Segunda geração do modelo é vista sem disfarces(Fotos: Leftlane News)

Há cinco anos, a VW se lançou no mundo dos jipes com o Touareg. A aposta foi alta, mas o retorno foi ainda maior. A marca que nunca tinha feito um 4X4 se deu bem e hoje vende utilitários para todo o mundo.

Agora, a marca resolveu mexer no jipão. E pelas imagens deste post,a marca germânica vai se dar bem novamente.

O flagrante coube ao site norte-americano Leftlane News. O carro mudou bastante. Ganhou mais personalidade, mesmo pegando emprestado linhas e a frente do Golf europeu.

A lateral sofreu menos mudanças, mas também é nova. Ganhou traços mais simples enquanto o desenho das janelas agora são mais esticados.

O jipão ficou mais leve (250 kg) e teve o seu entre-eixos aumentado. O carro deve ser apresentado ao mundo em janeiro, no Salão de Detroit.

Following the great tradition of the Saharan Touareg, the desert bluesmen Tinariwen were back on the road to promote their brand new album, Imidiwan. They were recently passing by London and I met Eyadou Ag Leche, the bassist of the music act. He talked about their influences, the role of Tinariwen and its association, Taghreft Tinariwen, within the Touareg community. He also explained the signification of  the Tamasheq term assuf, which is often used to describe their music.

Eyadou Ag Leche by Amiram Bukowski

Nicolas Roux: How was Tinariwen born?

Eyadou Ag Leche: The band was born in the eighties. When Ibrahim [Ag Alhabib] was travelling between Algeria and Libya, he discovered the electric guitar. Using that instrument, his ideas came to light. He adapted these new ideas with the traditional music that already existed.

Nicolas: What does Tinariwen mean? Why did you choose that name?

Eyadou: It’s the plural of Ténéré*. It means “the deserts”. Generally speaking it’s in reference to the deserts where all the nomads live. They’re people who have always felt the love of the earth. They’re still adapted to the nature. In other words Tinariwen reflects our attachment to the desert.

Nicolas: Where does your music originate?

Eyadou: This music already existed when we were born. Our parents played it. There are some poets who date back more than a thousand years. It’s a very ancient music and we write our songs in this spirit.

Nicolas: With albums such as Aman Iman or Imidiwan, we can hear traditional influences but also a more recent rock or blues sound. Have you been influenced by western artists?

Eyadou: We really like discovering new artists but we also want to stay true to our roots. When you discover new instruments and new sound techniques, it helps you to transfer a type of sound towards another sound that doesn’t necessarily belong to you.

Nicolas: Your music is often described as assuf. Can you explain what it means?

Eyadou: Assuf, it’s a kind of deep nostalgia that is proper to the desert people. I can’t really translate it. You always feel a kind of nostalgia, an inner pain. You don’t really know where it comes from. You feel good but there’s a sense of nostalgia. That’s what assuf is.

Nicolas: Tinariwen is an engaged band. What message do you try to convey?

Eyadou: Today we have a peace message. The situation in our country is also happening in other parts of the world. There’s a lot of tension everywhere and it doesn’t lead to anything. It’s still possible to have a simple life in nature. We also talk a lot about education and love.

Nicolas: You and the other band members were part of the Touareg rebellion in the nineties. Do you think your music helped to raise awareness of the situation in the Sahara?

Eyadou: Yes of course. Our music played an important role. That’s the only way we found to gather a lot of people in order to talk about what’s happening. We do not sing to create problems. We sing about the things that we see, the colours that we see in life. People must wake up. They must see things the way they are but also accept them. That’s what we talk about. Some people did wake up and the situation got better after the rebellion.

Nicolas: Earlier this year there was a peace deal concluded between the Malian government and the Touareg community. Has the situation improved since then?

Eyadou: The region has been quiet. There’s a lot of politics involved. The rebellion pursues its policy and so does the Malian government. If we didn’t have a peace deal, far worse problems would come to light. We’d rather accept these conditions in order to secure peace. That’s always better.

