Volkswagen of America, Inc. wants off-road enthusiasts to experience the capabilities of the Volkswagen Touareg mid size sport utility vehicle (SUV). Starting from July up to the end of October 2007, Volkswagen will conduct the TouaregAdventure in Moab, Utah. TouaregAdventure is a three-day off-roading excursion through canyons, deserts, and other rough and challenging terrains around Moab.

According to a Volkswagen press release, "TouaregAdventure(TM) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn how to safely navigate the wilds of Moab, in the luxury of the award winning Volkswagen Touareg. Where you never thought a vehicle could go, the Touareg deftly takes you, tantalizing the senses with dramatic views of the Colorado River and its famous red rock cliffs. This experience matches the distinctive dual nature of Volkswagen’s premium SUV: mountain goat prowess in the backcountry, with the refined manners of a sports sedan on pavement."

Interested participants can register online or take reservations. Participants will be entitled of a $2,000 vacation package fee. These include advance welcome kit, resort lodging (single occupancy) and meals at Sorrel River Ranch, three days of guided, off-road adventure in VW Touaregs, wine with dinner and drinks from the bar, complete use of Touareg Headquarters, and airport shuttles. The advance welcome kit consists of welcome letter from TouaregAdventure Host, J.B. Reynolds, TouaregAdventure Off-Road Trail Primer, detailed itinerary of your scheduled program, contact sheet for Sorrel River Ranch and our on-site TouaregAdventure concierge, suggested travel agent to assist with flight arrangements
and TouaregAdventure luggage tags.

Every session, participants will be will be led by two professional Moab guides: J.B. Reynolds, Program Director and TouaregAdventure Head Guide Dan Mick. The two will demonstrate the capacities of the Volkswagen Touareg and teach the participants how to navigate the vehicle in various off-road terrains.

Meanwhile, Steve Keyes, general manager public relations, Volkswagen of America commented: "It’s our goal to introduce our special guests to one of the country’s most gorgeous natural environments, in the comfortable confines of our new Volkswagen Touareg. At the conclusion of our program, we’re confident that our guests will have had a wonderful time, with a new confidence in their off-road driving skills and the capabilities of our SUV."

You can visit Volkswagen’s website at www.touaregadventure.com for more info. Personally, I think the TouaregAdventure is much more exciting than Toyota’s "Tundra Prove It!" tour for the Tundra truck equipped with Toyota engine mounts.

Volkswagen’s Golf GT Sport with its TSI engine and dual clutch transmission (DSG) was given recognition at the “Barcelona International Motor Show Award 2007”. This is not the first time that the TSI engines were honored it can remembered that it was only last May that the TSI engines were awarded the “Engine of the YEAR Award” at Wolfsburg.

For this year’s Barcelona International Motors Show almost 100 automotive projects were nominated. The main objective of the competition is to find the best technological innovation of the year.

The Golf GT Sport won due to its powertrain systems which are considered the most technologically advanced in the world. The VW Golf GT has engines that range from 75kW to 125 kW.  The prize-winning high-end engine, the 125 kW (170PS) the strong TSI engine is an example of innovative engine charging. It produces a maximum torque of 240 Nm at a low 1,750 rpm enables it to achieve impressive propulsion.

The Golf GT Sport can sprint from 0 to 100km/h and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. it has a fuel economy rating of 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers. This fuel economy does not change even when the Golf GT Sport TSI is match with an innovative dual clutch transmission. By the way this transmission is the only one of its type in the world that can unify the comfort of an automatic with the dynamics and economy of a manual transmission.

Lucas Casasnovas, Volkswagen Brand Manager in Spain together with Michael Schäfer, Director of Dual Clutch Transmission Development were the ones who accepted the Barcelona International Motor Show Award.  Schäfer said, "TSI and DSG underscore Volkswagen’s leadership position in the powertrain area. These technologies also reflect the fact that sportiness and economy definitely do not need to be mutually exclusive."

TSI engines are equipped on the following Volkswagen models: VW Golf, VW Golf Variant, VW Golf Plus, VW CrossGolf, VW Jetta, VW Touran and VW Cross Touran. Likewise DSG dual clutch transmission is also available on these models as well as on the Eos, Passat, and Passt Variant.

The awards were presented by the motor show management and the “Sociedad de Técnicos de Automoción" (STA) which is a Spanish association of automotive engineers, similar to the "Association of German Engineers" (VDI). Both are members of FISTA, the famous umbrella organization of automotive engineering associations worldwide.

During the pre-race press conference for the 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500,
Volkswagen of America announced that it has teamed up with SCORE International for Volkswagen vehicles to become the Official Vehicle of the SCORE Desert racing series.

Clark Campbell, Motorsport Manager for Volkswagen of America: "With its rich history, Volkswagen has made tremendous contributions to the sport of desert racing, both nationally and internationally, and we’re excited with the opportunity to partner with a legendary racing series such as SCORE. We are looking forward to our official involvement in the racing series as both a sponsor and active participant."

During the race, Volkswagen will enter the Race Touareg 2 equipped with a 2.5 liter inline five cylinder TDI engine under its hood. The engine has a two-stage intercooled turbocharger and pumps out 285 hp and produces 440 ft. lbs of peak torque. A six-speed sequential race gearbox completes the powertrain package to power the permanent four-wheel drive system. Behind the steering wheel of the Race Touareg 2 will be our very own Mark Miller and Giniel de Villers of South Africa.

Meanwhile, Sal Fish, President and CEO of SCORE International also commented: "Volkswagen was the first "official" vehicle of SCORE International and we think it’s fitting due to their vehicles’ history along with their successes on both the local and international circuit.

Fish added: "Volkswagens and those amazing air-cooled VW engines are part of the foundation of desert racing and to have this world-renown automaker reach out in this manner is a tribute to the thousands of VWs and VW-powered vehicles that have been such an integral part of our sport."

I wonder if there are drivers who rode GMC truck models equipped with GMC seat belt during the race.