line and thus left many vehicles that had been built especially for the competition behind him. The other two Touareg V10 TDI vehicles were driven by Ryan Arciero and US racing legend Danny Sullivan. Needless to say, the Touareg is an international success. And now the Americans have the opportunity to experience the Touareg V10 too! |
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