The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan will be brought to India via CKD route and then locally assembled at Volkswagen’s Aurangabad plant in Maharashtra. The car is expected to be launched later this year.
German carmaker Volkswagen is famous for its classy designs and tank-like build quality. Volkswagen has always portrayed itself as a premium brand in India among a sea of other commuter cars. But even after all the classy lines and technological marvels that make the German cars such beauties, the brand is not exactly setting the sales charts on fire mainly due to a very small product portfolio. Volkswagen plans to change all that by introducing its excellent looking Tiguan SUV in India and assembling it here.
The new second generation Volkswagen Tiguan is expected to be launched in India by the end of this year. The company plans to bring the car in the country via the CKD route and assembling it in its Aurangabad facility to keep the costs down. The car will be manufactured in the company’s plants in Germany and Mexico and India is likely to get the Mexican-made long wheelbase version.
The 2017 Tiguan is based on the highly modular MQB platform from Volkswagen which can support a number of wheelbases for vehicles with front-transverse-mounted engines. The car sports the same timeless straight-cut lines and chrome grille design of other Volkswagens and is expected to be made available with a three row seating option in India. The car is also likely to be priced at a slight premium over its competitors such as the Mahindra XUV500 and the upcoming Honda BR-V and Hyundai Tuscon.
The Tiguan measures 4490 mm in length, 1840 mm in width, 1630 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2680 mm. The car will most likely arrive in its 2-litre TDI diesel engine equipped version which produces 188 BHP of power and will be mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG gearbox. It will be interesting to see what bells and whistles the car comes loaded with as the the European version boasts of features like memory seats, 3-zone climatic control, a 12-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system with electronically lockable differentials.
The SUV is an important part of Volkswagen’s strategy for FY17. The carmaker has planned a product onslaught in both mass market as well as premium segments of the Indian automotive sector. The recently unveiled Ameo compact sedan is designed to take on the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, the Hyundai Xcent and the Honda Amaze. Volkswagen is also going to launch the new Passat which may come with a hybrid option and the much talked about Polo GTI with 189 BHP of pure fun.
Volkswagen Tiguan India
– Expected to be launched this year
– Will be assembled at the Aurangabad plant
– Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform
– Expected to get the 2-litre TDI engine which produces 188 BHP
