Looking to further “Americanize” its U.S. lineup, Volkswagen is said to be considering a new seven-passenger crossover SUV to slot between the Tiguan compact CUV and the larger Touareg SUV.
Volkswagen’s decision to specifically cater to American tastes has proven to be a wise move with the new Jetta sedan, with sales up a staggering 60 percent so far this year. VW will look to continue that momentum later this year with a redesigned Passat, and a new seven-passenger SUV might not be far behind that.
Jonathan Browning, VW’s North American CEO, revealed to The Detroit News that the German automaker is seriously considering a new three-row SUV that would take on vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer. No word on when such a vehicle might launch, but VW is looking to double its U.S. sales by 2018.
Browning didn’t give away too many details on the possible SUV, but did say it would offer more room than the Touareg but undercut the five-seater’s $44,000 starting price. The CUV would have a higher starting price than the $24,000 Tiguan.
VW has some extra capacity at its new Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, so it’s possible the SUV could be built in America.
References
1.’Bigger SUV in…’ view