Nicolas: Could you tell us about your association Taghreft Tinariwen?

Eyadou: It’s an association we created to protect the Touareg cause. It’s as if it was a mother or father of the Touareg activities. We haven’t got hospitals, schools. We have nothing. Therefore we hope that the association can help our community, Mali and even nomads from elsewhere. It’s like a dream that came true for us. The same way the band Tinariwen has made its way. We hope that the association will make its own way. We’re really tired but we’re happy with results. The task can be shared basically.

(Translated from French by Nicolas Roux)

* The Sahara desert is formed of several deserts. Ténéré, which means “the desert”, is the main part.

After some fairly acrimonious comments by many who, not surprisingly, decided to remain anonymous, we are back and confident as ever about our encryption product Crypteto using Hawthorne Davies’ encryption algorithm, Touareg. 

We have been working on increasing the ‘crypt’ speed even more and will soon be in a position to provide you with the opportunity of testing it for yourselves. We are also working on a way of validating our claim that the key is as strong as we say it is.

Whether our critics like it or not, more and more companies and organisations are expressing interest in having a product that has been quoted by a leading guru as it being utterly futile in attempting to key crash the Touareg encryption algorithm. Surely this is the point of any encryption product – make it so strong that even the most sophisticated and clever hacker with an unlimited amount of computer power will decide that it is a total waste of time even trying – game, set and match to Hawthorne Davies!

So we will be announcing further advances in speed very soon and look forward to some constructive communication with those individuals and organisations who are genuinely interested to know what we have developed and what is in the pipeline in the coming months.

Just because your new radio in your 2010 Volkswagen has an option for Bluetooth streaming it doesn’t mean that your car has the necessary hardware to make it work.

Volkswagen uses two systems on their passenger cars option 9W2 and option 9W3. here is the catch 22: option 9W2 supports bluetooth streaming while 9W3 supports voice dialing, phone book transfer (expect on Jetta TDI/SEL) and caller ID.

The ONLY Volkswagen that support A2DP are:

• Jetta S (with optional 9W2)
• Jetta SE
• Jetta Wolfsburg ediiton
• Jetta Sportwagen ( all trim levels and engines)
• Golf (all trim levels and engines)
• GTI

The following models DO NOT SUPPORT A2DP becuase they use option 9W3 but look at the bright side you get voice dialing!:

Passat

CC

Tiguan

Touareg

Jetta TDI (sedan ONLY)

Jetta 2.5 SEL

EOS

But wait there is more!!! If A2DP is more valuable to you than voice dialing or vise versa you can swap the modules! here is a link with instructions: Click here

Nova Touareg vai ficar mais agressiva (Projeção: Promotor.ro)

A Volkswagen prepara o lançamento da segunda geração do seu utilitário esportivo, o Touareg. O novo modelo deverá estreiar em março de 2010 no Salão de Genebra.

Como é possível notar o novo Touareg irá se adaptar aos atuais traços estilísticos na família Volkswagen. Não dá para negar que o carro terá uma frente muito parecida com o carro mais famoso da marca, o Golf. Por outro lado, isso não pode ser chamado de ruim, já que o Golf é um dos carros mais vendidos do mundo.

O problema é o preço que se pagará para ter um carro parecido com um hatch. Em todo caso, vale a reflexão.

Diferente da primeira versão, a segunda geração do Touareg irá buscar linhas mais esportivas. Em contra partida, do lado de dentro o carro irá adotar a terceira fileira de bancos. Tudo para acomodar uma família grande e, quem sabe, cair no gosto dos americanos.

Os motores não devem ser muito diferentes dos atuais. Está prevista uma versão com seis e outra com oito cilindros. Está prevista ainda uma versão híbrida do jipão.

O certo é que o carro vai perder bastante a similiariedade com o Porsche Cayenne, que foi co-irmão do Touareg na primeira geração.

