Essay --

Volkswagen has long positioned its TDI offerings as fuel-efficient alternatives to conventional or hybrid powertrains, but the company also has a reputation for producing go-fast diesels in the form of the Touareg TDI. Although the name Touareg might sound a little quirky, behind the Volkswagen Touareg's badging is one of the most compelling packages in today’s SUV. First developed by engineers from Porsche, the Touareg platform is the base on which both the Porsche Cayenne Diesel as well as the Audi Q7 are developed. Beneath its high-set bonnet sits a 3.0-litre TDI turbodiesel engine that boasts 242bhp. True, 242bhp may not sound like much for an SUV that weighs 2155kg, but it’s the torque that counts in a vehicle like this and it is something that the Touareg has in abundance – 500Nm to be precise. When the torque number is so much higher than the horsepower, you can anticipate good things and in this case there is an instant thrust especially when moving from a standstill, entering the freeway, powering up a steep hill or overtaking. The engine delivery is simply endless and dizz...