Volkswagen showcases the new Tiguan
Volkswagen produced more than 9,10,000 Tiguans worldwide in 2019, making it the most successful model for both the Volkswagen brand and Volkswagen Group. Since its inception in 2007 (though we got it only in 2017), more than six million Tiguans have been produced. Hence, time was ripe for the Tiguan to get a comprehensive update: interiors, exteriors, driver-assistance features, the works. So what you see here are the first images for the new Tiguan. So what exactly is ‘new’? Well, read on to find out.
At first glance
The entire face of the Tiguan has been heavily reworked, right up from the bumper to the new, wider grille (with the new Volkswagen badge positioned centrally) which flows into the now standard LED headlights resembling larger models in VW’s overseas portfolio like the European Touareg and the Atlas Cross Sport. The new Volkswagen badge is positioned centrally at the front.
Moving to the side, there are new wheel designs on offer for every trim line. At the rear, the Tiguan moniker is now in a positioned centrally below the VW badge. The ‘4Motion’ lettering for the all-wheel drive models has also been redesigned. An updated hands-free Easy Open and Close for the power liftgate will be available on midrange models.
Stepping in
Volkswagen has added a digital version of the new multifunction steering wheel, featuring illuminated touch islands and sliders. An all-new touch module is available for the Climatronic automatic climate control functions on the midrange models. In addition to touch buttons, generously sized and illuminated touch sliders are used for fan and temperature control. The touch buttons can also be used to operate functions like the now standard heated front seats, rear window defrost, and the air-conditioning menu. Illuminated USB-C ports are located under the AC module.
The new Tiguan will feature the latest generation modular infotainment system (MIB3), a standard configurable digital instrument panel and the next-gen personalisation system. MIB3 offers natural voice control, multi-phone pairing able to easily switch between devices, and wireless App-Connect. Every Tiguan is equipped with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, so the driver can easily configure the instrument display. An 8-inch display comes standard, with the top trim models getting a 10.25-inch display. Everything on the new Tiguan from the driver-seat and mirror settings to driver-assistance system preferences can be configured.
Powertrain
The US Tiguan is powered by an advanced version of the EA888 2-litre four-cylinder TSI engine, making 184bhp and 300Nm and mated to a standard 8-speed auto ‘box. By contrast, the Indian Tiguan will also run the same 2-litre TSI engine (187bhp and 320Nm) with our favourite 7-speed DSG box, currently doing duty on the Tiguan Allspace. Meanwhile, the European lineup will not only include a Tiguan R (making 315bhp from a reworked version of the 2-litre TSI engine) but also a plug-in hybrid variant.
Speaking now about Travel Assist, the new driver assistance tech on offer. The system can take over steering, braking and acceleration of the new Tiguan at speeds till an estimated 209kmph (the driver remains responsible for control of the SUV at all times). To do so, the system uses functions including Adaptive Cruise Control (longitudinal guidance) and the Lane Assist lane keeping system (lateral guidance)—both available in an Advanced Driver-Assistance Package on base models or standard on midrange models. The driver activates the system by pressing a separate Travel Assist button on the new multifunction steering wheel, but must keep their hands on the steering wheel even when Travel Assist is active. Touch detection is a great deal more reliable than steering angle-based systems even on long and very flat stretches of road.
The latest generation of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), available on top trims, proactively takes into account local speed limit information, town boundary signs, junctions and roundabouts. For this purpose, the assist system uses the signals from the front camera and the GPS and map data from the navigation system for control.
The standard wheelbase Tiguan goes on sale shortly in Europe. Now from the Indian perspective, while the current iteration of the Tiguan took about a year from its European launch to make it to our shores, we expect this latest version of the Tiguan to go on sale in India sometime in the first half of 2021.
