Here’s What Made The Volkswagen Touareg Way More Interesting Than You Remember – SlashGear

Amenities aside, what will really interest gearheads is the plethora of engine choices for VW’s off-roader. Sure, there was the typical V6, V8, and a couple of small diesels available. Where things really got carried away was when the brand made a limited production run with a gasoline-powered 6.0 liter W12  — essentially a pair of siamese’d V6 engines — that produced 444 horsepower, propelling the Touareg from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

Unfortunately, the W12-equipped Touareg was never sold in the United States, but Americans got a heck of a consolation prize in the form of a 5.0 liter diesel-powered V10 with Volkswagen’s Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) technology. Perhaps better suited for the American market, and its penchant for hauling things like boats and travel trailers, the twin-turbo V10 TDI cranked out a respectable 309 horsepower. However, where the engine really shined was in the torque department, offering 553 pound-feet of low-end grunt.

The stump-pulling V10 TDI was briefly available for the 2004 model year, but was quickly withdrawn for non-compliance with U.S. emissions regulations. A more pollutant-friendly version of the mighty diesel returned for the 2006 model year — coinciding with a mid-cycle styling refresh — and remained on the market until the conclusion of the 2008 model year.