Volkswagen Touareg 2012 News

As the new global boss of VW promises to compensate customers for a loss in resale value, lawyers are lining up in Australia to represent more owners of cars with software that can cheat diesel emissi

We’ve asked some dealers which are the best deals they have going – and why. It may be an extra equipment pack, it may be a great price, or it may be a fantastic finance deal. See the latest dealsTim Kennett at Belcar says their best deal is a Mercedes-Benz CLA 200. “Priced from $49,900 this highly sought-after immaculate update model has it all. Seat memory, sunroof, multi-spoke alloy wheels and suave black leather interior just to name a few features.” See the latest dealsChris Myers of Chris Myers Car Sales in Magill says his best deal is a Mazda 6 diesel wagon priced from $41,650. See the latest dealsScott Parker of Jim Best Ford in Clare says his best deal is a Ford Ranger XLT dual cab turbodiesel for $60,244. “This Ranger has had one owner, low kilometers and is immaculate,” he says. See the latest dealsSteve Vo at Peter Warren Toyota in Liverpool says the best deal he has this week is a Toyota Landcruiser GXL Turbo Diesel Auto for $83,990 driveaway. “Average wait time is 3-4 months to build, RRP is $94,414. Unbelievable clearance with drive away no more to pay price,” Steve says.See the latest dealsMark Courtney at Macarthur Kia in Narellan says the best deal he has this week is a Kia Rio S priced from only $15,290. “Featured packed, funky and cool, this the Reborn Kia Rio. This stylish little package has all the goods without breaking the bank,” Mark says.  See the latest dealsJon Clark-Monks for The Highway Autogroup has a wonderful Mercedes B180 CDI in Blue with full black leather interior. See the latest dealsStewart Rhodes of John Hughes Prestige in Victoria Park says the best deal he has right now is a Volkswagen Touareg priced from $62,990. See the latest dealsPeter Castieau of Warehouse Autos in Balcatta says his best deal is a Toyota FJ Cruiser for $52,476.85 drive away. “Impossible to find this good at this price. Travel around Australia tomorrow,“ he says.  

The epic trip is intended to set a world driving record and raise money for children in Laos.The Melbourne-to-St Petersburg journey is the latest challenge for Rainer Zeitlow, who already holds a series of Guiness World Records.He intends to make the trip in 18 days during August on a roller-coaster ride that will take him from the outback through Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Khazakstan and Russia.Zietlow will be driving a near-stock Volkswagen Tourag TDI, only modified with a larger fuel tank to take the SUVs range to 2500 kilometres, special tyres and Monroe shock absorbers.The 'hook' for the trip is to drive from the southernmost city with more than 1 million inhabitants - Melbourne - to the northernmost city with more than 1 million people - St Petersburg.Zietlow and his team will leave Melbourne on July 27 and they will donate 10 Euro cents for each kilometre travelled, to be donated to a Pan International children's project in Laos. You can follow the trip and Zietlow's adventures at www.touareg-russtralia.com from July 27 until the middle of August. 

Volkswagen Australia head Anke Koeckler confirms they would like to get the production version of the little Up here as soon as possible."We are still working on this but we are keen enough to get it out within the next two years," Koeckler says. "Better earlier than later, because I think there is a demand."Motor shows over the past four years have seen a string of Up concepts: rear-drive boxer engine, hybrid and electric versions with hatchback, convertible and multi-purpose bodies. However the production version that will be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show in September is set to have a super-frugal three-cylinder engine, and will seat four - cosily, we imagine - in a tiny three-door hatch body.Koeckler says that while the segment is still in its infancy, the Up might attract attention overall to the city car option."We have not a lot of competition still in this segment, but I think a lot of customers might like this segment once we have the Up to offer," she says. "And in launching this car in the Australian market, the strong currency might help us to get the positive answer from our headquarters."In the meantime, while Koeckler looks forward to plugging gaps at the other end of the Volkswagen line-up by adding new versions of the Amarok ute, she says firm timing has still not been set."We are working on having the single-cab Amarok, as we promised already during our launch and we might have this car actually by next year," she says. "We are working also on automatic versions, because we know we have to have the full range for the Amarok. But I can't give you any feedback on dates to be honest."The near future will focus on the new Touareg arriving in July, which Koeckler says will boost flagging sales of the SUV, which has suffered supply problems."We didn't have the production," she says. The current model Volkswagen Australia has been selling was out of stock production some time ago, and dealers have been able to work with only the remaining stockpile. "But there's not a lot of stock left. And I can tell you we are getting a lot of requests asking when the new Touareg is coming."