Volkswagen releases first photos of production Tiguan

Click the photo for a high res gallery of the new VW Tiguan

After teasing a few weeks ago with photos of the new Tiguan undergoing final testing in Africa, sans badges, Volkswagen has now given us official photos of the production model. The world at large will get to see the new crossover in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but in the meantime you can enjoy a high-res gallery right here.

The Tiguan will be available worldwide with a range of direct-injected and turbocharged four cylinder engines. Of the five available engines overseas, three will be fueled by gasoline with the other two using diesel. A VW spokesman confirmed that in the US market we will initially get the 200hp 2.0L TFSI engine from the GTI. A clean diesel engine will follow shortly after the introduction, which is set for May 2008. In the meantime VW, has set up a Tiguan micro-site at www.tiguan-base.com.

[Source: Volkswagen]

PRESS RELEASE:
First pictures: Powerful appearance – this is the new Tiguan

-Statement: new Volkswagen SUV with powerful design
-Borderliner: predestined for the street, in top form for off-road

Wolfsburg, June 28, 2007 – With the first pictures of the new Tiguan Volkswagen is starting the countdown for the debut of it's 14th model series. The Sports Utility Vehicle – SUV for short – will be presented to the public for the first time in September as part of the International Motor Show (IAA in Frankfurt). A combination of power and elegance characterizes the design of the new Tiguan. It was conceived as a borderliner between the urban world and endless landscapes, between business and leisure time. The Tiguan is a multitalent with driving characteristics that are just as agile as they are comfortable, high utility value and groundbreaking technologies.

Like the Touareg, the second Volkswagen SUV also presents a self-confident design. Shaping the front of the new Tiguan are the sexy proportions that Volkswagen first introduced with the Concept A Study that garnered worldwide attention – a crossover of a coupe and SUV. On the sides an elongated and powerfully modulated silhouette spans between the extended wheel arches with a – typical Volkswagen – unmistakable C-pillar. A very short overhang characterizes the steep rear end. Also significant are the front headlights and rear lights with matching shapes.

First facts on Tiguan engines: Volkswagen will offer the SUV – and this for the first time worldwide – exclusively with turbocharged direct injection engines. This "high-performance turbocharging" significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions, yet immensely increases dynamics and driving fun.

Overall there are three TSI and two TDI engines. Of these the completely new developments are the extremely quiet TDIs with common rail fuel injection. They achieve 103 kW / 140 hp and 125 kW / 170 hp and at 1,750 rpm already output 320 Nm or 350 Nm in four-wheel drive. Both TDIs already meet the limits of the Euro-5 standard first coming into effect in 2009.

Also getting to the point powerfully, economically and cleanly are the turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines in the performance levels 110 kW /150hp, 125kW /170hpand147 kW /200hp. New to the Volkswagen program are the 150 hp and 170 hp versions. A glance at the torque values makes one sense that the TSIs are very high torque. The 150-hp TSI already develops a self-assured 240 Nm (from 1,750 rpm). In the 170 hp and 200 hp performance range it is 280 Nm (from 1,800 rpm each).

"Tiguan Base" on the internet shows just how big the interest is in the new Tiguan. Visitors to www.tiguan-base.com can log in to the virtual world of the Tiguan. The development stages of the new SUV are presented in photos, films and facts. Within just 15 weeks – and this is sensational – more than one million people have made use of it worldwide. It looks as though the Tiguan is developing into an exciting chapter in the history of the automobile.