The VW and Audi vehicle line-ups have never been stronger. Both feature a number of newer models, a wide range of product offerings, and loads of advanced technology. Fortunately the Canadian Automobile Journalists acknowledged this in their annual AJAC Awards. The VW Group “dominated” the awards, according to the Globe & Mail, and walked away with the largest trophy collection of any of the manufacturers:

• Best New Family Car (under $30k) – Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Clean Diesel
• Best New Sports/Performance Car (under $50k) – Volkswagen GTI
• Best New Sports/Performance Car (over $50k) – Audi S4
• Best New Convertible – Audi A5 Cabriolet
• Best New SUV/CUV ($35k-$60k) – Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel

Berlin, 13 November 2009 - Pabrikan otomotif asal Jerman Volkswagen (VW) akan memboyong generasi terbaru Volkswagen Touareg pada gelaran Detroit Auto Show pada Januari 2010 mendatang. Sumber VW seperti dikutip autoevolution menyebut, di ajang itu VW juga akan memamerkan Touareg versi hybrid.

Varian Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) mengalami perubahan sehingga menjadi tujuh tempat duduk. Bobotnya pun lebih ringan karena banyak menggunakan material dari aluminium.

VW berusaha untuk mencipatkan Touareg lebih ringan untuk mendukung upaya mewujudkan mobil ramah lingkungan. Alasan lainnya, untuk memberikan harga yang lebih kompetitif. Seperti pabrikan otomotif Jerman lainnya, VW juga berusaha menghadirkan mobil berharga murah dalam rangka menyiasati krisis ekonomi dunia.

Touareg 2010 akan hadir dengan mesin bensin dan mesin diesel.Untuk mesin bensin dibekali mesin berkapasitas 3.200 cc V6 208kW dan mesin 4.200 cc V8 257kW. Kedua mesin itu menggunakan bahan bakar bensin.

Sedangkan untuk pilihan mesin diesel hadir dengan mesin 2.700 cc dan 3.000 cc turbodiesel, kesemuanya dipasangkan dengan transmisi otomatis enam percepatan. Namun, hingga saat ini belum ada bocoran berapa generasi terbaru VW Touareg itu bakal dibanderol.

Seperti diketahui Touareg yang ada di Indonesia dibanderol mulai Rp 1,1 – Rp 1,48 miliar. Rinciannya, VW Touareg 2,5 R5 TDI Standar dibanderol Rp 1,1 miliar, VW Touareg 3,0 V6 TDI dibanderol Rp 1,39 miliar dan VW Touareg 3,6 V6 FSI STD Rp 1,48 miliar. Semua on the road.

Há anos no mercado, o bem-sucedido Touareg ganhará sua merecida segunda geração no início do ano que vem. O utilitário-esportivo será renovado oficialmente no Salão de Detroit, EUA, em janeiro próximo. No entanto, a Volkswagen só iniciará suas vendas no segundo semestre, mesma época em que ele deve chegar por aqui.

A nova geração do Touareg será uma evolução mecânica e estilística no mercado de utilitários-esportivos. Com seu visual, o modelo chegará para enfrentar rivais como o Land Rover Discovery III. O destaque será a chegada da versão híbrida já em seu lançamento oficial. Ela terá um motor 3.0 V6, que já equipa o Audi S4, e um propulsor elétrico de 38 kW (cerca de 50 cv). A transmissão terá oito velocidades, para ajudá-lo a acelerar de 0 a 100 km/h na casa de sete segundos.

GALERIA

Los cinco todoterreno serán pilotados por Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers, Mark Miller, Nasser Al-Attiyah y Mauricio Neves. Éste último es el nuevo fichaje del equipo Volkswagen para el Dakar 2010.

Queda poco más de un mes para que empiece el Dakar 2010. Volkswagen ha expuesto sus planes para intentar revalidar el título de campeón conseguido a principios de este año por de Villiers y Von Zitzewitz. Para ello, el constructor alemán alineará cinco Touareg que serán pilotados por viejos conocidos: Carlos Sainz y Lucas Cruz, Giniel de Villiers y Dirk Von Zitzewitz, Mark Miller y Ralph Pitchford, y Nasser Al-Attiyah y Timo Gottschalk.

