Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker, recently unveiled the new Race Touareg 3, or RT3, primed for securing a third consecutive Dakar victory in South America next year.

“The Dakar Rally is a mystique. Everything’s got to be right to conquer it,” says Volkswagen Motorsport director Kris Nissen.

“Technology, drivers, service and logistics – every single aspect is crucial. Anyone aiming to finish the Dakar at the very top has to first conquer the rally itself and then beat their rivals.”

“We’ve learned a lot in the past few years. All of these things had to be considered in the development of a new vehicle – I believe we’ve found the ideal mix of revolution and evolution for our Race Touareg 3,” he added.

The Dakar Rally is regarded as the greatest challenge in worldwide motorsport. Volkswagen has revolutionised cross-country rally sport with the Race Touareg 2 and TDI technology – and decided the epic “Dakar” twice in its favour in the past two years.

Volkswagen is the only manufacturer so far to have won the automobile classification of the desert classic with diesel power.

In January 2011, four newly developed Race Touareg 3 vehicles – successor models of the legendary version 2 model – will cross the starting ramp in Buenos Aires during the Dakar mission.

Their task is to again victoriously master the endurance test consisting of the legendary Pampas, the dizzying altitudes of the Andes and the grueling Atacama Desert in Argentina and Chile.

To achieve the glory of clinching a “Dakar” hat-trick, Volkswagen banks on the logical and consistent evolution of the Race Touareg 2 into the version 3.

The specifications issued to the engineers for this project contained three major headlines - improvement of the cooling system, optimised gearbox tuning, and more power for driving at high altitudes.

In addition, the engineers’ agenda included detailed work to increase the performance capabilities of the two-time Dakar Rally winning Race Touareg 2 even further. The results achieved now reveal a prototype with completely renewed aerodynamics that builds on a proven chassis of its predecessor.

The Race Touareg 3 makes a big aerodynamic step forwards – the biggest one since the model change from the original Race-Touareg to model version two.

The main focus during the development of the 310-hp cross-country rally prototype was put on optimising aerodynamics.

In addition, the designers adapted the distinctive look of the Touareg 2 production “sibling” for the “Dakar” version. Like the road-going model, the Race Touareg displays its dynamic character traits in its exterior form as well.

The new Race Touareg’s most obvious change compared to its predecessor is found in the roof area, where the air flow towards the radiator, the damper cooling, and the diesel fuel cooling systems has been radically changed.

The objective was to improve the chimney effect to remove the heat which accumulates under the carbon fibre-reinforced cladding while optimising air supply in the process, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service