RSS_Auto_Poster
Well-known member
Written by Dan Carney
Volkswagen"s original Tiguan compact SUV of 2007 was tooexpensive and too thirsty to achieve blockbuster sales during the segment"semergence as a key source of sales. But it achieved worldwide sales of 2.64million during its production run, providing a strong foundation for thenext-generation version, introduced at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The company has aggressively addressed the original Tiguan"sshortcomings, building the new generation version on its high-volume, low-costmodular transverse matrix (MQB) platform used for the Golf and other compactmodels. This has produced a vehicle that is longer, lower, wider, and morecar-like than its predecessor. Illustrating the anticipated range of uses for a crossoverSUV, the Tiguan debuted in both on-road and off-road-centric configurationsalong with a hybrid-electric concept of a future efficiency-focused Tiguan GTE model. While the Tiguan"s cargo capacity has increased 10%to 18.4 ft (521 L), the vehicle is 110 lb (243 lb) lighter than before. Overall lengthis up 2.4 in (61 mm) to 176.6 in (4486 mm) and width is increased 1.2 in (31 mm) to 72.4in (1839 mm). Height is reduced by 1.3 in (33 mm) to 64.3 in (1633 mm). The lower roofcombines with other aerodynamic improvements such as wind tunnel-designedside-view mirrors to slash drag by 40% to 0.31 coefficient of drag. Worldwide, Tiguan features a suite of eight differentengines, all of which include turbocharging, direct injection, automaticstop/start, and battery regeneration as standard equipment. Half the engines aregasoline and half are diesel, with the gasoline family topping out with a 220-hp(164-kW) 2.0-L four cylinder and the diesel family headed by a twin-turbo 240-hp (179-kW) 2.0-Lfour. Overall, the engine families are 24% more efficient than those on the previousmodel, which were Euro-5 compliant and 10% more efficient than those thatwere Euro-6 certified. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is optional with someengines and standard with others. Its new Active Control switch lets driversset the parameters of its operation according to the conditions; on-road,off-road, and snow. In normal on-road driving the Tiguan"s Haldex couplingdisconnects the rear wheels from the engine for maximum efficiency. While cost containment and improved efficiency were criticalupgrades to the Tiguan, Volkswagen has made important electronic safety aidsystems standard equipment, making the Tiguan even more appealing to youngfamilies. That means an automatic post-collision braking system and aforward radar system that watches for potential collisions and acts to preventthem. Both are standard on all new Tiguans. If the radar spots a person in the road ahead, it issues an alertfollowed by automatic braking if the driver doesn"t act. Automatic lane-keepingassist that steers the Tiguan back into its lane is also standard. Tiguan"s crash-safety extends to pedestrians, with the useof a pyrotechnic hood release that pops the hood open in the event the carstrikes a person, providing additional crush space between the sheetmetal andthe engine beneath. While the new Tiguan goes on sale in 2016, the company isless specific about plans for the hybrid-electric concept version also shown atFrankfurt. Its internal combustion engine is a 115-kW (154-hp) turbocharged gasolinefour-cylinder, which combines with an electric motor for a maximum systemoutput of 160 kW. They drive the vehiclethrough a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 13 kW h lithium-ion battery pack can propel theTiguan GTE concept 31 mi (50 km) on electric power alone, with an electric top speedof 130 km/h (81 mph). Using the electric motor toboost the gasoline engine"s performance produces an available top speed of 200 km/h(124 mph) and 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 8.1 s. VW also imagines the possibility of a roof-mounted solarpanel that can, over extended periods of time, provide a worthwhile amount offree energy. Though a solar panel cannot quickly top off a discharged batterypack, it can soak up enough energy in a year to provide 1000 km (621 mi) of free drivingenergy for customers in southern latitudes, while northern drivers might see afree 500 km (310 mi) of energy from the sun. Certainly even a small amount of free drivingenergy helps shift the Tiguan"s perception as fuel-thirsty for its size.
