No word on Australian plans but Volkswagen buyers have much to look forward to in Detroit – the long-awaited R-line Tiguan and Touareg plus a concept seven-seat SUV.
The latter will be of most interest to local buyers in the continued absence of Volkswagen’s good-looking Sharan people mover from the Australian lineup.
Based on Volkswagen’s new MQB platform, the new seven-seat SUV concept is sized between the Tiguan and Touareg and is slated for production in North America at Volkswagen’s plant in Tennessee (alongside the US-market Passat and Jetta) – which means it may not be slated for right-hand-drive.
Details will come in the next day or so.
Also on the Volkswagen stand in Detroit will be sporty R-line versions of the Touareg and Tiguan.
The Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line is powered by the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and gains 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, xenon headlights, a sporty rear spoiler and wheel-arch flares. Inside are the usual Volkswagen ‘R’ goodies such as the flat-bottom steering wheel, lots of aluminium and metal-look trim and a black headliner. American versions add a eight-speaker 400-watt audio system from guitar maker Fender.
It’s pretty much a similar story for the R-Line Touareg (only available with the eight-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel-drive). It scores the expected R-line extras but adds 20-inch alloy wheels and features a lower front fascia, LED tail-lights and oval exhaust tips.
