2012 Volkswagen Tiguan news, pictures, and information

2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN: PUTTING ON A FRESH FACE

The Tiguan's major design refresh sees its front end updated to incorporate the new, horizontal Volkswagen brand ‘face' in line wîth the Tiguan's larger sibling, the Touareg.

The Tiguan bears familial design elements to the Touareg, including a redesigned grille that features two horizontal blades each featuring twin chrome strips. In the center is a prominent VW badge, while at each end are new, swept-back headlamps housed behind tough, polycarbonate covers.

Standard on the range-topping SEL models are Bi-Xenon headlights wîth advanced lighting system (AFS) illumination that conform wîth the §teering wheel to turn up to 15 degrees for increased visibility. Adding a new dimension is the Ú-shaped band of 14 LEDs around the AFS lenses that not only act as daytime running lights, but add a striking visual element to the front of the new Tiguan.

To heighten the 2012 Tiguan's new style, there's a new honeycomb grille section beneath the redesigned bumper, and beneath that a gray, skid-plate-style panel wîth three distinctive openings. Integrated into the new bumper at each side are honeycomb-backed panels housing stylish new fog lights. Below them are new black air-flow guides. It's a tough new look for the urban jungle.

At the rear, distinctive new two-part taillights echo those of the latest Touareg and feature signature L-shaped lighting elements. The design of the lights is also sleeker and more compact.

A dramatic new feature of the 2012 Tiguan is its new 19-inch ‘Savannah' alloy wheels that come standard on the SEL mode. These stylish, 10-spoke alloys have been developed by Volkswagen's recently-renamed R GmbH performance division, which was also responsible for the new Golf R.

Exterior


The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan combines the style and sophistication of a sporty, urban compact SÚV that caters to an active lifestyle.

At 174.3 inches nose-to-tail, 71.2 inches wide and 66.3 inches tall, it's the perfect size for city dwelling and country living.

The design of the original Tiguan was based on the Concept A styling study created by designers at Volkswagen's North American Design Studio in Santa Monica, California, and unveiled at the 2006 Geneva auto show.

In profile, the 2012 Tiguan is distinguished by its raked-back windscreen, rising waistline, large side windows, and an unmistakable, trademark C-pillar at the rear. On SE and SEL trims, a distinctive ring of chrome around the side windows, coupled wîth black-painted window frames, works to visually enhance the car.

Engineered to accommodate 4Motion all-wheel drive, the Tiguan's design reflects its ability to conquer all weather conditions. The squared-off wheelarches feature plastic surrounds to protect the paintwork, while the short overhang at the front allows a 28-degree approach angle.

Always ready for an active lifestyle, the 2012 Tiguan is designed to be a carry-all for fun gear. The robust roof rails can accommodate an array of accessories such as bike holders, or kayak and surfboard carriers. The available towing hitch accepts an attachment to carry up to four bikes, or can be used to pull 2200 pounds of jet skis, dirt bikes or ATVs.

Interior


Cabin designs don't come much more flexible than the 2012 Tiguan's. There is spacious seating for five adults, easy step-in through the wide-opening doors and generous legroom and headroom.

But the versatility of the Tiguan's seating sets it apart and makes it the perfect lifestyle vehicle. The rear seat has a 40/20/40 split to fit an owner's load-carrying needs. Fold down the wide center section and it can accommodate skis, or fishing gear, or rugs, while still having space for passengers on either side. With the rear seats in place, there is still an impressive 23.8 cubic feet of space in the load area. Fold the seats forward and it increases to no less than 56.1 cubic feet. And for the ultimate in load carrying, the front passenger seatback also folds forward and flat to accommodate loads up to 98 inches long.

The rear seat can also slide forward six inches to increase luggage space in the back, and for a little extra comfort on road trips, each of the rear seatbacks can be adjusted.

With the press of a button on the keyfob or on the switch located beneath the rear tailgate, the high-lifting rear door opens wide to accommodate large objects. In the cargo area, there are five tie-down hooks to keep ‘stuff' in place, and a 12-volt outlet to power coolers or air pumps.

To let the outside into the Tiguan's cabin, there's an available huge panoramic glass tilt/slide sunroof that is 300 percent bigger than the average-sized sunroof fitted to, say, the Volkswagen Golf. The aerodynamically and acoustically optimized panoramic roof comprises one glass §egmènt for opening, and one fixed glass panel at the rear. It features pinch protection and an electrically-operated sunshade that covers the inside of the entire glass area.

The sunroof comes standard wîth the new 2.0T S wîth Sunroof model, the SE wîth Sunroof and Navigation, and as part of the long list of standard equipment on the Tiguan SEL model.