“En el Dakar 2009, demostramos que el Race Touareg no sólo es el vehículo todoterreno más fiable del mundo, también el más rápido, y que la tecnología TDI del Grupo Volkswagen es superior a otros sistemas de propulsión diésel”, afirma el director de Volkswagen Motorsport, Kris Nissen.

Volkswagen Motorsport ha fichado para la carrera de 2010 a los brasileños, Mauricio Neves y Clécio Maestrelli, como piloto y copiloto. Neves participó en junio de este año en el Rally dos Sertoes en el que quedó sexto. En él adquirió la confianza necesaria para hacer frente a la prueba más dura. 

“Para Clécio y para mí, es un gran honor el poder participar en el Rally Dakar con un equipo tan profesional y bien organizado”, confiesa Mauricio Neves. “Es un sueño de hace años que se convierte en realidad. En el Dos Sertoes, pude comprobar el estilo de trabajo del equipo y el perfecto manejo del Race Touareg; ahora, quiero demostrar en el Dakar que la confianza que Volkswagen ha depositado en mí, está justificada”.

VW just launched a new website for those looking for parts for their VWs. The site offers collision parts, mechanical parts, tech support, accessories and even a parts outlet!  Check out the new site here

How to set up and use Volkswagen’s enhanced bluetooth connectivity with voice control for all 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SEL and TDI sedan, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg, and Eos

Here is a handy  chart to help you decide

Volkswagen offers 2 different types of Bluetooth connectivity for 2010 (NOT counting the Routan’s Uconnect). If you have a Jetta (S, SE, Wolfsburg or Sportwagen), a Golf  or a GTI you have what VW calls “Bluetooth connectivity 9W2″. Jetta SEL and TDI sedan, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg, or Eos then you have “Bluetooth with voice controls 9W3″ and below are the step by step instructions for each one.

“bluetooth Connectivity” 9W2

is Volkswagen’s basic option. It allows users to communicate with their Bluetooth system through the buttons installed within easy reach of the driver. It does not include voice commands.

Initial Setup – “Pairing”

1. Switch on the customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone and the vehicle’s ignition. (This makes the Bluetooth “visible.” You must pair the system and phone within the five minutes it remains visible.)
2. Activate the Bluetooth feature in the phone and initiate a search for Bluetooth devices or audio enhancements.
3. Select ‘VW UHV’
4. Enter the Bluetooth pass code ‘0000’ on the phone. (On some phones, you will need to confirm the connection separately.)
5. Optional: To allow the phone and Bluetooth to connect automatically, set the Bluetooth system as an “authorized device” in the phone’s Bluetooth menu.
6. The Bluetooth system is now paired with the phone and ready for use. The pass code is not needed to connect the devices again.

Please see the user guides of the Bluetooth system and your mobile phone for more detailed descriptions.
Place a Call
1. To place a call, enter the number on your phone, or find the contact in your phone’s phonebook.
2. Press the green call button on your phone. The phone will immediately “ring” through the Volkswagen sound system.
Answer a Call
1. When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled).
2. To answer the call, press once on the phone button. You can now speak hands-free in your car and hear your call over your car speakers.
Ignore a Call
To ignore an incoming call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

End a Call
To end a call, press the phone button once.

Switch to Private Mode
To switch to private mode during a call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

Stream Music
If the phone supports “Advanced Audio Distribution Profile” (A2DP), music stored on the phone can be played over the radio or radio navigation system through the car speakers.

1. On the cell phone, select the music playback mode (such as “play via Bluetooth”), then select the device “VW UHV.”
2. Press the button on the radio or radio navigation system to select the media menu.
3. On the phone’s music menu, select the desired songs/playlist and press “play.” The music will begin The music plays on the Volkswagen sound system. When receiving an incoming call or placing a call, the music will pause and the phone call audio will be heard over the car speakers. When the call ends, the music will restart.

