Volkswagen accessories just introduced this bad boy, it is meant to bring the 99-05  Generation Jetta, GTI, Golf and Passat up to modern times with features such as:

MP3/WMA playback

USB connection

AUX imput

Volk-L hands free bluetooth

and A2DP bluetooth streaming

all of these are built in into a single unit that looks like  the radio fitted to the 2006 and newer models. It is on sale now for an MSRP of $441 sounds like a bargain to us.

Guangzhou, 25 November 2009 - Pabrikan otomotif asal Jerman, Volkswagen, memboyong Crossover New VW Tiguan versi facelift ke ajang Guangzhou Motor Show (GMS) 2009 yang digelar 24 – 30 November. Seperti dikutip autoexpress, sumber di VW menyebut generasi terbaru VW Tiguan itu akan dipasarkan di Cina pada awal 2010 mendatang.

Setelah itu baru menyusul pasar di benua Amerika dan Eropa. Ihwal dipilihnya Negeri Tirai Bambu itu sebagai tujuan pemsaran pertama karena negara tersebut diperkirakan akan menjadi pasar mobil terbesar di dunia menggantikan Amerika Serikat pada masa mendatang.

Seperti dikutip autoworld, penjualan mobil di pasar Cina sepanjang Januari – Oktober lalu mencapai 8,19 juta unit atau meningkat 45,2 persen dibanding periode yang sama 2008.

Pada saat yang bersamaan pemerintah Cina memberikan insentif berupa pemotongan pajak dan subsidi bagi petani yang membeli mobil baru di bawah 1.200 cc. “Pasar akan terus meningkat tahun depan, meskipun tidak seeksplosif tahun ini,” kata Yao Yiming , Wakil Presiden Direktur Guangqi Honda, perusahaan patungan Honda Motor Co dan Guangzhou Automobile di sela-sela pameran GMS 2009.

Prospek pasar Cina yang seperti itulah yang mendorong pabrikan otomotif dunia termasuk VW terus berusaha menggelontorkan produknya ke Cina. Namun, produk facelift tersebut dibuat sesuai dengan selera pasar Cina.

Lantaran itulah, VW membuat beberapa penyempurnaan. Walhasil mobil persilangan antara Sport Utility Vehicle dan Multi Purpose Vehicle tersebut nampak lebih macho namun elegan. “Tampilan gril lebih besar dan menyambung menjadi satu ke lampu utama. Begitu pun dengan tampilan depan,” tandas sumber itu.

New Tiguan generasi sebelumnya dibekali mesin 2.000 cc empat silinder dengan transmisi gearbox enam tingkatan percepatan otomatis dengan Dynamic Shift Programme (DSP) tiptronic serta four motion permanent all-wheel drive.

Mesin sebesar itu mampu menyemburkan tenaga hingga 200 daya kuda dan 280 Newton Meter (NM) yang didistribusikan ke keempat roda. Sebagai kendaraan jenis Crossover, New Tiguan tidak hanya lincah di jalan perkotaan tetapi juga handal menaklukkan medan off-road.

Untuk menjamin keselamatan dan kenyamanan penumpang maupun pengemudi, mobil ini dibekali dengan Anti-lock Breaking system, Electronic Brake-force Disribution, Electronic Differential Control, Anti-slip regulation, Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program, serta Traction Control System.

Tidak ketinggalan airbag di depan dan samping. Keunggulan lainnya, pintu mobil ini akan terbuka, lampu hazard dan lampu interior menyala bila terjadi tabrakan. Pada saat bersamaan pompa bahan bakar tertutup secara otomatis sehingga tidak menyebar kemana-mana sehingga terhindar dari potensi kebakaran.

Namun sayang, sumber VW belum memberikan bocoran harga New VW Tiguan versi facelift tersebut. Sekadar informasi, harga New Tiguan generasi sebelumnya, di Jakarta dibanderol Rp. 675 juta on the road untuk wilayah Jakarta.

Durante o Salão de Cantão, na China, a Volkswagen-Shanghai, joint-venture entre a fabricante alemã e uma empresa chinesa, apresentou uma reestilização do Tiguan. O crossover compacto teve as linhas levemente modificadas somente para aquele mercado. O modelo chega às revendas em dezembro.

O estilo adotado no Tiguan não remete aos últimos modelos da marca. Há agora uma grade com duas barras largas, sem os recentes frisos pretos dos lançamentos europeus – e do “nosso” Fox. O para-choque foi redesenhado para se adequar à nova grade. A novidade visual não deve ser adotada no Velho Continente, mas ajudará no retoque estilístico do SUV por lá. Por dentro mudaram apenas materiais de revestimento e aparelho de som.

Os motores por lá oferecidos não mudam: 1.4 TSI de 150 cv e 2.0 TSI de 200 cv.

GALERIA

O Sol nasce antes na China. Além de ser um fato geográfico é também cada vez mais um fato no mundo automobilístico. Nos últimos tempos, o país tem se tornado um celeiro de flagrantes mundiais.