As wîth the previous Tiguan, the fascia is beautifully designed wîth a clear focus on incorporating instruments and controls that are crisply and intuitively laid-out, easy to navigate and easy to reach. The speedometer and tachometer are oversized and have clear markings that can be read at a glance. Between them is a multi-function trip computer that monitors everything from fuel consumption, to trip distance, to setting the clock.

The 2012 Tiguan also features standard Bluetooth® connectivity, aux-in for portable audio players, and an eight-speaker audio system wîth an MP3 and WMA-compatible in-dash CD player. The mid-range SE model features Volkswagen's acclaimed touchscreen Premium VIII audio system wîth a six-disc CD changer, SD memory-card reader, and Media Device Interface (MDI) wîth an iPod® cable.

For a so-called utility vehicle, there is little that's utilitarian about the 2012 Tiguan. The interior features rich, soft-touch plastics on the fascia, beautifully-stitched cloth on the seats, and crisp, brushed-metal-style trim surrounding the eight dash-mounted air vents and gear shift.

For 2012, the Tiguan S offers new, high-quality cloth seating surfaces in black; the Tiguan SE features Volkswagen's perforated V-Tex leatherette, available in black or beige; and the Tiguan SEL offers rich leather seating surfaces in black or beige.

Engine and Transmission

The 2012 Tiguan comes wîth the soul of the iconic Volkswagen GTI—the award-winning 2.0-liter TSI® turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This technically-sophisticated powerplant features double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, direct fuel injection, and variable intake timing. Turbocharged and intercooled, the compact, in-line 1984cc four-cylinder produces an impressive 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. from just 1700 rpm.

As in the GTI, the 2.0T is mated to a precise-shifting six-speed manual transmission, which is standard on the Tiguan S model. The rest of the Tiguan line-up comes standard wîth a six-speed automatic wîth Tiptronic® manual shifting, Sport mode, and Dynamic Shift Program (DSP).

To support its far-reaching ‘Think Blue' initiative, Volkswagen engineers have optimized the new 2012 Tiguan to give worthwhile fuel economy improvements.

Changes to the six-speed automatic transmission include the addition of a second overdrive gear to reduce engine revs at cruising speeds. The transmission in non-Sport mode now shifts at slightly lower revs, making greater use of the turbo engine's considerable torque. And the idle speed of the 2.0T engine has also been lowered to 600 rpm. Doing this has achieved an improvement in EPA-estimated highway economy from 25 mpg to 27 mpg.

To provide added traction for the 2012 Tiguan, Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system is offered on all models. The electro-hydraulic system delivers drive to all four wheels without any buttons to press or levers to pull. A Haldex® center differential can continuously vary the driveforce between the front and rear axles, depending on the traction available.

In most driving conditions, 90 percent of the drive goes to the front wheels, which saves fuel. (concept carz) But when accelerating hard from standstill, for example, front-wheel slip is controlled by the Haldex® coupling's ability to progressively direct nearly 100 percent of the drive torque to the rear wheels.

The 4Motion system also offers a high standard of active safety, providing sure-footed traction over virtually all surfaces—that rough road to the lake or a snow-covered driveway in winter—as well as optimum straight-line stability, even in crosswinds.

Suspension

	Vital Stats
Engine : 2.0 L., 4-cylinder Power: 200 hp Torque: 207 ft-lbs
6-speed Manual, 6-speed Automatic

Mounted in a lightweight, one-piece aluminum subframe, the Tiguan's strut-type front suspension has long-travel coil springs and lower control arms.

At the rear, the robust four-link system was designed to cope wîth the rigors of off-roading and accommodating the Tiguan's available 4Motion all-wheel drive. So it is mounted in a high-strength steel subframe and features a broad lower wishbone on each side, located by a trailing link, wîth the coil spring bearing directly on the trailing link and the damper on the wheel hub assembly. Among the benefits of this almost neutral layout are excellent straight-running stability on highly-uneven surfaces, and reduced tire wear.

For the driver lòòking for even sportier handling, the Tiguan SEL model features a sport-tuned suspension wîth firmer settings together wîth 19-inch Savannah wheels shod wîth lower-profile 255/40 R19 all-season tires.

Electro-mechanical power §teering wîth variable assistance contributes to the Tiguan's fun-to-drive character. At speed, the §teering becomes firm and direct, increasing its assistance at parking speeds. Between curbs, the Tiguan has a turning radius of 39 feet wîth 2.7 turns lock to lock.

To match the Tiguan's athletic performance is an impressive braking system. At the front there are 12.3-inch vented discs, wîth 11.3-inch solid discs at the rear. The system features a Brake Disc Wipe feature to remove water from the rotors to optimize wet-weather braking, as well as Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA).

All Tiguan models also feature an electronic parking brake to help when starting off on an incline.

Safety and Security

New Tiguan: Advance sales begin weeks earlier

2011 Geneva International Motor Show: Volkswagen presents the new Tiguan