“Bluetooth with voice control” 9W3

NOTE: If the vehicle is equipped with the Navigation/Infotainment system, the phonebook and other operations will be displayed. See the user’s manual for details on those features.
Initial Setup – “Pairing”
1. Switch on the customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone and the vehicle’s ignition. (This makes the Bluetooth “visible.” You must pair the system and
phone within the five minutes it remains visible.)

2. Activate the Bluetooth feature in the phone and initiate a search for Bluetooth devices or audio enhancements.

3. Select ‘VOLKSWAGEN’

4. Enter the Bluetooth pass code ‘0000’ on the phone. (On some phones, you will need to confirm the connection separately.)

5. Optional: To allow the phone and Bluetooth to connect automatically, set the Bluetooth system as an “authorized device” in the phone’s Bluetooth menu.

6. The Bluetooth system is now paired with the phone and ready for use. The pass code is not needed to connect the devices again.
For more detailed descriptions, please see the user guides of the Bluetooth system and cellular phone.

Place a Call
1. To place a call, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “dial number.”

3. When the system says “number please,” speak the number clearly and slowly, one digit at a time.

4. To quit before the call is completed, press the “phone” button on your steering wheel You can also place a call by speaking the name, if it has been stored in the Bluetooth phonebook along with the number. See the Bluetooth user’s manual for more details.

Redial
1. To redial the last number you called, start by pressing and holding the “microphone” button until you hear the beep

2. Then release the “microphone” button and say “redial.” The last number you dialed will be automatically dialed.

Answer a Call
When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled). The number will display on the navigation system screen; if the number is in the phonebook, the name will also display.

1. To answer the call, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

2. To ignore the call without answering, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

Ignore a Call
When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled). The number will display on the navigation system screen; if the number is in the phonebook, the name will also display.

To ignore the call without answering, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

End a Call
To end a call, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

Switch to Private Mode
To switch to private mode during a call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

Play Phone Book
1. To play all the names stored in the vehicle’s phone book, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Play phone book.” The system will read the list of names stored in the phone book.

Store Name and Number
The Bluetooth phone book can store up to 50 entries.
1. To store a number, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Store Name.”

3. The system will ask you for the name and the number.

4. Speak the name, then say “store name.”

5. Speak the number clearly and slowly, one digit at a time, then say “store number.”

You can also do this using the controls on the Radio Navigation system. See the Bluetooth user’s manual for more details.

Select Name
1. To select a stored name and number from the Bluetooth phone book, press  the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Select name.”

3. The system will say “Name please.”

4. Speak the name (as stored in the phone book), then say the command “Call.”

5. The system will say “The number is being dialed.”

Delete a Name
1. To delete a name from your Bluetooth phone book, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Delete name.”

3. The system will ask “Name please.”

4. Speak the name (as stored in the phone book). The name will be deleted from the phone book.

Dear Mr. Volks Wagen

I am rather fond of things ‘German’, including Claudia Schiffer’s engaging personality, Hitler’s moustache and the violent pungency of sauerkraut, so please don’t think this letter is in any way a personal slight against the good folk of Deutschland.

I really love my 2007 Touareg too that was designed and constructed by your finest robotic humans and machines. It is incredibly reliable and even beeps affectionately and incessantly at me in such a cute way when I leave the indicator stalk in the up or down position when I take the keys out – I never knew a car could be so caring or considerate!

Can I just say though that I am just a little (no a lot) frustrated and annoyed with your ‘prodigy’ after the following events of yesterday….

On Friday afternoon, I travelled about 200km south to the charming town of Australind in my darling diesel with my two beautiful children and a happy, expectant grin on my face. We were looking forward to seeing our good friends and I even hoped to participate in a testimonial soccer match at my old club to honour a very sick club stalwart.

