VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN

The 'Volkswagen Touran' is a compact MPV based on a vertically stretched fifth generation of the Volkswagen Golf and sold in Europe and some other selected markets. It was launched in 2003 to fill a perceived gap in Volkswagen's model lineup below the Sharan large MPV. The vehicle was originally delivered in a five- or seven-seat version, but the five seat version is no longer available. It can be considered an extended version of the Golf Plus, since their front-end are similar in size, and the Touran's rear overhang is 200 mm longer (and therefore a seven-seater, while the Golf Plus is a five-seater). In some regions, like Japan, the car is called Golf Touran.
The name 'Touran' derives from the combination of 'Touring' and 'Sedan'.

Contents

2007 facelift

Engines

Touran HyMotion & Hybrid

Commercial version

Trivia

External links

2007 facelift

The Touran will receive a facelift to be presented to the public at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Images have been released to the public along with a press release. Volkswagen has also presented images of a CrossTouran, a "rough-styled" Touran similar to the Volkswagen CrossGolf and CrossPolo.
The Touran will be the first Volkswagen available with Volkswagen's new ParkAssist technology, which automatically parks the vehicle.

Engines

The Touran is available with petrol, Diesel and compressed natural gas engines.

★ '1.4 TSI' — 140 hp (with a twincharger - delivered from summer 2006)

★ '1.6' — 102 hp

★ '1.6 FSI' — 115 hp

★ '2.0 FSI' — 150 hp

★ '1.9 TDI' — 90 or 105 hp (Diesel)

★ '2.0 TDI' — 136/140 hp (Diesel)

★ '2.0 TDI' — 170 hp (Diesel) (new for summer 2006)

★ '2.0 EcoFuel' — 109 hp (CNG)
The diesel models of the Touran offer significantly higher readings for miles per gallon. Given the proper conditions, it is possible to achieve 60 mpg in a diesel Touran. The car is delivered with a five or six-speed manual transmission, Tiptronic automatic transmission (only in 1.6-version) or the Direct-Shift Gearbox automatic transmission.

Touran HyMotion & Hybrid

The Touran HyMotion is Volkswagen's Hydrogen Development concept.
It has a nickel-metal hybrid battery which produces 80 kW, it does the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in a time of 14 seconds and has a top speed of 140 km/h.
In 2008 Shanghai-Volkswagen with Tongji University will release a Touran Hybrid as part of the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
A prototype of the Touran Hybrid was shown with power outputs from a 20 kW electric motor in conjunction with a 110 kW petrol engine, the transmission is most likely to be Volkswagen's Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG).

Commercial version

The Touran's basic design was used in the base model for the new generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Caddy).

Trivia

★ The Touran won ''What Car?'s 2005 Compact Van of the Year award.

★ Doris Schröder, wife of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, bought a Touran.

★ The Touran scored a maximum 5-star EuroNCAP crash safety rating.

★ A Hulk-inspired Touran was featured in '', driven by Bow Wow's character, Twinkie.

External links

★ VW Touran Website