World premiere of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept in Detroit

Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, explained: "The Tiguan GTE Active Concept shows the potential of the Volkswagen plug-in drive systems. The powerful all-wheel drive system ensures that an SUV such as the Tiguan offers superior off-road performance, even in 100% electric mode. It successfully implements electrification of all-wheel drive technology, which is so important for SUV's."

The five-seater concept car is based on the completely redesigned second-generation of the Tiguan. The all-wheel plug-in hybrid system of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept – with its turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine (110 kW / 150 PS) and one electric motor at the front axle (40 kW / 54 PS) and one at the rear axle (85 kW / 115 PS) – reflects the broad range of technical capabilities of the new generation of SUV's. The newly developed infotainment system that features a 9.2-inch touchscreen with high-quality glass surface and gesture control is the first infotainment system without any conventional rotary knobs or hard keys. An authentic off-road look with solid aluminum underbody protection and extra ground clearance round out the confident look of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept.

On the road, the concept car essentially runs as a zero-emission vehicle, operating 100% in electric mode. In normal driving situations, propulsion comes via the electric motor on the rear axle. However, as soon as traction loss is detected, the front axle is engaged too within fractions of a second. This also happens whenever the driver activates one of the all-wheel or off-road programs via the newly developed 4MOTION Active Control system that was specifically configured for the concept car. Then too, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept starts off in an all-wheel mode with zero emissions. The Volkswagen can cover up to 32 kilometers / 20 miles in this mode all-electrically. The vehicle's total range is 933 kilometers / 580 miles with a battery charge of 12.4 kWh and 64 liters of fuel in the tank.

The new Tiguan, which launches in Germany in spring 2016, kicks off the Volkswagen SUV product offensive. Following the launch in Europe, the Tiguan with a long wheelbase will be introduced in the USA. As early as the end of 2016, a completely redesigned mid-size SUV developed for the American market will be rolling off the production line at the company's US plant in Chattanooga.