|  Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover SUV to be built by the German automaker Volkswagen, based on the A platform of the Golf. Production will start in the winter of 2008 with sales starting shortly after. The Volkswagen Tiguan debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show that will be held in November 2006
Volkswagen has unveiled its compact 4×4, the Concept Tiguan, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and has announced that the production units will be delivered to customers by the end of next year.
At 4.4 metres long, 1.85 m wide and 1.69 m high, it is very similar in size to the Touran compact MPV (4.4 m, 1.8 m, 1.6 m). Klaus Bischoff, who was responsible for the exterior design of the car said: "It was very important for us to have the car appear powerful and muscular. For us that was a higher priority than anything else. An off-roader needs a long hood and an upright position. That lends the vehicle self-assuredness and power.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is expected to be available with four gasoline and diesel engines at start. The 97 cui FSI, 122 cui FSI, 115 cui TDI and 122 cui TDI will be borrowed from the Golf/Rabbit V. The top model will equip either the 2.8 V6 or the Golf/Rabbit GTI’s 2.0 FSI Turbo with 200 bhp. DSG sequential dual clutch gearbox will also be available as an option. The four-wheel drive system will be the already known 4Motion equipping all 4WD Volkswagens. A higher suspension of 2.5 inch will allow the Tiguan to tackle off-road conditions better than the conventional Golf/Rabbit 4Motion.
The Concept Tiguan's 'face' and side profile are immediately recognisable as those of a Volkswagen, and yet they are different from all existing models in the range. The dark-anodised metallic tone of the front grille contrasts with the body colour, while a grid pattern and two dominant cross fins to the left and right of the Volkswagen roundel complete the look.
Another feature is the Concept Tiguan's tyre design. These 19-inch prototypes, developed by Continental, have an orange radial stripe beneath the tyre profile which matches the car's paint colour. This colour is not simply painted on: it penetrates the rubber layer as a 'baked in' component of the tyre's casing. The eye-catching anthracite-coloured alloy rims are likely to feature in the production vehicle.
At the rear, the lights are integrated into the shoulder section similar to those on the Eos and Passat, while the steeply sloping tailgate extends right down to the bumpers, giving the Tiguan an unmistakably SUV design.
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