Press Release
Equipment concept
- Conceptline, Trendline and Highline upgraded
- No basic version: Touran Conceptline with enhanced comfort equipment
- Uncompromising safety: top pedestrian safety, ESP as standard equipment
The new Touran is available in three equipment lines, "Conceptline", "Trendline" and "Highline". All three lines have been enhanced over their predecessors. There is no basic equipment version is the classical sense, because the "Conceptline" already has extensive standard equipment. The term "Trendline" signifies equipment with a high level of comfort. At Volkswagen "Highline" refers to the most exclusive equipment version in numerous model ranges.
Touran Conceptline.
New upholstery fabrics and appointments breath new life into the interior of the next generation Touran, lending it a more refined feel. The middle plate of the instrument panel, for example: It is now crafted in a stainless steel design. The same is true for the area around the standard storage compartment above the middle console. In addition, the basic "Conceptline" version is refined by décor inlays and the new "Media" interior trim: diagonally striped fabric in the area of seat and back surfaces, available in a choice of "Anthracite" and "Light Blue" colors.
Standard onboard equipment now includes a speed control system (GRA) and the "RCD 300" radio CD system with integrated MP3 mode. Also true in terms of safety: no compromises. Front, side and head airbags are also included as standard features, as well as the ESP Electronic Stabilization Program including counter-steering feature and trailer stabilization (also see page 8).
Touran Trendline.
The stainless steel theme is even more pronounced in the "Trendline", the next highest equipment version: The décor trim here also exhibits this design. It has a comfortable character matching the new "Energy" interior trim. In terms of the pattern, the seats and back surfaces are also kept in contrast to the side parts here. "Energy" is offered in the colors "Titan Black" and "Art Grey".
The Touran Trendline now comes with the semi-automatic "Climatic" air-conditioning system as standard equipment (previously a Highline equipment feature). Retained from its predecessor are useful details such as folding front passenger backrest with table and load through facility, folding tables on the backs of the front seats as well as pigeonholes below the driver and passenger seats. Also practical is the storage compartment in the instrument panel that in this case can be locked. Standard equipment also includes the height-adjustable comfort seats with lumbar support (front). Among other things, the Touran Trendline can be identified by the black roof railing and door handles and side bump strips painted in the color of the car.
Highline.
At Volkswagen "Highline" refers to the most exclusive Volkswagen equipment in the Touran, Passat and Sharan models. In the case of the updated Touran this includes the new and refined "Mando" interior trim (in "Anthracite", "Art Grey" and "Latte Macchiato" fabric colors), sport seats, patterned inlays in "brushed aluminum", an air-conditioning system (Climatronic instead of Climatic), the most powerful version of the "RCD 300" audio system with eight speakers and the "Plus" multifunctional display.
The exterior of the Touran Highline also distinguishes it from the Conceptline and Trendline versions. In front it’s the chrome fins of the radiator grill, further refining the design. Narrow chrome elements on the protective strips in front and on the sides also identify the Touran as a Highline. In back the Park Pilot ultrasound sensors integrated in the bumper are also part of standard equipment. In silhouette the Touran Highline can be recognized by a silver anodized roof railing, tinted rear windows (starting at the B pillars and including the rear window) and the 16 inch "Magny Cours" alloy wheels.
Safety equipment.
The Touran is a safe car. This is confirmed by independent tests, including five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. This is confirmed on the equipment side by taking a glance at the long list of active and passive safety features.
Passive safety (reducing the severity of accidents).
In addition to the highly rigid body, the passive safety equipment of the Volkswagen van includes a front section specially optimized for pedestrian safety, side head airbags in the first and second row of seats, side airbags front and back, passenger seat airbag deactivation (for reboard child seat integration), individually adjustable headrests all around, three-point safety belts for all seats (height-adjustable in front and on the outside of the second row of seats) as well as Isofix attachment points for attaching Isofix child seats on the outer seats of the second row of seats.
Active safety (accident avoidance).
Active safety is perfected by a steady brake system (disc brakes, ventilated in front) as well as the ESP Electronic Stabilization Program including ABS, EDL, ASR and brake assist. The hazard light system is also activated when braking hard. An integral component of ESP is counter-steering support; no other van in the world has this feature that can only be implemented via electromechanical power steering. Trailer stabilization is equally a part of standard equipment. Counter-steering support and trailer stabilization in detail:
Counter-steering support.
It is just a short "twitch" in the steering wheel, "executed" by the electromechanical power steering, "ordered" by the electronic stabilization program. But it’s just enough for the Touran driver to do the right thing intuitively – counter-steer. And this can shorten the stopping distance by up to 10 percent. For example: It’s Winter, you’re driving on the freeway, one side of the lane is dry and the other is covered in snow. Up to now the ideal case in the scenario for braking hard on a surface with different adhesion factors (called "µ-split" in technical jargon) using ESP looks like this: Thanks to ESP the car doesn’t skid. The driver can maintain control over steering and avoid possible obstacles. But because the braking effect must be oriented towards the wheel with the worse adhesion factor (snow in this case) – to keep the car from fishtailing – the car can’t be braked as hard as the wheel(s) would actually permit on a dry surface. Because without counter-steering in the right direction the car would fishtail due to one wheel not being braked hard enough.
This is where the Touran’s ESP with counter-steering comes in: The system "detects" the direction in which the driver has to counter-steer in order to be able to slow down the car as quickly as possible without fishtailing. This is why the unit passes the command to the electromechanical power steering system to send a steering recommendation in the right direction. The driver feels this in the steering wheel and then intuitively follows this signal and performs classic counter-steering. By this stabilizing intervention braking pressure can be increased to the wheels with the best traction. The result: a shortening of the stopping distance by 10 per cent.
Trailer stabilization.
Trailer stabilization is also standard equipment in the Touran. It ensures that journeys with trailers of all kinds are becoming safer. And here’s how it works: ESP uses vibrations initiating from the car to detect when the trailer gradually starts to fishtail. The system defuses the hazardous situation within seconds by intentionally braking each wheel on the correct side of the car in phase and temporarily throttling the engine. Because braking is intentional, even if the brake pedal isn’t used, the Touran’s brake lights are activated. Anyone who sees this system in action will never want to be on the road again without trailer stabilization.
The comprehensive safety concept and the vehicle structure also ensure lower operating costs: With its classification as vehicle type 14 (75 kW) for comprehensive cover insurance the new Touran is also the best in its class.
