Volkswagen has apparently seen the same gap in its SUV lineup that we did when the Tiguan was introduced. According to Autocar, the Germans are working on a mid-sizer that would slot between the large Touareg2 and the smaller Tiguan, but have seating for seven. Autocar says VW does not plan to base the vehicle on Audi's Q5 platform or a stretched Tiguan. Instead the company is expected to utilize the much cheaper, next-generation Passat, which itself shares numerous parts with the next Golf. Sources say the larger SUV is planned for a 2011 intro with possible Skoda and Seat variants.
Anyone want to take a guess at what obscure nomadic tribe this one will be named after? Wikipedia lists at least two that begin with "T" that haven't been used yet. There are the Toubou of Chad, but that's a bit too easily pronounced. Our money's on the Dutch Trekboers, as in "How much do you think the new VW Trekboer will cost?"
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shakatar @ Apr 16th 2008 7:49AM
How about the Toumenybalzintheaer tribe of Lower Saxony?
Aetius @ Apr 16th 2008 8:18AM
Well...you can have an entire obscure tribe fit into a 7-seat SUV. Seriously...how many people are driving around with 6 people 24/7???
MicMac @ Apr 16th 2008 8:31AM
In cheek: seriously, how many people need to have off road capability 24/7?
Seriously: anyone with 2+ kids needs a vehicle that has more than two rows of seating or the additional cargo capacity of a minivan or an SUV.
Carlos @ Apr 16th 2008 8:19AM
Trekboer? Try Voortrekker.
Biff Baxter @ Apr 16th 2008 8:21AM
I would call it:
Latetotheparty
Because it will be. The market for 7-pass. SUVs is constricting faster than any other.
This has disaster written all over it for VW
Frank @ Apr 16th 2008 8:48AM
Boy, and I thought Toyota and GM were out of there minds for throwing major $ at big new SUV's in this market. Now we have VW (and Audi recently too).
funksobruva @ Apr 16th 2008 10:36AM
@MicMac
You can't be serious, unless the 2+ has a real figure (like 3 or more). What's wrong with the good ol' station wagon? My fam of four gets by great with a Passat wagon, I don't block any other drivers with my mass o' steel, and have tons of cubic storage in back for the trips to Costco.
Trips? Sure - twice a year, I use a rooftop storage container. I can buy one every week with what I save over a Stupid Utility Vehicle.
Mal Fuller @ Apr 16th 2008 10:52AM
Seating seven and seven seats are two different things.
Eric L. @ Apr 16th 2008 12:26PM
The Touareg2 is hardly large - its midsize and has two rows of seats. If anything, a larger SUV would be appropriate, but might be a tough sell with rising fuel prices. VW is rebadging a Chrysler minivan though.
Martman @ Apr 16th 2008 3:32PM
VW should stick to making cars, and improving the reliablity of the ones they make now.