Thursday 13th November 2008

VW Dune Buggy

Toureg Hits the Sands

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Looking like a refugee from some apocalyptic survival movie, this little beauty is Volkswagen’s latest Touareg TDI, albeit a singularly limited edition built specifically to contest SCORE’s Baja Trophy Truck Series in the US.

The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck bears little resemblance to its ponderous stable-mates, with a one-off chassis by Arciero Miller Racing featuring a 125ins wheelbase. However it’s no racing lightweight at 2,500kgs so will need every one of its 550bhp to keep pace with the field. The necessary firepower is provided by a 5.5 litre V12 diesel that also pumps out 635lb ft of torque.

Keeping this off-road missile connected to the desert terrain requires full-on suspension. Double A-arms at the front provide 25ins of wheel travel, while a 4-link set-up at the rear allows an even more impressive 30ins of travel.

The latest VW ‘dune buggy’ is a far cry from the vehicle that started America’s love affair with off-road racing – the original Meyers Manx buggy that famously took on and beat the off-road motorcycles in the Baja desert back in 1967, spawning the estimated 250,000 dune buggy imitations that have been built on VW Beetle floorpans in around the world.

Original Myers Manx

 

[Turbobanana]

Is that it? Or does it get bodywork?

[Burnham]

I think thats it....I think it looks pretty cool..no flappy bodywork to break anyway!

[hugoagogo]

what part of it is a Touareg then?

[Gibby78]

Does it also come in black...

[Wammer]

Looks like something from deathrace. Or some sort of mental moon lander

[JPKerr]

I loved these old beach buggies, great fun cars.

[J111]

It's not finished yet:

[timewatch]

Hit a cow in this and you will be carrying it the rest of the race !


TW>>>

[oagent]

Thats the only Toureg I would want. Perfect for dropping the kids off at school then doing the Tesco run. Keep the body off, it looks far better without it.

[The Milfman]

"2,500kg"

Why so heavy?! Imagine it would be fun to drive though.

[clarencegi77]

The Milfman said:

"2,500kg"

Why so heavy?! Imagine it would be fun to drive though.

Exactly what i was thinking, sure, the engine's huge, and everything has to be made heavy-duty for off-road use, but still, how did they achive 2500kg is beyond me.. assuming, plus that figure is without any body panels on.

[annodomini2]

hugoagogo said:

what part of it is a Touareg then?

How is it any different to most WRC Cars, or Funny Cars, NASCAR and most other race series 'production based' vehicles!

[Peter Ward]

annodomini2 said:

hugoagogo said:

what part of it is a Touareg then?

How is it any different to most WRC Cars, or Funny Cars, NASCAR and most other race series 'production based' vehicles!

Perhaps because those cars are designed at least to look like what they're called. This one seems not only to be different underneath but unrecognisable on top! Might as well have called it a Beetle ... or a Polo .

[leon9191]

The Milfman said:

"2,500kg"

Why so heavy?! Imagine it would be fun to drive though.

Every thing will be massively over engineered to take to punishment it will take, added to the sheer size of these things and all the safety gear with them, dont forget the plumbed in fire kit! And 2.5 tonnes aint to bad!!

[Sivraj]

I like it (mad as a box of frogs)!!!!
Leave it as it is.
But were is the engine ? (mid engined I presume).

[OwenK]

Let's be honest VW, it's not really a Touareg at all, is it. They didn't even put Touareg headlight-shaped stickers on the front to pretend it was one like NASCAR do.

Not saying I wouldn't have it, mind.

[The Milfman]

leon9191 said:

The Milfman said:

"2,500kg"

Why so heavy?! Imagine it would be fun to drive though.

Every thing will be massively over engineered to take to punishment it will take, added to the sheer size of these things and all the safety gear with them, dont forget the plumbed in fire kit! And 2.5 tonnes aint to bad!!

Fair dos! I did wonder. Thanks.

[No 1]

Give me a Bowler Wildcat or Nemesis over this cumbersome lump any day.

[ZesPak]

Peter Ward said:

... Might as well have called it a Beetle ... or a Polo .

Desert Fox

[ScoobieWRX]

Looking at it i can't help thinking it's about to morph into a Transformer