new auto cars 2012: 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

2013, Cars, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Tiguan 9:10 AM

Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover vehicle initially built by the German automaker Auto 5000, but now built by Volkswagen, based on the PQ35 platform of the Volkswagen Golf. Production started in the winter of 2007 in Wolfsburg, Germany, and started selling shortly after. All Tiguans are four-cylinder powered. The Volkswagen Tiguan was announced at the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show held in November 2006 as a concept vehicle.

The production Tiguan was released at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and debuted as a 2008 model for Europe and elsewhere and in North America as a 2009 model. Sales of the Tiguan in Canada began in April 2008. As of 2011, more than 700,000 Tiguans have been sold worldwide since September 2007. The Tiguan's largest markets are Europe, Russia, the United States, China, Brazil, and Australia

The Tiguan is available in a variety of specification levels. The Trend & Fun and Sport & Style both have maximum approach angles of 18 degrees, while the Track & Field has a 28-degree maximum approach angle. In The Netherlands another version is delivered namely the Comfort & Design. This is basically a Trend & Fun to which some accessories have been added. This version was created by the Dutch distributor for the Dutch market. In the UK, trim levels are S, Match, Sport and Escape. In the US, trim levels are S, SE, and SEL. Tiguan was tested by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and received a five-star safety rating.

In the US, trim levels are S, SE, and SEL. In Canada, trim levels are Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline. For the 2012 model year, Tiguan Highlines are available with an optional Sport Package that features LED running lights, HID headlights, 19-inch wheels, and wheel well extensions. Navigation is offered as part of a technology package that includes RCD510 Navigation, Dynaudio, and reverse sensors.

The import version of Tiguan appears on the Chinese market in 2009, but soon a locally built version was revealed at 2009 Guangzhou Motor Show. The Chinese-built Tiguan uses 1.8TSI and 2.0TSI, and has a revised front facia. At the same time the import Tiguan is still sold in China, which has 2.0TSI and R-Line kit as highlights. The basic design of the import model is the same as the international one. In order to differ locally built and import models and the import one keeps the original letter name.

On July 17, 2010, the GM of Shanghai Volkswagen, plus the company's public relations chief and two other executives of the company, died in a company-owned VW Tiguan in a high-speed traffic accident. According to Chinese media reports, Shanghai VW General Manager Liu Jian and PR chief Zeng Jialin, plus two other executives, were traveling at 220 km/h far exceeding the expressway maximum of 110 km/h when the Tiguan hit a truck and burst into flames.