Volkswagen of America's president and CEO Stefan Jacoby opened the automaker's press conference with a healthy dose of German confidence by saying VW is "investing $4 million in the U.S. market. The recession did not slow us down."
After Jacoby assured us that VW will continue to grow its market share, Walter de'Silva, head of design for the entire VW group, talked briefly about what to expect from VW's future design direction.
De'Silva described the VW Touareg Hybrid, shown here for the first time in the U.S., as a true VW. "Not arrogant or aggressive," he said. "But a good combination of performance and elegance."
De'Silva also said consumers will immediately recognize a VW on the road, while experiencing the distinct personality that comes with each vehicle.
To read more about the Touareg Hybrid, check out our First Drive.
bankerdanny says:
02:43 PM, 03/31/10
Reading the review it strikes me that the Touareg hybrid is about as pointless as the Escalade hybrid. There may be an improvement in fuel economy, but it will be from abismal to just bad. The people that will buy a $70K+ SUV really aren't concerned with economy anyway.
Alternatively one might think it at least serves as a test case, but then you read that it uses a different battery than the other VW hybrids will use. In the end, this vehicle and the related Porsche just provide cover to people who want to appear to be environmentally concious without actually downsizing their vehicles. They are all image over substance.
Why not a hybrid Tiguan to compete with the Highlander and Escape?
brn says:
03:48 PM, 03/31/10
I just can't get excited about a Touareg anything.