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February 12, 2003
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This Week:

• Next-Generation Ford Mustang Moves To New Home At Autoalliance

• Touareg voted Luxury Off-Road Vehicle of 2003

• Range Increases 80 Percent On GM Compressed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles First To Reach Milestone In Hydrogen Storage

• World premiere at the Geneva Motor Show: The new Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet

• Toyota Celebrates New San Antonio Truck Plant

• Porsche(R) Announces Cayenne's First Cross-Country Trek at Chicago Auto Show

• Z4 Drive Debuts At BMW Performance Center

• Chrysler Group President and CEO Dieter Zetsche Launches Production of All-New 2004 Chrysler Pacifica at Windsor Assembly Plant

• Mercedes-Benz USA to Offer High-Tech Diesel Car in 2004

• Renault and Nissan post 2.9% increase in unit sales to over 5.1 million vehicles in 2002

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Touareg voted Luxury Off-Road Vehicle of 2003

Photo: VW

Readers of the reputable magazine "OFF ROAD" recently chose their favorite off-road models for 2003 in various categories. The Touareg, entered for this poll for the first time, immediately took first place in the luxury category. By choosing the Touareg, OFF ROAD readers have expressed their approval of its fully engineered all-wheel-drive concept with up to three differential locks, its air suspension with variable ride height and its hill-climbing and descending assistance devices. Volkswagen has succeeded in producing a true all-rounder in the shape of the Touareg. The aim was to unite excellent on-road performance with the best off-road capabilities in a single luxurious vehicle. The poll results confirm that the readers of OFF ROAD share this view of the Touareg's concept.

The trophy was presented yesterday evening by Georg Scharnigg (publisher and editor-in-chief of OFF ROAD) and Christian Czerny (Project Manager of OFF ROAD) to Erwin Pape (Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand Director for Product Development) and Matthias Kröll (Technical Project Manager - Off Road Class).

The Touareg is currently available with a choice of two engines: a 3.2-litre V6 spark-ignition engine developing 162 kW (220 bhp) with a peak torque of 305 Nm and a V10 TDI PD diesel with an output of 230 kW (313 bhp) from 5.0 litres and a peak torque of 750 Nm. Within a short time two other engines are to be introduced: a 4.2-litre spark-ignition V8 rated at 228 kW (310 bhp) with 410 Nm of torques and a further diesel, in this case with five cylinders inline, the2.5-litre TDI PD which has a power output of 128 kW (174 bhp) and a peak torque of 400 Nm. The Touareg V6 with 6-speed manual gearbox has a list price of € 39,300.-.

(Feb 06, 2003)