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Volkswagen Touareg Achieves
World Altitude Record
by Jenny McLane
Volkswagen's Touareg has accomplished new heights in the realm of off-road
capability. It has set a new world altitude record for a motor vehicle of 6,080
metres. Accomplished by a standard-engined Touareg 3.2 litre V8, this record has
been officially recognized by the Guinness World Records™ Book.
This feat was achieved on January 29 in the slopes of the world's highest
volcano. The expedition team battled against icy winds and lack of oxygen to
achieve this record. The altimeter and GPS system displayed the result of 6,080
metres. Currently, this is the highest point on the earth's surface that a
vehicle can reach and safely return from. By reaching this altitude, the Touareg
proves its abilities in extreme conditions and surpassed the performance of all
other off-road vehicles.
Headed by Rainer Zietlow, the team of eight first went through the Atacama
Desert, the world's driest area. The base camp is located above the salt lake
Laguna Santa Rosa, famous for its pink flamingoes, 4,400 metres above sea level.
From here the trail continues over stones and pebbles with an 80 per cent
gradient, snow fields and soft volcanic sand. Driving the Touareg was Ronald
Bormann, previous winner of the European Truck Trail competition.
In some sections of the mountainous terrain, huge rocks blocked the path. A
winch, fitted as standard accessory to the Touareg Expedition, a special edition
version, helped the team on its way. There were also spotlights fitted to the
roof rack, which also accommodates spare wheels and rescue equipment. Because at
5,000 metres the air becomes thinner, the crew was given additional oxygen by
altitude specialist Dr. Rainald Fischer, to prevent potentially life-threatening
altitude sickness.
The route of the expedition was selected with the help of the Institute of
Cartography at the University of Dresden following a four-week survey of the
summit region for the purpose of making new maps. In return, the knowledge
gained in the expedition will help the cartographers verify their work.
The Institute for Cartography at the University of Dresden helped to select the
route to the summit following a recent four-week survey of the summit region for
the purpose of making new maps. The knowledge gained by the expedition will help
the cartographers verify their work. But the most important scientific aspect of
the expedition was the installation of a seismographic station, managed by the
Geological Research Centre in Potsdam in this region endangered by earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions.
With this achievement, the
Volkswagen Touareg establishes its reputation as a
tough off-roader capable of meeting challenges such as extreme weather
conditions and rocky terrain. Volkswagen's renowned excellence in automotive
design is manifested in the Touareg, along with other models including the
Golf, Jetta, and the
new Beetle.
About the Author:
Meanwhile, whether on such extreme conditions or on sleepy town roads, any
Volkswagen deserve excellent maintenance for it to offer the best functionality
and longevity. Maintenance involves not only taking care of the parts but it
also involves replacing parts that are worn out which could jeopardize the
health of the vehicle and the safety of its passengers. Luckily, it is very easy
to find excellent quality replacement Volkswagen parts nowadays. A simple search
in the internet will yield dozens of websites offering Volkswagen parts. One of
the leading online stores where you can get guaranteed high quality parts at
incredibly low prices is Auto Parts Train. Just go directly to their Volkswagen
Parts page at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/VOLKSWAGEN and check out
the wide array of VW parts on stock.
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on
cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market
Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.
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