Volkswagen Hybrid: A Must-See Hybrid in the Making : Volkswagen new car review article 2008

Volkswagen Hybrid: A Must-See Hybrid in the Making
by Ernest Jarquio
More and more people are buying hybrid cars because of their fuel efficiency and lower gas emissions. Incentives such as government tax credits and permission to use carpool lanes in times of heavy traffic have also encouraged more people to consider hybrid cars.
In 2006 German automaker, Volkswagen announced plans to create its own hybrid model. It teamed up with Ford and Honda to build Volkswagen hybrid Jetta. This "mild hybrid" was to have an electric motor to help run a gas engine similar to that of the Honda Civic hybrid.
Touareg Volkswagen Full Hybrid Expected Soon
With a change in top management in 2007, Volkswagen decided to create a full Volkswagen hybrid model in the Touareg instead.
The Volkswagen Touareg is a midsize Sports utility vehicle (SUV) which can handle off-road conditions and seats five. It is a four-wheel drive and available in V-6 and V-8 engines, and a V-10 diesel engine.
The 3.6-liter V-6 Touareg produces 276hp with a torque of 256 lb-ft. The 4.2-liter V-8 Touareg 350hp with 325lb-ft of torque, while the diesel-powered Volkswagen SUV produces 310hp with 553 lb-ft of torque.
Taking care of Volkswagen Cars
When driving a Volkswagen, avoid using full throttle and high engine speeds. Avoid running your car faster than its ¾ of maximum speed. If possible, do not trailer-tow.
Most vehicles do not have optimum adhesion at the beginning, thus it is recommended that you run your new wheels in for at least 300 km.
Whether it is in gear or in neutral, do not over rev the car when it is cold. And to reduce noise, and save more on gas, do not run your Volkswagen cars with unnecessary engine speed.