Mission Maximum
One team, four world records Adventurer Rainer Zietlow sets four world records (one altitude and three long-distance records) with various Touareg models. 15 TO 29 JANUARY 2005: ALTITUDE WORLD RECORD AT 6,081 METRES IN CHILE 2 TO 13 JULY 2011: PANAMERICANA 23,000 KM IN 11 DAYS AND 17 HOURS OCTOBER 2014: CAPE TO CAPE – FROM THE NORTH CAPE TO CAPE AGULHAS IN SOUTH AFRICA 17,000 KM IN 21 DAYS AND 16 HOURS CAPE TO CAPE 2.0 – FROM CAPE AGULHAS TO THE NORTH CAPE 17,568 KM IN 9 DAYS AND 4 HOURS VOLKSWAGEN GROUP: 28 PYRAMIDS Each year, the Volkswagen Group’s logistics department transports 75 million cubic metres of material within the EU in over 20 million containers. That is the equivalent of more than 28 times the volume of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. LONGEST DISTANCE ON JUST ONE TANK OF FUEL 27 to 30 June 2011 2,545.80 KM (1,581.88 MILES) A Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion completed the longest distance on just one tank of fuel in Croatia. Average fuel consumption: 3.08 l / 100 km TOUAREG PULLS JUMBO JET A Volkswagen Touareg V10 pulls a 155 -TON Boeing 747 out of its hangar. WORLD RECORD, NOVEMBER 2006 24 25 Sophisticated: every World Champion driver looked back at the large rear window. A sticker emphasises the production record. In 1972, its enduring popularity ensured that it became the most-produced automobile of all time. The Beetle passed the mark set by the Ford Model T on 17 February. Volkswagen Records. Exclusive Special Models. Volkswagen Records. Exclusive Special Models. Two multimillionaires for the people. The Volkswagen Type 1, our Beetle, has influenced the automotive history of the 20th century in more ways than virtually any other vehicle series. The Beetle swiftly became a bestseller, popular around the globe and noted for reliability in every climate zone and on every imaginable road surface. REASON TO CELEBRATE On 17 February 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle replaced the Ford Model T as the world’s most- produced automobile.
Feature: The first 15 years – Globetrotters and world records
2002 Touareg V10 Some legends are better told with numbers than words. Ten cylinders, 230 kW / 313 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and above all: 750 Nm torque! The Touareg with a 5.0 litre V10 TDI and two turbo chargers under the powerful front hood pushes the limits of 2002 to the very top. 2004 Limited Edition Touareg W12 Sport In 2004, the developers think that the masterpiece of engine construction at Volkswagen also belongs in the Touareg. And they implemented the 331 kW / 450 hp and 6.0 litre W12 powertrain in the successful SUV. The Touareg W12 Sport sprints to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Customers also have to be fast: This pleasure is limited to 500 cars. 2005 Touareg Kong Literally one of the biggest Hollywood heroes is the godfather of this special model. In 2005, the Touareg took part in the filming of “King Kong” as the official crew vehicle while appearing as an advertising star in front of the camera on the original film set Like its namesake, the Touareg “Kong” appeared confident, powerful and completely in black – only the “white woman” was missing at the wheel. Once around the world The dream of a round-the-world trip as one of the last big adventures was fulfilled by ten globetrotters – journalists, guests and professional drivers – in five standard Touareg TDIs with 128 kW / 174 hp. The Touareg experience 360° covered more than 77,000 kilometres and five continents through the most fascinating, beautiful and spectacular landscapes on the planet. Driverless through California Autonomous driving is still pure science fiction for ordinary people in 2005. However the researchers of Stanford University have long been making this technology feasible. And to prove that it works: with a Touareg – one of the first truly intelligent vehicles in automobile history – they win the Grand Challenge of the American DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for autonomous vehicles in which only four of the 23 who started the race reach the finish line.