Spotted in the wild! Volkswagen Tiguan TDI in California
When Volkswagen announced their new Tiguan compact crossover last year, American VW fans got excited about the prospect of a TDI model joining the lineup. It would have been the first diesel-powered small SUV in the U.S. market, but alas it wasn't meant to be, at least not yet. While VW officials say they have no immediate plans to offer a diesel in the U.S. Tiguan when the vehicle launches later this year, an observant driver has nonetheless spotted one in California. The Tiguan was parked at VW's California design studio in Palo Alto and closer examination revealed that it was was oil-burner. It's not at all unusual for manufacturers to be testing models only sold in foreign markets on our shores and the presence of this particular Tiguan doesn't necessarily signify anything. Most likely, Volkswagen will be watching how sales of the upcoming Jetta and Touareg TDI models do here - along with watching the price of diesel fuel - before making a go/no-go call on the Tiguan TDI.
[Source: TDIclub, thanks to Brian for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stephen 12:59PM (3/25/2008)
A Tiguan TDI would be great, but a Rabbit TDI would be fantastic.
BTW, it's the VW Electronics Research Laboratory (http://www.vwerl.com).
Reply
Mattias 2:22PM (3/25/2008)
The Tiguan already has the common rail engine family that is easily adaptable to US emission requirements. But profit margins on the gas engines might be higher, even on the relatively sophisticated 1.4 superduperdoubleturbocharged engine...
Reply
MikeW 7:02PM (3/25/2008)
For the Rabbit, I would settle for the DSG as an option over the 6 speed automatic.
Reply
Mooseman 1:22PM (3/26/2008)
"It would have been the first diesel-powered small SUV in the U.S. market..."
You mean, 2nd. You'll recall the Jeep Liberty diesel.
Reply
Guenther 8:48AM (3/26/2008)
(we) Germans can be so arrogant sometimes... why would a consumer even go look at this, when there are so many other (competent) offerings in the segment?
Reply
Joseph Augustine 11:11AM (3/26/2008)
I think a tiguan TDI would be very competative in the US. With its high 30's mpg. I would love to have one. You cant touch 25mpg in most other small Suvs.
Reply
owr084 2:29PM (3/26/2008)
Guenther -
Your comments are totally meaningless in North America where diesels (other than full size pickups and larger) are extremely scarce. For the 2008 model year, we only have a few Mercedes, a couple of Jeeps, and the VW Touraeg. That's it.
Reply
faisal 12:21PM (8/27/2008)
why not have a tiguan hybrid.. diesel tiguan would be great idea but the tiguan already has a small engine which gives out a great millage
Reply
Matt 9:45AM (5/11/2009)
I don't know if you realize this, but the European Tiguan TDI tows well over 5,000 lbs. The 2.0T tows only a mere 2,200 lbs. Where I'm from this means a lot. It's puts the "utility" word in SUV. So it takes the Tiguan from a Toy, to a useful tool.
So if I get a TDI Tiguan, I get all the towing capacity I would ever want, it qualifies for the tax credit at the end of the year (I think), and the fuel efficiency is astronomically unheard of in a compact SUV filled market.
Hybrids are a Joke, and only people who don't do their research buy them. Compare a Toyota Prius to a Yaris. The Prius is ~$10,000 more for a similarly equipped and sized Yaris both made by Toyota. After ~4-6 years you have to replace the expensive battery pack in the Prius. and it will take years of driving the Prius before you make up $10,000 in fuel and several thousand more for a battery pack.
How is making more batteries better for the environment? It would take a lot of driving for a Prius to win an argument over a Yaris. So a Hybrid Tiguan wouldn't make sense t all. Especially since a Hybrid can't get anywhere near the mileage, driveability, and towing capacity of a Diesel powered variant.