Box Autos

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, is making motoring cleaner: with the launch of every new Volkswagen model, fuel consumption and emissions are falling further. The latest example of this sustainability offensive is the new Touran. Germany’s best-selling MPV is now up to 27% more fuel-efficient – thanks to engine downsizing, innovative technologies and aerodynamic perfection. The 1.6-litre Touran TDI with BlueMotion Technology beats the 5-litre mark for the first time, with Volkswagen’s aim for the future being to get below 4.6 litres per 100km!

The Touran is the most successful German compact MPV and ‘the’ consummate family vehicle. Over 1.13 million units have been sold to date. Despite the impending model change, between Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Cologne the Touran currently achieves a market share in its segment of 47 percent! Across Europe it is also one of the top five in its class. Ideal conditions, therefore, for the launch of a new Touran generation, now redesigned in many areas. The bodywork styling now follows the updated Volkswagen ‘design DNA’. The result is a completely new front and rear section, a restyled silhouette, especially at the back, and wheels adapted to suit. Particularly striking are the new, two-part rear light clusters and the similarly redesigned headlamps with optional bi-xenon headlights, including LED daytime running lights. From a technical point of view, its progressive systems break through class boundaries, as in the case of the new, masked continuous main beam headlights (Dynamic Light Assist), and the newly developed Park Assist 2.0 for nearly automatic parallel and diagonal parking.

A full range of six new petrol and diesel engines pave the way for levels of fuel economy and emissions that were previously inconceivable on a seven-seat MPV. Setting the pace in sustainability, as mentioned above, is the Touran TDI (77 kW / 105 PS): with combined fuel consumption of 4.6 litres per 100 km (equivalent to 121 g/km CO2) it sets a new best value for a seven-seat MPV.

Also new aboard the Touran is the innovative entry-level petrol engine, the 1.2-litre TSI. It is a turbocharged direct injection engine delivering 105 PS. In the style of a TDI, it already develops a powerful 175 Newton-metres of torque from just above idling speed, yet its combined fuel consumption is only 6.4 l/100 km (equivalent to 149 g/km CO2). As an alternative, this variant is also available with BlueMotion Technology – together with the Start/Stop system and battery regeneration. In this case, values for combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced to 5.9 l/100 km and 139 g/km, respectively. High levels of efficiency are in general a feature of all engine options, of which there are eight in total – a natural gas engine (TSI EcoFuel), three petrol ones (TSI) and four diesels (TDI), with performance ranging from 66 kW / 90 PS to 125 kW / 170 PS. Without exception they are all turbocharged direct injection engines. And that means lower emissions and lower fuel consumption, yet significantly more torque! Naturally, all new Tourans fulfil the requirements of the Euro-5 emissions standard.

The specification levels of this multi-purpose vehicle equipped with up to 40 storage options have been redefined. The base model is now the Touran Trendline (previously Conceptline). However, this level of specification has nothing at all to do with ‘base’ in the traditional sense: even in the lowest priced Touran standard features include air conditioning, RCD 210 radio/CD system with MP3 function, electric windows in all four doors, elegant decorative strips in ‘Brushed Chrome’ and daytime running lights – plus, of course, safety elements, such as six airbags and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme).

Launching with an even more exclusive package of features is the Touran Comfortline including light and rain sensors; automatic dimming rear-view mirror; chrome accents on components such as the light switch, window and mirror adjustment controls; light-absorbing side windows; comfort seats in the front; folding tables for the second row of seats and black roof rails.

The exclusive top model is the Touran Highline; its extra features in addition to those of the Comfortline include Alcantara upholstery, front sport seats, automatic climate control, multifunction display with colour screen, leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction keys, 16-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails and front fog lights with chrome frames.

Now on the Touran for the first time is the RNS 315 radio/navigation system with touchscreen. Other new optional features now available include: the enormous panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, rear-view camera (standard with RNS 510 radio/navigation system) and the DCC adaptive chassis control system. Also new for the Touran is Light Assist – an automatic main beam control system for standard headlights and thus a ‘younger technological sister’ of the Dynamic Light Assist system developed for bi-xenon headlights.