After arrival that fine evening though, an unfortunate twist of fate occurred. In the process of packing and unpacking my black beast to travel to the soccer match, the car keys were left in the car, the doors were shut and your loving creation decided to dead bolt lock its doors in a mere instant! If this car was human, I think Sigmund Freud would diagnose some form of ‘Paranoid Security Complex’ given its incredibly rapid and disproportionate response to such non-threatening stimuli…I was clearly learning more about my car – I didn’t think it was so introverted and would reject me in such an outright manner!

So how could this happen, Mr. Volkswagen? It doesn’t seem possible that one of your finest ‘autos’ could perform such an irrational act. I understand the need for security in this dangerous world of ours, but what if a baby was inside the car when it decided to turn itself into an impregnable fortress?

So after some frantic arm-waving and cursing, I did something far more constructive and phoned ‘Volkswagen Assist’. Surely the good folk at your highly regarded ‘help line’ could give me a sure and fast solution to this predicament! The person I spoke to was polite and friendly but didn’t exactly inspire confidence…”locked your keys in the car, sir? Mmmmm, have to get back to you on that one…” 5 minutes later, “Sir, we have arranged the local towing company to attend; they will call you soon.”

So the intrepid guy from the towing company turns up, takes one look at the car and quickly waves the metaphoric white flag when he is sees the forlorn Touareg. “Not touching this one mate…can’t help you I’m afraid.” Maybe he had a case of Vee-dub-a-phobia or your company’s formidable reputation for security scared him away?

Clearly things weren’t looking ‘up’! It was quite late on the Friday now, so we decided to suspend any attempts to solve the mess until the morning. Maybe a glass of red (or ten) and a fitful slumber would provide inspiration?

Saturday morning arrived full of hope – I’ll call the local VW dealer and if that doesn’t help, the miracle men from RAC would definitely find a way!

Mr. VW Bunbury esq. was equally courteous but similarly bereft of non-destructive solutions. “Yes, what you are telling me could definitely happen…need to find the spare key pal…if you don’t have the key, you would need to smash a window and get the keys from inside.” A brick?!! So I ask him which window he has in stock so I know which one to smash. “Hang on a minute…go for the right rear window; we have one in stock in Sydney.” So let me get this straight, if I want to smash a window (other than the windscreen of course), and a replacement would be a ‘reassuring’ 4,000km away? I could now feel that my normally low blood pressure was rapidly on the rise and the Sicilian in me was fast awakening…

RAC guy arrives – I silently pray that his yellow van will contain a magical Touareg code-breaker (or perhaps Robert Langdon from ‘The Da Vinci Code’) or some cunning uber-device that would end this nightmare. Unkempt, unshaken but undeterred, RAC hero reveals an air bag thing to pries open the door and a long thin metal rod to attempt to flick the door open switch near the passenger door lever. With a steady hand and car alarm blaring, he makes a valiant attempt but still no cigar. Doors a dead bolted and the 4×4 lump remains impassively and steadfastly locked.

Although my friend and I have had past dealings with explosives, we quickly dismiss that notion and focus on ‘Mission Spare Key’. Thankfully, spare key is located some 200km away and plans are hatched for its immediate pick-up and transfer.

Plan 1 – courier pick-up (“You want to do what? Sorry mate, you are not a customer and unless you turn up at our Perth office so we can sight your credit card, we are not able to do this. By the way, it would have cost you $500”) I know our humble Australian currency pales against the mighty Deutschemark Mr. Volks Wagen, but that is a *&@# of a lot of coin!

Plan 2 – local towing company. Nice man from towing mob calls back and says he has a ‘guy’ to do the job and that key can be down by 1.00pm. Sounds great I say – lets do that! Given that I have to be back in Perth at 6.30pm for my dad’s 70th birthday party, I should have plenty of time to be showered and shaved for the big event after the two hour expedition back.

1.00pm comes and goes……2.00pm…….3.00pm……no guy and no key! Arrrrrrhhhh! Soon after he is contacted and laconically answers the phone with “yeah, leaving Perth soon mate…got the key, but be down there in a few hours” Haven’t left Perth yet…are you kidding me?

