The Volkswagen Tiguan is claimed to be Europe’s most successful Sports Utility Vehicle and one of the top-selling SUVs in the world. More than six million units have been produced to date. In 2019, the Tiguan was again the most popular model of the brand and entire Volkswagen Group, with around 911,000 units produced. Volkswagen is now showcasing a comprehensive update of the best-selling vehicle as part of its world premiere.
Ralf Brandstätter who has today been appointed the new CEO of the Volkswagen brand: “We launched our global SUV strategy with the second-generation Tiguan in 2016. It served as the basis for many successful models worldwide. Volkswagen is now taking the next step by electrifying, digitalising and networking the new Tiguan. This will equip the compact SUV to handle the challenges of the modern era.”
The new Tiguan
Volkswagen is electrifying the Tiguan with a new, state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid drive. The SUV will now also be available as a separate Tiguan R model for the very first time. Volkswagen R’s performance experts have developed a new all-wheel drive with selective wheel torque control for the extremely dynamic, top-of-the-range model. The so called “R-Performance Torque Vectoring” enables totally new SUV driving dynamics by distributing the drive power variably between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels.
Volkswagen’s use of twin dosing now ensures that the turbo diesel engines (TDI) in the Tiguan are among the cleanest combustion engines in the world. With the new Travel Assist system in the Tiguan, the compact SUV is now capable of assisted driving at speeds up to 210 km/h. The Tiguan also applies the most recent generation of infotainment systems (MIB3) to bring a completely new range of online-based services and functions on board. Also new: the optional 480-watt sound system by audio specialist Harman Kardon.
A new steering wheel generation featuring touch controls is also among the highlights of the new Tiguan.
One of the characteristic, new exterior features of the new Tiguan includes the redesigned front end. Klaus Zyciora, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group and Chief Designer for the Volkswagen brand: “At the front, Volkswagen’s new SUV radiator grille forges a visual link between the Tiguan and models such as the larger Touareg and the Atlas Cross Sport sold in North America. It really lends the new Tiguan a significantly more confident appearance.” The bonnet is more concise in its appearance and the new radiator grille with LED headlights is wider, with the new Volkswagen badge positioned centrally at the front. The eye-catching bumpers have also undergone a makeover. At the rear, the Tiguan lettering is now in a prominent central position below the VW badge.
Like its predecessors, the new Tiguan is claimed to be versatile. It is a genuine SUV capable of towing loads up to 2.5 tonnes.
The new Tiguan versions with 1.5TSi engines and 2.0TDI DSG will be available in Ireland in late October/November, while the Tiguan R and 2.0TDI manual in arrive January and the PHEV is not available until next summer for right hand drive markets.
