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11/28/2006, 4:48 PM

Volkswagen

2008 Volkswagen Tiguan Concept

Volkswagen has unveiled its compact 4×4, the Concept Tiguan, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and has announced that the production units will be delivered to customers by the end of next year.

At 4.4 metres long, 1.85 m wide and 1.69 m high, it is very similar in size to the Touran compact MPV (4.4 m, 1.8 m, 1.6 m). Klaus Bischoff, who was responsible for the exterior design of the car said: “It was very important for us to have the car appear powerful and muscular. For us that was a higher priority than anything else. An off-roader needs a long hood and an upright position. That lends the vehicle self-assuredness and power.”

Under the hood is a BLUETEC diesel engine developed in partnership with Audi and Mercedes-Benz. This ‘Clean TDI’ will comply with the strictest emissions standards in the world and is one of the first components of the BLUETEC offensive. Gallery after the jump…

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11/28, 4:49 PM

posted by:

A4

ahhh nice! i can only hope they make a 3-door model

11/28, 4:50 PM

posted by:

A4

those body-matched tires are pretty wild too

11/28, 5:05 PM

posted by:

maverick

The orange trim on the interior and the orange in the tires adds a very nice touch.
This thing looks like its gonna jump on you and bite your head off.

It doesnt get any better than VW

11/28, 5:08 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

V wubble U is on a wampage for WORLD-WIDE-DOMINATION! No more silly wabbits. I like the direction they are taking things, besides that Chinese abomination we saw last week.

11/28, 5:12 PM

posted by:

century24

Somebody please tell me what the heck is stitched into the front seat.

11/28, 5:30 PM

posted by:

adam713

Now I like that. Looks fun to take off-roading.

11/28, 5:39 PM

posted by:

Kenny W

The interior is a step back from the standard VW interior in terms of look. The exterior looks better than I imagined it would though, if priced right this could be a very hot seller for them. Overall I’m impressed.

11/28, 5:51 PM

posted by:

deantj

Awesome Awesome Awesome, this will kick the Acura RDX’s puny little butt

11/28, 5:58 PM

posted by:

snoboardguy21

So now the question is, what really cool features WON’T the production unit have? I’m guessing the body colored tires, the HUGE wheels, the “black chrome” grill, the orange stitching on the dash, the cool pattern in the seats, and the interesting shape of the steering wheel.

11/28, 6:04 PM

posted by:

deantj

That wheel is original equipment on the GTi

11/28, 6:04 PM

posted by:

Me

NICE.

11/28, 6:20 PM

posted by:

GT40

what is a tiguan?

11/28, 6:57 PM

posted by:

Stuart

9 OUT OF 10 WELL DONE

11/28, 7:01 PM

posted by:

ehhh?

Is this really going to be better than the RDX and x3? Because that is what it is going to be priced against, and still won’t rank in terms of “luxury”. I somehow doubt it when all the concept features are stripped.

11/28, 7:14 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

Awesome SUV. It reminds me of a snake. :D

11/28, 8:35 PM

posted by:

Fromes

very cool, if the price is right and it stays close to concept it should sell very well, I am defintly interested

11/28, 8:47 PM

posted by:

MadMatt

V-Dub, representing Deutscland very well!

11/28, 9:22 PM

posted by:

bcjohnso99

Now there’s a dashpad that’d make a 12 year old girl all smiles - braces and all.

Tacky as hell….

11/28, 10:02 PM

posted by:

Ricardo Head

I agree about the dash. The exterior looks great … the dash looks like it was lifted out of a mid-90s Pontiac Grand Am. Hey VW Pontiac solltest Du überhaupt nicht nachmachen. Nie im Leben!

11/28, 10:13 PM

posted by:

alfa_Romeo

and vw is back!!!!!!!!!!!

11/28, 10:19 PM

posted by:

mystikranger

Aside from the stitching and the steering wheel, the interior looks like it’s ready for production.

11/28, 10:40 PM

posted by:

mehigh

Regarding the dash, if I’m not wrong is already used on the Golf Plus model available in Europe. And yes, unfortunately it reminds me of Pontiac… the round vent holes are way smaller though

11/28, 10:46 PM

posted by:

miket

I have been considering an SUV in this category for a little while and have driven both the RDX and X3 and can say that the VW interior seems a little sparse for a luxo-ute.
I think the redeeming feature VW has that is missing from both other vehicles is decent fuel economy, which if done right can put this right up there with those 2 competitors.

