VW Aus puts hand up for Touareg V8 TDI
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 5th Jun 2019
VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia has indicated its desire for the top-spec Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI, however securing the high-performance engine would still be at least a year away for the brand.
The Touareg V8 TDI borrows the 4.0-litre turbo-diesel from the Audi SQ7 and Bentley Bentayga, tuned to produce 310kW from 3500-5500rpm and a mammoth 900Nm from a low 1000-3250rpm.
Driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, the V8 TDI can complete the sprint from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
Speaking to GoAuto at the Australian launch of the third-generation Touareg last week, Volkswagen Group Australia product marketing manager Jeff Shafer said the company was hoping for the V8 to make its way Down Under.
“Over time there might be something else we can bring to the table, we’d love to have the 310 engine,” he said.
“It’s not currently scheduled in for Australia but we’re definitely raising our voice and our hand and trying to get that, but it will definitely be at least a year that we’re using (a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6) only, in terms of the diesel range.
“But we’ll certainly keep our minds open to other product extensions if we’ve got the chance.”
The sole engine choice for the initial Touareg is a 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, however different engine tunes including 170kW/500Nm and 210kW/600Nm have been rumoured to arrive at some point.
There is clear precedent for a powerful, turbo-diesel V8 Touareg, with the outgoing range topped by a 4.2-litre oil-burning bent-eight producing 250kW/800Nm.
The first-generation version was also at one time topped by the wild R50 variant, which made use of a 5.0-litre turbo-diesel V10 pumping out 258kW/850Nm, while a ‘regular’ version also churned out 230kW/750Nm.
Mr Shafer said that based on the previous top-spec models, the V8 TDI would not be a big seller for the brand, but given the Touareg is now the flagship for the Volkswagen line-up, a halo model would be well suited.
“We’ve had the V8 in the outgoing range as well which is a pretty strong engine, it’s never huge percentage of sales, but it’s important as the flagship of the flagship to show the maximum (potential of the vehicle),” he said.
“So it’s never been huge, it’s always been in the five per cent mix level, so it’s aspirational but it’s also about being the spearhead of new technology. We definitely have our hands up.”
In international markets, the V8 TDI comes equipped with 19-inch alloys, aluminium or porous wood dashboard trim, Vienna leather seats, Discover Pro navigation system, multifunction display and air suspension.
The turbo-diesel engine meets Euro 6 emissions standards, and its 3500kg braked towing capacity could appeal to Australian buyers.
Pricing would likely be somewhere in the $120,000-$150,000 range, where it could sit above the outgoing V8 version and underneath the Audi SQ7.
The Touareg range kicks off at $89,990 for the 190TDI Launch Edition, which will be swapped out for two full-time specification levels in the fourth quarter of this year.
