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November 27, 2002
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This Week:

• DaimlerChrysler's Vision of the Future of Personal Transportation

• MINI USA Expands Personalization - Accessory Items Now Parts Of "Build-Your-Own" Configurator On MINI USA.COM 

• Wixom Assembly To Build Ford GT Supercar

• Touareg market launch in Germany on November 22, 2002

• BMW Group Presents Intelligent Driver Assistance Systems

• Further recognition for Renault's safety Expertise

• Chrysler Group to Offer Diesel-Powered Jeep(R) Liberty For North American Market

• Toyota Announces Value-Driven Prices for the All-New 4Runner V6

• Ford To Open New Parts Distribution Center In Menomonie

• GM Powertrain Names Innovation Marine As Official OEM To Marineze Vortec HP3 8100 V-8 Marine Engine

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Photo: VW

• Volkswagen enters new market segment with the Touareg
• Successful advance sales of this luxury off-road vehicle
• Great interest in the V10 TDI as the most powerful diesel engine
• Awarded the 'Golden Steering Wheel' even before the official market launch

Wolfsburg - Volkswagen's luxury off-road vehicle, will have its official market launch in Germany on November 22, 2002. Both in its looks as its technology, the Touareg marks a new vehicle design concept at the top end of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) scale. Unlike the models so far sold in this market segment, the Touareg embodies a new design philosophy, combining the features of a high-class off-road vehicle with the comfort and convenience of a luxury saloon and the dynamic attributes of a sports car.

That this combination is set to be a winner among customers can be seen in the flow of pre-launch orders: since the Touareg's official world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in late September, more than 2,000 have been placed, with the emphasis on the powerful, high-torque V10 TDI model. Readers of Germany's 'Bild am Sonntag' Sunday newspaper recently voted the sought-after 'Golden Steering Wheel' award to the Touareg as the best new model in the SUV category.

The Volkswagen Touareg is being launched with either a 3.2-liter V6 spark-ignition engine or a 5-liter V10 TDI diesel. The V6 engine develops 162 kW / 220 bhp and a torque of up to 305 Nm. The new V10 TDI is surely one of the world's most fascinating diesel engines; the twin-turbocharger 230 kW / 313 bhp engine develops an impressive 750 Nm of torque as low down the engine-speed scale as 2,000 rpm. Later a 2.5-liter five-cylinder TDI and a 4.2-liter V8 spark-ignition engine, both new designs, will be available.

Prices for the Touareg V6 with six-speed automatic transmission start at 41,350 €, for the V10 TDI, on which air suspension is standard, at 68,900.

(Nov. 22, 2002)