Date: 22-Sep-2015 11:35 EDT
More of this article on the SAE International website
ID: 1366
Volkswagen"s original Tiguan compact SUV of 2007 was tooexpensive and too thirsty to achieve blockbuster sales during the segment"semergence as a key source of sales. But it achieved worldwide sales of 2.64million during its production run, providing a strong foundation for thenext-generation version, introduced at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The company has aggressively addressed the original Tiguan"sshortcomings, building the new generation version on its high-volume, low-costmodular transverse matrix (MQB) platform used for the Golf and other compactmodels. This has produced a vehicle that is longer, lower, wider, and morecar-like than its predecessor. Illustrating the anticipated range of uses for a crossoverSUV, the Tiguan debuted in both on-road and off-road-centric configurationsalong with a hybrid-electric concept of a future efficiency-focused Tiguan GTE model. While the Tiguan"s cargo capacity has increased 10%to 18.4 ft (521 L), the vehicle is 110 lb (243 lb) lighter than before. Overall lengthis up 2.4 in (61 mm) to 176.6 in (4486 mm) and width is increased 1.2 in (31 mm) to 72.4in (1839 mm). Height is reduced by 1.3 in (33 mm) to 64.3 in (1633 mm). The lower roofcombines with other aerodynamic improvements such as wind tunnel-designedside-view mirrors to slash drag by 40% to 0.31 coefficient of drag. Worldwide, Tiguan features a suite of eight differentengines, all of which include turbocharging, direct injection, automaticstop/start, and battery regeneration as standard equipment. Half the engines aregasoline and half are diesel, with the gasoline family topping out with a 220-hp(164-kW) 2.0-L four cylinder and the diesel family headed by a twin-turbo 240-hp (179-kW) 2.0-Lfour. Overall, the engine families are 24% more efficient than those on the previousmodel, which were Euro-5 compliant and 10% more efficient than those thatwere Euro-6 certified. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is optional with someengines and standard with others. Its new Active Control switch lets driversset the parameters of its operation according to the conditions; on-road,off-road, and snow. In normal on-road driving the Tiguan"s Haldex couplingdisconnects the rear wheels from the engine for maximum efficiency. While cost containment and improved efficiency were criticalupgrades to the Tiguan, Volkswagen has made important electronic safety aidsystems standard equipment, making the Tiguan even more appealing to youngfamilies. That means an automatic post-collision braking system and aforward radar system that watches for potential collisions and acts to preventthem. Both are standard on all new Tiguans. If the radar spots a person in the road ahead, it issues an alertfollowed by automatic braking if the driver doesn"t act. Automatic lane-keepingassist that steers the Tiguan back into its lane is also standard. Tiguan"s crash-safety extends to pedestrians, with the useof a pyrotechnic hood release that pops the hood open in the event the carstrikes a person, providing additional crush space between the sheetmetal andthe engine beneath. While the new Tiguan goes on sale in 2016, the company isless specific about plans for the hybrid-electric concept version also shown atFrankfurt. Its internal combustion engine is a 115-kW (154-hp) turbocharged gasolinefour-cylinder, which combines with an electric motor for a maximum systemoutput of 160 kW. They drive the vehiclethrough a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 13 kW h lithium-ion battery pack can propel theTiguan GTE concept 31 mi (50 km) on electric power alone, with an electric top speedof 130 km/h (81 mph). Using the electric motor toboost the gasoline engine"s performance produces an available top speed of 200 km/h(124 mph) and 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 8.1 s. VW also imagines the possibility of a roof-mounted solarpanel that can, over extended periods of time, provide a worthwhile amount offree energy. Though a solar panel cannot quickly top off a discharged batterypack, it can soak up enough energy in a year to provide 1000 km (621 mi) of free drivingenergy for customers in southern latitudes, while northern drivers might see afree 500 km (310 mi) of energy from the sun. Certainly even a small amount of free drivingenergy helps shift the Tiguan"s perception as fuel-thirsty for its size.
Date: 22-Sep-2015 11:35 EDT
More of this article on the SAE International website
ID: 1366
