Volkswagen has been promising a crossover offensive for several years now. An ever-expanding number of concepts have been displayed at auto shows all around the world, but until now, none of them have landed in showrooms.
The wait is finally over, as the Wolfsburg-based car maker will begin its soft-roader blitz when it shows the all-new 2017 Tiguan at tomorrow’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Full details are being kept under wraps for the time being, but two official teaser sketches give us a good idea of what to expect.
Visually speaking, the next Tiguan appears to be markedly inspired by the aforementioned concepts, notably the Cross Coupe GTE that was presented last January at the Detroit Motor Show. The front end is characterized by sharp headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and a thin three-slat grille. In profile, flared wheel arches add a rugged touch to the overall look, while a pronounced belt line emphasizes the Tiguan’s length. Finally, the back end receives chiseled tail lamps inspired by the ones found on the eighth-gen Passat that’s sold in Europe and a roof-mounted spoiler.
Recent reports indicate the 2017 Tiguan will be much lighter than the current model because it will be built on Volkswagen’s modular MQB platform. It will also boast third-row seating — a first in the nameplate’s history — thanks to no less than ten additional inches of sheet metal.
Three body styles will allegedly be offered; a standard-wheelbase Tiguan, a long-wheelbase version, and a sportier model with a coupe-like roofline that will follow the path blazed by the BMW X6. The longer Tiguan is being developed primarily for China and we hear that it will not be sold on our shores.
In the U.S., the Tiguan could launch with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline-burning engine and a 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel mill. Both engines will spin the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and both will most likely be available with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system at an extra cost.
Stay tuned, as full details about the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan will be available in less than a day.