If i could get into an SUV of that caliber and retain my 30mpg from my civic I would be sold instantly

11/28, 11:49 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

Aww yeah, thats nice, I like that stance a lot. Kudos to VW!!

11/28, 11:55 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

P.S. BMW OWNS… thats right I said it.

11/29, 12:19 AM

posted by:

1c3d0g

BMW doesn’t own anything. GM and Chrysler can take on BMW, they’re already doing it with the Saturn Sky and cars like the Viper. Stop talking smack, everyone’s tired of BMW this and BMW that. Not that great. Build quality of GM these days is equally good.

11/29, 1:39 AM

posted by:

b13sentra

it’s a bigger, meatier Golf/Rabbit. it is, in essence a golf for the US market. we like our cars big, meaty, and with a presence, and this has it all. V-Dub is in da house. And probably will be for a while to come. Good work in wolfsburg!

11/29, 1:41 AM

posted by:

MHW

Since we are comparing this new VW concept to older Pontiacs I will make one more observation. The headlights reminded me of something I had seen before, then it hit me, they are the exact same shape as are old freind the Aztec! Sorry if that ticks you off but its true. LOL

11/29, 2:42 AM

posted by:

gitcypher

DSG… sweet.

11/29, 8:24 AM

posted by:

obsessedwithautos

To all the people who say the interior “isn’t luxurious enough,” what exactly are you looking for? The entire dashboard and instrument cluster out of burled walnut? Tray tables? A flip down 15 inch monitor? All may be nice, but they really don’t fit the character of the car that VW is trying to build. Apparently great build quality, leather seats, and navigation system are just not luxury anymore. They’re practically expected.

Regarding the vent holes, if VW made them rectangualar, then you critics would probably say it’s too staid and boring of an interior. It’s a lose-lose situation with some of the commenters. True, I bet you can almost feel the flimsiness of the tabs on the vent holes, but knowing VW and having sat in pretty much every model they offer in the US, I can expect a reasonable amount of tactile resistance.

11/29, 8:47 AM

posted by:

MyGodBeatsYourGod

Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.
Rabbit on steroids.

Rabbit on steroids.

11/29, 9:17 AM

posted by:

Bush

VW is back on my list.

11/29, 10:18 AM

posted by:

The Stig

Somehow, someway California will be off the import list due to diesel regulations.

11/29, 11:14 AM

posted by:

YourNameHere

this is going to destroy everything else because of three letters. T-D-I.

11/29, 11:38 AM

posted by:

1234

A new diesel from VW! Aweesome. Bring ‘em on.

11/29, 12:31 PM

posted by:

miket

obsessedwithautos, you are right– Navigation systems build quality and leather are not a prerequisite for a luxury automobile anymore because I can get the same thing in a Jeep Liberty and the like. Navigation systems do not mean luxury anymore–a lot of cars have available navigation systems.

To me the interior looks pretty plain jane for luxo-car status. The silver plastic and stitching panels remind me too much of an economy car (like my civic si). To me it just does not stand out as anything exceptional anymore.

I’m not knocking VW at all, they make a fine automobile, but unless this gets some great milage, I don’t see it competing with the RDX and x3. it does look to me like it would be right at home in the market with the Jeep liberty, and CRV / RAV4 crowd though.

11/29, 3:05 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

Actually “icedog” I was referring to the X6, should be a fine competitor. LMAO, I can’t believe you brought up the EXTREMELY sophisticated Dodge Viper, 8.0 litre V10! Hahaha

11/29, 7:41 PM

posted by:

Detroit Dude !

YAWN. Looks like a thousand other vehicles already on the market…nothing new here.

11/29, 7:57 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

Egbert Souse: that was someone else, a stupid freak is hacking accounts here and posting under my name. What an ass.

11/29, 8:39 PM

posted by:

Egbert Souse

Oh, no worries then!

12/01, 2:35 AM

posted by:

SSTRFSTR

Hooray for DSG!

12/01, 9:55 AM

posted by:

Vel

I have never seen a pretty VW… and this one doesn’t change it.

12/01, 12:35 PM

posted by:

theshadow

Actually, Ligers do exist (so do Tigons)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liger

 
 
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