The mid-cycle update to the crossover will include an electrified version.
September 14th 2015 was the day Volkswagen presented the Tiguan GT concept at Frankfurt Motor Show. VW has announced a production version of its electrified crossover yesterday. These spy photos were taken before the official premiere, which is scheduled for later in the year. Although we’ve seen prototypes of the hybrid version before it was likely that the company was testing the powertrain for the Tiguan LPHEV, which was launched in China last January.
Europe is about to receive the Tiguan GTE. Logic tells us that it will be based upon the mid-cycle facelift of the compact. crossover You will be receiving. The spy photos show a camouflaged prototype that has stickers on the headlights to conceal the new design, which is expected to follow the Golf 8. The same goes for the back. While the taillights may look the same as the current, you are actually seeing stickers stuck onto the clusters. The front bumper has some makeup, and the grille seems to have an issue. Expect the production model to look better.
How can we tell it’s not an ordinary Tiguan facelift but the GTE? Look at the driver’s side front fender, where you will find the charging port. It seems to be about the same size as the one on the new Golf GTE. This is not surprising considering the mechanical relationship between the two.
Although VW has not yet said whether the electrified Tiguan would follow the Passat GTE or the Golf GTE, both models have a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline motor working with an electric engine, a six speed dual-clutch auto transmission and a 13-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The combined 231 horsepower of the hatchback and larger sedan is the equivalent to the wagon’s 215 horsepower. All three have 400 Newton-meters (or 295 pound-feet) respectively.
The electric range of the Tiguan GTE is 60km (37 miles), while the Passat sedan can go 56 km/35 miles (54 km/34 miles for the heavier wagon), without using gasoline. All range numbers are based upon the WLTP cycle. It is worth noting that VW also sells in Europe a non GTE Golf plug-in hybrid. This has the same 13-kWh battery, 60 km (37 mile) range, and the same power output. However, it is 201 HP or 40 hp lower than the GTE.
Later this year, the Tiguan facelift will be revealed. VW will also launch a high performance R model that they have been testing for many years.