The Car Connection Expert Review
Volkswagen has unveiled its eagerly anticipated compact SUV, the Tiguan, and revealed the first customer cars will be delivered by the end of next year.
Taking a bow at the L.A. Auto Show in concept form, the newcomer is 173.2 inches long, 72.8 inches wide and 66.5 inches high – very similar to the Touran compact minivan.
The front end and side profile maintain the “baby Touareg” appearance of the Concept A prototype revealed earlier this year. The dark metallic tone of the front grille contrasts with the bright body color; a grid pattern and two dominant crossfins at the sides of the Volkswagen roundel complete the look.
Another striking feature is the tire design. The 19-inch rubber has been developed by Continental with an orange radial stripe beneath the profile, which matches the car’s paint color. It isn’t cosmetic, but a baked-in component of the casing. The stylish alloy rims are likely to feature in the production vehicle.
2008 Volkswagen Tiguan
Inside, the black, silver and orange theme continues. Seating five people, the leather seats are trimmed with a pattern which mirrors that of the tyre tread. The rear bench slides fore and aft, or can be folded down, to increase load space. Overhead a panoramic sunroof adds light to the interior.
Under the hood is a Bluetec diesel engine developed in partnership with Audi and Mercedes. It features different systems to reduce emissions, including a NOx storage catalytic converter which cuts nitrogen oxides by up to 90 per cent over current diesel units. It complies with the strictest emissions standards in the world.
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