2008 Volkswagen Touareg BlueTDI
March 9, 2007 – 9:48 am by Dan Volkens
Filed under Industry News
Volkswagen so badly wants to convince Americans to “go diesel” that it says it will forgo a European launch of its new Touareg BlueTDI and instead focus on selling the SUV in North America starting in 2008. Via edmunds.com
2008 Volkswagen Touareg BlueTDI
March 9, 2007 – 9:48 am by Dan Volkens
Really, Volkswagen. Want to encourage us to start buying diesel? Don’t start with an SUV! Your target diesel-wanting audience isn’t interested in a luxury SUV, they’re looking for the Microbus in diesel. Or, at the least, the *Passat* in diesel, for heaven’s sakes. Perhaps you could import some of those trendy van designs you have floating around the rest of the world in a diesel version? The Sharon? The Touran? Something? Hello?
Err. Should have been “Sharan” there, I guess. Finger slippage.
Well said Jos. I’m right there with you, and I think most of the American VW audience is as well. I just don’t get why they think they’ll succeed introducing the new TDI in SUV form, just because America is so-called “SUV crazy.” I think we’re right at the beginning of the end of that era.
USA will buy a TDI Tiguan suv if the price is right and the MPG is 28+. gas millage in a SUV ! unheard of! now if the US government will ALLOW volkswagan to even import more diesel vehicles here.
Anyone who can afford to buy a $40K Touraeg can afford the gas so a diesel will be a hard sell. Not only that, but the sharp cuts in SUV prices b/c of fuel prices often offset the increased cost of fuel consumption during the life of a typical lease. I however will be the first one in line to buy a diesel Touareg because bleutec is very environmentally friendly and we all have to urgently reduce greenhouse gases if we want our children to have a liveable planet.