2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Car Review

Drive Time drives and gives a full review to the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Car Review Coming late in 2010 is the all new 2nd Generation 2011 Volkswagen Touareg which will be offered for the first time with a hybrid option. This marks VW’s first four ray into the gas electric hybrid segment. V6 gas and diesel engines will also be offered. The Touareg hybrid features a 3-liter supercharge direct injection V6 paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40%. An 8-speed automatic transmission helps the Touareg hybrid achieve approximately 21 mpg, city and 25 mpg, highway. A special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg allowing it to coast an electric power alone. The electric motor can also recover kinetic energy during breaking to help recharge the nickel metal hydride battery pack with the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of 375 horsepower and 428 pound feet of torque are available allowing for full towing capacity of up to 7700 pounds. Four motion all wheel drive is standard. VW is calling this the brands most technically innovative model and will position the Touareg hybrid on the high-end. Though US pricing has yet to be released, it’s selling in Europe for close to $100,000.00. For Drive Time on Yahoo Autos, I’m Steve Hammes.