LLN.comVolkswagen has unveiled its compact 4×4, the Concept Tiguan, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and has announced that the production units will be delivered to customers by the end of next year.
At 4.4 metres long, 1.85 m wide and 1.69 m high, it is very similar in size to the Touran compact MPV (4.4 m, 1.8 m, 1.6 m). Klaus Bischoff, who was responsible for the exterior design of the car said: "It was very important for us to have the car appear powerful and muscular. For us that was a higher priority than anything else. An off-roader needs a long hood and an upright position. That lends the vehicle self-assuredness and power."
Under the hood is a BLUETEC diesel engine developed in partnership with Audi and Mercedes-Benz. This 'Clean TDI' will comply with the strictest emissions standards in the world and is one of the first components of the BLUETEC offensive.
*BUMP* Official News from Los Angeles:
...I'm impressed. It looks as though the 2008 Saturn VUE will have some very tough competition from Volkswagen, hell, even Acura may have a problem with it's own RDX if the folks in Wolfsburg use the high-power 2.0T in here. We all know they are going to build it, the interior shot pretty much confirms it. I haven't seen so many production parts in a "concept" since the Enclave debut last year, so VW can call it a "concept" all they want... We know they are going to build it...
LLN.comThe Volkswagen Tiguan was only unveiled in concept form last week, but a production model will arrive in showrooms in less than a year, VW spokesman Steve Keyes told Automotive News. A gasoline version will arrive in fall 2007, while a diesel model will go on sale even later in the year.
Like the Tiguan concept, the production crossover will make use of a Bluetec diesel engine, developed in cooperation with Mercedes. The Tiguan will be the only small SUV offered with a diesel engine in the United States.
But it is diesel power that I'm most interested in, and being the only model on market, I wouldn't be surprised to see that force either Honda or Toyota's hand with the possibility of more efficient hybrid versions of their crossovers, or new diesel models altogether.
AutoblogThe new Tiguan cute-ute factored big into Volkswagen's press conference at this year's LA show. And no wonder, as Vee-Dub is hoping its new small sport-ute sells big, especially in the all-important US market, and especially in California where nobody needs a truck yet everybody has one (and parks it next to their Prius).
Volkswagen of America revealed that Tiguan is priced to sell with a starting MSRP of just $22,490. With just two sport-utes in its lineup, that gives VW a huge price-point spread that stretches all the way up to $68,320 for the bigger Touareg 2 with the jumbo-jet-pulling V10 TDI.
It shouldn't be much larger than the Golf in overall outside dimensions given that it shares its base with it. I mean, sure, its an "SUV" of sorts, but it should be that big. I want to say its about the same size as the Saturn VUE/Opel Antara, maybe a shade smaller, but certainly much smaller by comparison to the new Rav4 and CR-V.
Please let those colored tires be optional...