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Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active unveiled at NAIAS
By Product Expert | Posted in VW News, VW Tiguan on Monday, January 11th, 2016 at 10:37 pm
VW Tiguan GTE Active Performance Specs
While we’re all busy talking about our New Year’s resolutions, it seems Volkswagen has been making plans for quite a while. Between the Consumer Electronics Show and North American International Auto Show, this year is already busy for the German automaker. We’ll be discussing BUDD-e in an upcoming blog, but with the VW Tiguan GTE Active performance specs seeming to hint at what we can reasonably expect from the next generation SUV, we’re eager to discuss this model in more depth.
VW Tiguan GTE Active Plug-in Hybrid
We’ve been talking for months about hybrid options and predicted plug-ins would be the direction Volkswagen is headed, and it turns out we aren’t wrong. BUDD-e also proves VW will be focusing more on EVs, with an emphasis on improving range to make the models more practical. Right now there aren’t nearly enough charging stations to make electric vehicles popular across the country, but this only makes plug-in hybrids the most practical compromise at this time. VW is clearly out to prove that hybrids don’t have to be boring, as the VW Tiguan GTE Active set out to provide better performance than the standard gasoline model, while also producing better fuel economy.
As the Tiguan GTE Active is a concept model, many of its specs are glossed over, but what we do know is that it has a 12.4 kWh battery, two electric motors and a 148 horsepower TSI engine. The combine output is 221 horsepower in GTE mode and it can run on electric-only power for up to 20 miles. There aren’t any details on fuel economy, but from our research into past GTE models we can expect the numbers to be stellar, especially for an SUV. The European spec Tiguan GTE gets an estimated 123 mpg combined, but the rated model had maximum power output of 214 horsepower and had a larger 13 kWh battery. With its focus on off-road performance, we don’t expect the Tiguan GTE Active to provide similar numbers, but we hope to hear figure far higher than the 26 mpg highway rating we currently have for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Other GTE Vehicle: 2016 Volkswagen Passat GTE European release
Other VW Tiguan GTE Active news
There’s really a lot going on with the VW Tiguan GTE, so it’s hard to settle on just what’s the biggest news. It’s a concept vehicle built on the MQB platform, just like the Volkswagen Golf. This shows the versatility of the platform and we get a taste of how much easier it will likely be for Volkswagen to offer new models in the future.
As far as technology goes, gesture control systems are clearly the direction in which VW is heading for infotainment, and the Tiguan GTE active concept has a 9.2-inch display that features intuitive gesture control. Its AWD system is also more advanced, with the 4Motion system now having Active Control to switch between driving modes. This is helpful for off-road capabilities as current 4Motion vehicles work by activating the system only when traction is lost, rather than giving motorists control over the system. Overall, the Tiguan GTE Active has a variety of features to make it more durable, including increased ground clearance, sturdier skid plates, a matte aluminum shield and an all-terrain bumper. Many of the parts are also easy to replace once they wear.
Is the Tiguan GTE Active a concept you’d like to see go into production? Leave us a comment to state your opinion, and be sure to check back here at the Volkswagen of Springfield Blog for all the latest VW news.
