The name Tiguan originates from the fusion of two names – a reptile and a feline! And the new generation of the Volkswagen bestseller, which will hit Indian roads next year, is expected to have sharper claws.
The upcoming Tiguan, which will come to India next year, is slated to be more tiger than iguana. The SUV from Wolfsburg, which debuted in 2007 and was named after the strange crossbreeding between a feline and a reptile, is expected to experience a metamorphosis. The second generation will pull out its claws, as if laying bare its soul.
Built on the MQB platform, the all-new Tiguan will be more dynamic, lighter and more flexible. Safe, dependable, eminently posh, and with enough heft, it’ll be more sporty and enjoyable to drive. For the Tiguan, it’ll be a quantum shift. The driving experience will certainly lose its “van effect” – currently due to an angled steering column – which makes many drivers uncomfortable in the outgoing model.
MQB: RIGID, BUT... FLEXIBLE
Stylistically, the new Tiguan will be marginally larger and slightly lower. And so it’ll look more stable on the ground – indicative of its more aggressive nature. The most powerful variant could feature the 240bhp turbo diesel engine that does duty in the new Passat.
Of course, there are smaller engines as well. There’s a 1.6-litre petrol engine with front wheel drive, and there are an array of diesel engines that produce between 110 and 184bhp. The adoption of the MQB architecture should mean a weight loss of up to 100kgs – which will result in an increase in performance and a reduction in emissions.
The increased torsional stiffness will also result in a superior balance between handling and comfort. The MQB platform’s flexibility makes dimensional alterations easier, and gives Volkswagen the liberty of producing different versions of a model. And so it’s virtually confirmed that, by 2017, the company will launch the Tiguan coupe to take on the BMW X4.
And even though the MQB platform is not suitable for a hybrid plug-in, it’s still on the table – subject to Volkswagen’s evaluations.
The second generation of the Tiguan will be loaded to the gills with features. The technological equipment, in terms of driving aids, devices and connectivity will be top-notch. And even though many of the driving aids aren’t usable on Indian roads, expect the new Tiguan to turn quite a few heads when it’s finally launched in India next year.
SURPRISING GRIP
Globally, the sales growth of the Tiguan really never stopped – with the exception of slowing down slightly in 2009. Normally, a model reaches its peak within the first two years of its launch. Then it becomes stable, except when rejuvenated by a facelift, and eventually it starts a more or less dramatic decline towards the end of its lifecycle. The curve of the Tiguan, on the other hand, has always headed North! It could be argued that this is mostly because it belongs to this special breed of vehicle – the crossover SUV – which seems to avert any crisis. Even better, in 2014, it registered a growth of more than 20% in Europe alone. Demand in China, though, makes up for a little less than half of its total demand.
A more assertive look, with a front inspired by the Passat, and a better defined profile for the second generation of this German SUV. The architects of its transformation have kept in mind the origin of its name – the amalgamation of two words, tiger and iguana.
The new Tiguan, which is rendered here, will emphasise its SUV features. The roof will be lower than the current model, the profile sharper, and the C-pillar reminiscent of a BMW
© Riproduzione riservata
Write your Comment