Shanghai VW to launch Tiguan SUV in late '09

Shanghai, February 26 (Gasgoo.com) Shanghai VW is set to launch the Volkswagen SUV Tiguan model as one of its flagship models this year. The China-made Tiguan model is expected to go on sale in late 2009, said Information Times today.

AS Volkswagen's first compact crossover SUV in the real sense, the Tiguan model was introduced to Shanghai VW, one of the German auto giant's Chinese ventures, for local production in China. But its launch was delayed last year due to low sales prediction. The Tiguan SUV is now eagerly anticipated by Chinese buyers and will hit the China market as the first VW SUV here.

The production Tiguan was released at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and made its China debut at the 2008 Beijing auto show. It is the German carmaker's second compact SUV after Touareg to blend the crossover pleasures in the city and country driving. Its name is a hybrid from Tiger and Iguana, an exotic mix of boldness and wildness.

The China-made Tiguan SUV will come with the 1.4TSI, 1.8TSI and 2.0TSI versions, not much different from the imported Tiguan editions. It is based on the fifth-generation Golf's PQ35 platform. Its Chinese name and price are not decided yet, though at the 2008 Beijing auto show it was called "Tuhuan" ("journey happy") and rumored to sell for 500,000 yuan (73,200).

Shanghai VW launched the China-tailored new Volkswagen Lavida to the Chinese market on June 25, 2008. The all-new Lavida model is the first A-Class sedan jointly developed by Chinese and German technicians. The joint venture also released its sedan model Skoda Fabia to market at the end of last year.