Manufacturer Volkswagen | Production 2007–present | |
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Class Compact crossover SUV (J) | ||
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover vehicle (CUV) manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen. Introduced in 2007, it uses the PQ35 platform of the Volkswagen Golf. All first-generation (5N) Tiguans feature two-row seating and transverse-mounted four-cylinder engines.
Contents
The Tiguan debuted as a concept vehicle at the November 2006 LA Auto Show and in production form at the 2007 International Motor Show Germany. Manufacture began in the winter of 2007 at Volkswagen's 2001-2009 subsidiary Auto 5000 (an experimental company-within-a-company) in Wolfsburg and continued subsequently under the company's standard contract arrangements, at Wolfsburg and in Kaluga, Russia.
As of 2011, more than 700,000 Tiguans had been sold worldwide since September 2007, with the greatest sales in Europe, Russia, the United States, China, Brazil, and Australia. (Euro NCAP) gave the Tiguan a five-star safety rating.
The name Tiguan, pronounced TEE-gwan, is a portmanteau of the German words Tiger ("tiger") and Leguan ("iguana") and won a naming contest by German car magazine publisher Auto Bild — from a field of names that also included Namib, Rockton, Liger, Samun and Nanuk. A three-row, seven-seat version of the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan has been confirmed to be built at the German brand’s Puebla assembly plant in Mexico.
Trim levels
The Tiguan is offered worldwide in various trim levels. In the United States, trim levels included S, SE, and SEL. In the United Kingdom, trim levels were S, Match, Sport and Escape. In Canada, trim levels were Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline and Highline with an optional Sport Package. In Russia and other markets, trim levels included Trend & Fun, Sport and Style, and Track & Field. European markets received an R-Line trim level beginning in 2010.
The Trend & Fun specification offers a maximum approach angle of 18 degrees. Features include six airbags, ESP, Trailer Stability Program integrated with the ESP, Isofix child seat anchorages on the rear bench and electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, RCD 210 radio with integrated CD player, semi-automatic climate control system, four electric window lifts, electrically adjustable and heated outside mirrors, trip computer, RF remote control of central locking and various storage compartments and bins.
Sport & Style offers additional features, including 17 inch alloy wheels, chrome roof rail, chrome strips on front bumper and surrounding side window lining, tinted windows, sport seats with height-adjustable lumbar supports center console with folding and height adjustable armrest, folding front passenger seat, drawers under the front seats, folding table and storage pockets on the backs of the front seats, leather for steering wheel, gear shift knob and gear shift boot, fabric seats with Alcantara accents, cruise control system and tire pressure indicator.
The Track & Field package features a redesigned front module, with a 28 degree approach angle, hill descent assistant, modified driving pedal characteristic, EDS adaptation (electronic differential locks are activated at the slightest slip), ABS adaptation (which aids with braking on loose substrates), hill ascent assistance, automatic transmission gear level pre-selection (including optimal engine braking effect), 16-inch alloy wheels, tire pressure indicator, black roof rails, engine underbody protection, compass display, special door impact guard strips and seats with adjustable lumbar support.
China
The import version of Tiguan appeared on the Chinese market in 2009, with a locally built version (aka Shanghai-Volkswagen Tiguan) debuting at 2009 Guangzhou Motor Show. The Chinese built Tiguan uses 1.8 TSI (118 kW) and 2.0 TSI (147 kW), and has a revised front fascia. At the same time the import Tiguan is still sold in China, which has 2.0 TSI and R-Line kit as highlights. The basic design of the import model is the same as the international one. In order to differ locally built and import models, Shanghai-VW Tiguan is given a Chinese name, known as 途观 (tiguan), and the import one keeps the original letter name.
On July 17, 2009, the general manager of Shanghai Volkswagen as well as the company's public relations chief and two other executives of the company, died in a company owned VW Tiguan in a high speed traffic accident.
According to Chinese media reports, Shanghai VW General Manager Liu Jian and PR chief Zeng Jialin, plus two other executives, were traveling at 220 km/h (140 mph) — far exceeding the expressway maximum of 110 km/h (68 mph) — when the Tiguan hit a truck and burst into flames. However, this has been questioned by "many", because according to VW, the Tiguan has a top speed of only 200 km/h, and because there is a toll station 2 km away from the site of the crash.
HyMotion
At the November 2007 Michelin Challenge Bibendum, in Shanghai, China, Volkswagen showed the Tiguan HyMotion study powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell produces an output power of 80 kW (110 hp) and the electric motor has 100 kW (130 hp). These figures give the Tiguan HY.MOTION a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph) and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 14 seconds.
The lithium-ion battery has a charge capacity of 6.8 ampere-hours and is an auxiliary energy storage system. Power output from the lithium-ion battery is 22 kW. Battery charge is recovered from braking energy or the hydrogen fuel cell.
Facelift (2011)
The Tiguan was facelifted in July 2011. The headlights were made bolder and more angular, and the prominent horizontal grille bars of the Golf and new Passat were incorporated, as were the angular lines in the two part rear light clusters. Performance was also enhanced. The trim was revised, and a three spoke steering wheel introduced.
Second generation (2016-present)
The second generation Tiguan was unveiled at the 2016 IAA in Frankfurt. The Tiguan Mk2 and the Audi Q3 Mk2 are built on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. The model is produced at Wolfsburg, Puebla and Kaluga.
It is now produced in both a short wheelbase and long wheelbase versions. The SWB Tiguan will be available in Europe; the LWB variant is now sold in Europe, North America, China, and other markets. For North America, a turbo charged four cylinder gasoline engine will be mated, with an eight speed automatic transmission.
Australia
News of the second generation Tiguan was first revealed after the Frankfurt IAA. Pricing and Specifications were made available in July 2016, with the local press releasing details to the market.