Introduction
Wanna bet that a Touareg V10 TDI can tow a Boeing 747?
This bet between two Volkswagen employees had consequences… A few months later, a Volkswagen crew did indeed hook up a new Touareg V10 TDI to a 747 and put it to the test.
The certified result: The Touareg pulled it off without a glitch.
Watch how this record-breaking event was made possible.
The record-breaking event took place at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in England, located 40 miles from the gates of London.
The Touareg’s credentials make for the ideal towing vehicle: maximum load capacities are 3 500kg for trailers and 1 640kg for the rear axle. But instead of the usual 3.5 ton boat trailer, a jet weighing over 155 tons was attached to the hitch.
Changes made to the Touareg were minimal
Everything from the engine to the shock suspension system and four-wheel drive corresponded exactly to the series production V10 Touareg. The only changes were:
- The weight of the Touareg was increased to a hefty 7 030kg using steel balls and plates. This was necessary so that the power of the engine could be converted into propelling force. Weight distribution was 2 755kg in front, and 4 275kg in the back.
- The shorter transmission of the Touareg V8 was integrated in place of the V10 TDI transmission for front axle drive.
- The air pressure in the standard Michelin tyres was increased to 4.5 bar to accommodate the extra weight.
- The maximum speed was limited to protect the tyres, not out of fear that the unusual object being towed would become airborne.
An extra device was then used to hook up the Boeing 747 to the Touareg’s standard trailer hitch.
A post check-up of the Touareg did not find any evidence of damage to the car. Which just goes to show, from towing a Boeing to embracing the spirit of adventure, it really is amazing what you can do in a Touareg.
The Boeing commercial was flighted on South African television last year. Watch the Boeing commercial now.
