VW Sets Altitude Record with Stock Touareg V6

Photos

Volkswagen silently slipped into the record book, claiming a world record by reaching the highest elevation ever for a stock vehicle. (Photo: Volkwagen of America)

German off-road expert Rainer Zietlow gained his fame for taking stock vehicles to absurdly high altitudes. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)

The engine used was the base 3.2-liter 240-hp narrow angle V6, with stock six-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion components. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)

Zietlow and his crew took eight days to make the ascent to the peak of Chiles Ojos del Salado, the worlds tallest volcano. (Photo: Volkwagen of America)

On January 29th, The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized Zietlows efforts with the Touareg as being the highest elevation reached by a stock vehicle at 19,950 feet. (Photo: Volkwagen of America)

19,950 Feet Into the Clouds Not Too Shabby for Stock SUV

Diesel cars, hydrogen-powered cars, rotary-powered cars, sport utility vehicles, it seems as if the only numbers that the industry pays attention to aside from sales figures are speed records. So much so, that one important record - an altitude attained - was completely overlooked. This past January, Volkswagen silently slipped into the record book, claiming a world record by reaching the highest elevation ever for a stock vehicle, piloted by German off-road expert Rainer Zietlow.

Zietlow, who has gained his fame for taking stock vehicles to absurdly high altitudes, has reached the pinnacle with his latest record attempt. “My name is [synonymous] with using stock vehicles.” He added, “The Touareg we used is exactly what came from the factory, with no modifications.” In his years in off-roading, Zietlow has racked up quite the list of partnerships, including one with Mercedes-Benz, with which his team traversed Africa in a stock M-Class, proving the vehicles off-road capabilities and overall durability.

The Touareg used for the mountainous excursion was a completely stock Expedition model, a unique, special-edition trim level which is not available in North America. On top of the standard fare, which included the likes of a leather- and wood-trimmed interior, the car came equipped with a usable roof rack with storage box, bright spot lamps, additional underbody protection, a locking rear differential, and a winch.

To prove the Touaregs all-round capability, the record-breaking vehicle wasnt powered by the top-of-the-line 5.0-liter V10 turbodiesel. While logically, this would have been the most opportune motor, having turbochargers to compensate for the low levels of oxygen at high altitudes, or even the 4.2-liter V8 for its larger displacement, the engine used was the base 3.2-liter 240-hp narrow angle V6, with stock six-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion components.

Zietlow and his crew took eight days to make the ascent to the peak of Chiles Ojos del Salado, the worlds tallest volcano. Slowly but surely, the green-gray Touareg clambered up the mountainside, encountering rocky terrain, snow, volcanic sand, and boulders so large, they needed to be removed by winch. Too add to this, there were times where the trail reached an 80 percent gradient! At a height of 16,400 feet above sea level, the crew was given oxygen tanks.

Eventually, having made it to the top, the team also established a seismographic station, which measures and sends out data about earthquakes, giving advance warnings of potential eruptions. While it took more than a week for Zietlow and company to reach the top, the descent took a mere three hours.

On January 29th, The Guinness Book of World Records officially recognized Zietlows efforts with the Touareg as being the highest elevation reached by a stock vehicle at 19,950 feet. Since that time, the altitude record has been broken, by a Toyota Land Cruiser with modified suspension (no less), one of the most popular vehicles for high altitude expeditions. Its suspension modifications yielded greater ground clearance and enhanced rock-climbing abilities, allowing the Toyota to set a new record of 20,859 feet. The Touareg still holds the title for the highest altitude attained by a stock vehicle. With less than 1,150 feet between the two records, Zietlow plans on returning to re-establish the record.