2010 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Review

Here are four sneak peeks in one: the Volkswagen Touareg in these pictures hides a new hybrid system that will be offered not only in a brand-new Touareg to be launched at the Frankfurt auto show in September, but also in the new Porsche Panamera and Cayenne and - mated to a smaller gasoline engine - in the Audi Q5.

VW's first hybrid might be late, but it's good. On the internal-combustion side is a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 from the new Audi S4 that makes 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. With the help of an AC motor powered by nickel-metal-hydride batteries, total system power is impressive, at about 370 hp and 405 lb-ft. The electric motor can propel the car unassisted for more than a mile and at speeds of up to 30 mph. Both motors apply force to the same driveshaft; a disengagement clutch allows the gasoline engine to be shut off at speeds of up to 90 mph, cutting highway fuel consumption. An eight-speed automatic transmission provides the broad range of ratios needed to achieve the Touareg's 26-mpg efficiency target and maintain a 7700-pound towing capacity.

IT'S A MEAN GREEN MACHINE: Despite weighing about 5300 pounds, this Touareg prototype bolts off the line, hitting 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds; expect the lighter Panamera to improve substantially on that performance. Our only criticism is a lack of progressive feel from the regenerative brakes, but we suspect Porsche in particular will have fixed that by the time this system makes its way into production.

2011 Volkswagen NMS

VW is replacing the Passat with a new mid-size sedan, presently known only as the, um, New Mid-size Sedan. A sketch released by the automaker suggests that the final product, due in 2011, will be more chiseled than current VWs, but the NMS is sized specifically for the U.S. market. Engine offerings will include both direct-injection gasoline and turbo-diesel models, mated to either a six-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual. The NMS will be produced in Tennessee at VW's new factory, which is currently under construction.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta Arriving in late 2010 as a 2011 model, the sixth-generation Jetta is, for the first time, not a direct descendant of the Golf. The new, better-looking sedan will have a killer base price, made possible by reverting to a torsion-beam rear axle on the lowest trim levels.

2012 Volkswagen Polo The Volk from Wolfsburg want to bring us the tiny Polo in the form of a four-door sedan or as a slightly larger and taller version of the European Polo hatchback. Expect a 105-hp, 1.2-liter turbocharged I-4 and a base price of $13,000 to give the Honda Fit something to worry about.

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2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Starts at $19,910

Mitsubishi announced today that pricing for the 2010 Lancer Sportback will begin at $19,910 (including a $720 destination and handling fee) for a base GTS with a five-speed manual transmission, about $400 more than a similarly equipped Lancer GTS sedan.

The base Sportback GTS is equipped with Mitsubishi's 2.4-liter engine making 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. Arming the GTS with Mitsubishi's six-speed CVT transmission with paddle shifters instead of the standard five-speed manual adds a $1000 premium.

Upgrading to Mitsubishi's 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine, which provides a more generous 237 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque, requires upgrading to the $28,310 (destination fee included) Ralliart trim. The Ralliart comes standard with all-wheel drive and a six-speed twin-clutch with paddle shifters sourced from the Evo.

The Lancer Sportback features extra cargo-carrying capacity via 60/40 split seats in the second row (which have one-touch auto-folding) and a lower cargo floor than the sedan (by three inches) that yields a maximum 52.7 inches of cargo space. The Sportback's roof can also accommodate a plug-in sport rack. All models have several standard safety features, including side, side-curtain, and driver side-mounted knee airbags, stability control, and an antitheft system with an immobilizer key.

Options include a 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System with an in-dash CD changer and Sirius satellite radio, a hard disk-based navigation system, Recaro seats, and high-intensity discharge headlamps.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback will arrive at dealerships on August 17.

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2009 Audi Q7 TDI luxury diesel crossover

The Q7's 3.0-liter TDI diesel V-6 is a winner. It's so quiet, so smooth, and so powerful. Well, so torquey, I guess I should say, since it has 406 lb-ft, compared with 266 lb-ft for the 3.6-liter gasoline V-6 offered in the base Q7. Cruising at 80 mph on the freeway is effortless, and if you gun it to 90 mph or higher while you're passing, it's as if the engine is not even exerting itself. The powertrain is also very smooth and refined at slower, around-town speeds. It's a very tractable engine, well-mated to its six-speed automatic. Audi estimates a 0-to-60-mph time of 8.5 seconds (not bad for a 5512-pound, 16.7-foot-long crossover) and a range of up to 600 miles in freeway driving, based on the highway EPA rating of 25 mpg and the 26.4-gallon fuel tank.

As for the Q7 itself, well, it looks great inside and out, but it does have some compromises, most having to do with its size. Although it's more than 16 feet long, its tapering roofline impedes on room for both passengers and cargo. The third-row seat is very cramped and suitable only for children, what with its 29.2 inches of legroom and 35.6 inches of headroom. The Mercedes-Benz GL350 Bluetec, by comparison, offers 34.2 inches of third-row legroom and 38.2 inches of headroom.

The Benz weighs about a hundred pounds more than the Audi, but in this behemoth class, we'd call that a draw. Other dimensional comparisons between the GL and the Q7 continue in the Mercedes-Benz's favor: Whereas the Audi provides only 10.9 cubic feet of cargo space when the third-row seats are in use, the GL350 carves out 14.3 cubic feet. Cargo space when the third-row seats are folded---a common scenario for most owners, we'd guess---also slightly favors the Benz, at 43.8 cubic feet, over the Audi, at 42.0 cubic feet. With both the second- and third-row seats folded, the Mercedes measures 83.3 cubic feet and the Audi is 72.5.

Despite its mass, the Q7 feels pretty spritely on the road; I've found this to be true even in the gasoline V-6 model as well as the one powered by Audi's 4.2-liter V-8. On the downside, the ride is a bit harsh over rough pavement; Mercedes has the edge here, as well.

The Q7 is definitely a large vehicle, but it feels more manageable than the Mercedes-Benz GL550. Also, the seats and cabin envelop the driver to create a sporty atmosphere. The Mercedes puts the driver in a tall truck-like position that just emphasizes the vehicle's size.

The climate controls are far too complicated, requiring you to press an HVAC-specific button and then move your hand several inches to the MMI controller to complete the process on the infotainment screen. If you don't move fast enough, the climate settings disappear from the screen and you have to hunt for the appropriate button to start over. HVAC either needs to be fully separated from the MMI or completely integrated, but not some form of twisted, complex combination.

Base price (with destination): $51,725
Price as tested: $59,725

Options:
Premium plus $3,250
-Audi parking assist, navigation system, Bose surround sound
Panorama sunroof $1850
S-line package $1200
-20 in S-line wheels
Warm weather package $1150
-four-zone climate control, window shades
Towing package $550

Fuel economy:
(city/hwy/combined)
17 / 25 / 20 mpg

Engine:
Size: 3.0L V-6 DOHC TDI
Horsepower: 225 hp @ 3,750 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm

Transmission:
6-speed automatic w/ Tiptronic

Weight: 5512 lb

Wheels/Tires:
20" S-line wheels
275/45R20 all-season tires

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