‘Mission Spare Key’ now enters into a stunning and desperate new phase as fury and adrenalin take over. I tell the mystery courier that “we are on our way up and we will meet you somewhere on the freeway between here and Perth”

The mercy dash begins and after an hour, the rendeavous point for the ‘pick-up’ is established beside the Kwinana freeway on the Anketell Road off-ramp. Like two desparate prison escapees awaiting a car transfer or a pair of bug-eyed coke-heads awaiting their next hit, we wait on the side of the road for the precious cargo to arrive. The very dodgy courier soon arrives with his mate in their souped-up Holden Statesman and the transaction is completed…the local cops would have no doubt taken keen interest in the proceedings if they had driven by at the wrong moment!

With key secured, we make our way back south and finally arrive back in Australind. The big moment arrives and with a familiar thud, doors are unlocked and original key is retrieved from the rear seat. (Cue scenes of utter joy, relief and elation…)

We drive off north into the darkening sky and all is calm again….

Again I ask myself and indeed you in this moment of reflection…..How could this happen, Mr. Volkswagen?

I now humbly await your considered response whilst I seek psychiatric help to overcome this unfortunate episode. Do you know someone good for both myself and the car?

Yours Sincerely

Le grand groupe touareg, poursuit sa voie authentique, sans concession. En concert à Genève mercredi 14 octobre 2009.

(Cet article est initialement paru dans le numèro de septembre du magazine Vibrations)

Ils se battent pour du sable et des cailloux : voilà près de vingt ans que le peuple touareg, séparé arbitrairement par des frontières au moment de la décolonisation, se bat pour son unité, pour son identité aussi. De mouvement de rébellion en riffs de guitare, ce bout de désert-là continue de refuser de se taire. Du groupe de femmes, Tartit, aux rockers de Tinariwen, l’homme bleu sort de son désert et conquiert les scènes musicales du monde entier. Avec leurs guitares électriques, leurs chants murmurés, leur blues désossé, cachés dans leurs chèches, les musiciens de Tinariwen exercent une fascination digne de pop stars. L’histoire commença  à la fin des années 70. Deux chômeurs du nom d’Ibrahim et Intiyaden, en exil en Libye, découvrent la guitare, s’en emparent et se mettent à composer. Et sont bientôt rejoints par d’autres. Tinariwen est né. Pour la première fois des chansons touarègues expriment des sentiments – l’exil, la nostalgie. la vie quotidienne – au lieu des grands poèmes classiques de la culture touarègue. Bientôt les chansons se font plus militantes, plus politiques et les cassettes du groupe circulent discrètement dans tous les campements et villages touaregs. Parallèlement, un mouvement de rébellion revendiquant un statut d’autonomie, le droit à l’éducation et au développement, prend de plus en plus d’ampleur. Les frontières nationales arbitrairement tracées dans le désert au moment de la décolonisation, restent le problème majeur pour ce peuple écartelé sur plusieurs états. Tinariwen devient le chantre du mouvement. Sa renommée grandit, de Tombouctou à Tamanrasset.
En 2000, après une éclipse, le groupe renaît de ses cendres et démarre une carrière internationale grâce à une rencontre avec le groupe français Lo’jo. Aujourd’hui, les membres de Tinariwen oscillent entre tournées et vie de nomade dans le désert, Un grand écart entre deux mondes que tout oppose, salué aujourd’hui par la sortie d’un troisième album, «Imidiwan».

