Volkswagen's LA Auto Show Touareg racer has as much in common with the firm's production SUV as a typewriter has with a laptop but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Touareg TDI Trophy Truck is a purpose-built racer or to put it simple, the ultimate dune buggy and it will compete in the 634-mile long 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. VW's professional dune buggy is powered by a 5.5 liter V12 clean turbo diesel engine that produces 550 horsepower and 625 lbs.-ft. of torque and is mated to an Xtrac 6 Speed Sequential transmission.
The Race Touareg TDI Trophy Truck features a wheelbase of 125 inches, overall length of 213 inches, width of 92 inches, an overall height of 78 inches and weighs in at a hefty 5,650 pounds or 2,562 kg for those that prefer the metric system.
The vehicle sports a double A-Arm front suspension that allows 25 inches of wheel travel, and a 4-link rear suspension that allows 30 inches of wheel travel, combined with Fox Racing Shocks and Eibach Coils while sitting on BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17 off-road tires
Volkswagen-Red Bull Baja Race Touareg TDISpecificationsPowertrain
Engine 5.5 Liter, 90 degree V-12 TDI Twin Turbo DieselValve train 4 valves per cylinder, DOHCInduction Dual Garrett TR 30 R with dual 43.5mm air-restrictors, 2.94 bar (absolute) pressureEmissions Dow Automotive Diesel Particle Filters (2)Horsepower 550 HP (405kW)Torque 625 ft-lb (850Nm)Layout Mid-engine, rear wheel driveTransmission Xtrac 6 Speed SequentialRear Axle Custom Built solid 9" Rear Axle
Suspension
Front Double A-Arm Suspension - 25" wheel travel (63 cm)Rear 4-Link Rear Suspension - 30" wheel travel (76 cm)Front Shocks Fox Racing Shocks - 3.0 Coil-over with 3.0, Bypass/Multi-adjustable DampenerRear Shocks Fox Racing Shocks - 3.0 Coil-over with 3.0, Bypass/Multi-adjustable DampenerSprings Eibach Coils
Wheels KMC 17" Custom Forged BeadlockTires BFGoodrich Baja KRT 37x13.5x17General
Owner Volkswagen of America Inc.Chassis Design Arciero Miller RacingBody Design Volkswagen Design Center CaliforniaDimensions
Wheelbase 125 in. (317 cm)Overall Length 213 in. (541 cm)Track Width 92 in. (233 cm)Overall Height 78 in. (198 cm)Weight 5650 lbs. (2562 kg)Brakes Brembo 6 Piston CalipersSteering Lee ManufacturingInteriorGPS Lowrance 9200 systemSeats Sparco Carbon Fiber Racing seats
Fuel Cell 65 Gallon (240 Liter) Capacity, designed by Harmon Fuel CellsSponsors Sponsored by Red Bull, BFGoodrich Tires, Dow Automotive, Oakley, KMC Wheels, Fox Shocks.