Une question de devoir

«Le choix d’enregistrer dans le désert a été fait pour avoir le son du désert, avec les parasites, le vent… Mais aussi pour retrouver notre inspiration dans un milieu naturel.» explique le charismatique Ibrahim, dans l’appartement parisien de l’un de ses amis. Ce grand bonhomme, faussement nonchalant, toujours un peu avec vous mais un peu ailleurs aussi, n’est pas franchement convaincu par l’exercice de l’interview. Il ne se sent d’ailleurs guère à sa place dans la capitale française, mais continue sa trajectoire de rock star malgré lui, par devoir envers sa communauté, son peuple.
Attirer coûte que coûte l’attention du plus grand nombre sur ce petit bout de désert, telle est désormais la mission de Tinariwen. Un petit bout de désert qui excite de plus en plus la convoitise des multinationales et des grandes puissances. Pétrole, uranium, soleil : sous le sable et les cailloux, toutes les énergies sont là, pour le plus grand malheur du peuple touareg… Un peu plus à l’Est dans le désert, la ville nigérienne d’Arlit est bien connue pour ses mines d’uranium à ciel ouvert exploitées sans grande considération pour la population locale. Dans la région de Kidal, la ville dont est originaire Tinariwen, de l’uranium a déjà été trouvé et des contrats établis avec une compagnie australienne… De quoi faire trembler «Il y a une énorme ignorance de ce qu’est l’uranium chez les touaregs. Beaucoup pensent que ce sont de simples cailloux. C’est cette partie de la population qui est utilisée pour l’exploitation des mines. Ceux qui connaissent les dangers de l’uranium ne sont pas consultés.» reprend Ibrahim.
Et même si Tinariwen ne parle pas explicitement de ces problèmes dans ses chansons, même s’ils ont désormais opté pour la poésie plutôt que pour le militantisme, ils continuent à jouer les ambassadeurs d’un peuple et d’une culture millénaire menacée. Leur souci de persévérer, d’intégrer des structures auxquelles ils ne comprennent rien, est une façon en soi de faire avancer leur cause. Comme le dit Justin Adams, arrangeur de leurs premiers albums, «Avec Tinariwen, c’est comme si j’avais découvert le centre, l’essence de toutes les musique africaines qui m’intéressaient jusque-là.  En plus, il y a leur engagement. Même sans comprendre un traître mot de tamashek, on peut sentir le sérieux de leur démarche. On pense évidemment à Bob Marley…».

Nostalgie et unité

Le nouvel album du groupe évite une fois encore les écueils dans lesquels d’autres seraient tombés: une production plus poussée, un « gros » son qui les propulserait au sommet des charts … Et l’on sent de suite que les treize chansons rassemblées ici ont été rodées au coin du feu. Tinariwen, groupe à géométrie variable par essence, a ouvert grand les portes de son studio mobile. Les femmes, avec leurs chants enjoués et leurs claquements de mains, viennent soutenir les sourdes complaintes d’Ibrahim, Hassan, Abdallah, Intidao … Certains «anciens » membres du groupe, sont aussi revenus. Ainsi Mohammed, dit Japonais, le temps d’un morceau, magnifique chanson sur les regrets, l’anxiété, le temps gâché. Ou Diara dont la guitare magique hante deux titres. Le rythme reste toujours réglé sur «le pas du chameau», mais les ambiances varient Selon les auteurs des morceaux. «C’est une question d’unité. Chacun des membres du groupe pourrait faire un album tout seul, Mais nous avons choisi d’être ensemble et chacun a sa place !»

Tinariwen, Imidiwan, AZ/Universal

The Sahel Blog has been posting on the recent peace agreement in Niger’s Touareg conflict:

• Niger: Opposition Boycotts, Tuareg Settlement Goes Forward
• Tuareg Peace Agreement Revisited

Not that they were fighting anyway, but Mali’s rebels are supposedly also involved. And so is Muammar, ambitious as always:

Gaddafi said all Tuaregs living in Niger and Mali, and elsewhere in Sub Sahara African areas, were Libyan but said he wanted them to live in peace where they had settled.

No need to thank him, that’s just the way he is: generous to a fault. But in fact, Qadhafi’s claims of leadership among the Touareg has a long history, and it has caused considerable irritation among some Algerians who fear that he’s trying to spread separatist ideas in the south of their country. However, after one newspaper started reporting on some quite blatant Libyan incitement of Algerian Touareg, it was told in no uncertain terms by Algeira’s judicial authorities to shut up, lest The Guide get mad. That’s soft power for you, Maghreb-style.