Recentemente apareceu por lá o próximo Peugeot 308 sedã, agora é a vez de ser mostrado o próximo jipe pequeno da VW, O Tiguan (que chegou há alguns meses no Brasil). Pena de quem comprou. Deve exigir o seu dinheiro de volta.

A remodelação de meia idade do Tiguan acontece depois de três anos do seu lançamento. O jipe ganhou nova frente com a identidade atual da marca germânica. A grade ficou mais comprida e segue até os faróis, que ganharam luzes de xenônio e estão mais eficientes.

 O pára-choque foi totalmente redesenhado e agora apresenta entradas de ar maiores do que atual versão, melhorando a ventilação. A lateral e a parte traseira permanecem praticamente iguais.

O carro deve ser apresentado oficialmente ainda este ano e as vendas começarão em 2010.

Just because your new radio in your 2010 Volkswagen has an option for Bluetooth streaming it doesn’t mean that your car has the necessary hardware to make it work.

Volkswagen uses two systems on their passenger cars option 9W2 and option 9W3. here is the catch 22: option 9W2 supports bluetooth streaming while 9W3 supports voice dialing, phone book transfer (expect on Jetta TDI/SEL) and caller ID.

The ONLY Volkswagen that support A2DP are:

• Jetta S (with optional 9W2)
• Jetta SE
• Jetta Wolfsburg ediiton
• Jetta Sportwagen ( all trim levels and engines)
• Golf (all trim levels and engines)
• GTI

The following models DO NOT SUPPORT A2DP becuase they use option 9W3 but look at the bright side you get voice dialing!:

Passat

CC

Tiguan

Touareg

Jetta TDI (sedan ONLY)

Jetta 2.5 SEL

EOS

But wait there is more!!! If A2DP is more valuable to you than voice dialing or vise versa you can swap the modules! here is a link with instructions: Click here

VW just launched a new website for those looking for parts for their VWs. The site offers collision parts, mechanical parts, tech support, accessories and even a parts outlet!  Check out the new site here

How to set up and use Volkswagen’s enhanced bluetooth connectivity with voice control for all 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SEL and TDI sedan, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg, and Eos

Volkswagen offers 2 different types of Bluetooth connectivity for 2010 (NOT counting the Routan’s Uconnect). If you have a Jetta (S, SE, Wolfsburg or Sportwagen), a Golf  or a GTI you have what VW calls “Bluetooth connectivity 9W2″. Jetta SEL and TDI sedan, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg, or Eos then you have “Bluetooth with voice controls 9W3″ and below are the step by step instructions for each one.

“bluetooth Connectivity” 9W2

is Volkswagen’s basic option. It allows users to communicate with their Bluetooth system through the buttons installed within easy reach of the driver. It does not include voice commands.

Initial Setup – “Pairing”

1. Switch on the customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone and the vehicle’s ignition. (This makes the Bluetooth “visible.” You must pair the system and phone within the five minutes it remains visible.)
2. Activate the Bluetooth feature in the phone and initiate a search for Bluetooth devices or audio enhancements.
3. Select ‘VW UHV’
4. Enter the Bluetooth pass code ‘0000’ on the phone. (On some phones, you will need to confirm the connection separately.)
5. Optional: To allow the phone and Bluetooth to connect automatically, set the Bluetooth system as an “authorized device” in the phone’s Bluetooth menu.
6. The Bluetooth system is now paired with the phone and ready for use. The pass code is not needed to connect the devices again.

Please see the user guides of the Bluetooth system and your mobile phone for more detailed descriptions.
Place a Call
1. To place a call, enter the number on your phone, or find the contact in your phone’s phonebook.
2. Press the green call button on your phone. The phone will immediately “ring” through the Volkswagen sound system.
Answer a Call
1. When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled).
2. To answer the call, press once on the phone button. You can now speak hands-free in your car and hear your call over your car speakers.
Ignore a Call
To ignore an incoming call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

End a Call
To end a call, press the phone button once.

Switch to Private Mode
To switch to private mode during a call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

Stream Music
If the phone supports “Advanced Audio Distribution Profile” (A2DP), music stored on the phone can be played over the radio or radio navigation system through the car speakers.

1. On the cell phone, select the music playback mode (such as “play via Bluetooth”), then select the device “VW UHV.”
2. Press the button on the radio or radio navigation system to select the media menu.
3. On the phone’s music menu, select the desired songs/playlist and press “play.” The music will begin The music plays on the Volkswagen sound system. When receiving an incoming call or placing a call, the music will pause and the phone call audio will be heard over the car speakers. When the call ends, the music will restart.

“Bluetooth with voice control” 9W3

NOTE: If the vehicle is equipped with the Navigation/Infotainment system, the phonebook and other operations will be displayed. See the user’s manual for details on those features.
Initial Setup – “Pairing”
1. Switch on the customer’s Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone and the vehicle’s ignition. (This makes the Bluetooth “visible.” You must pair the system and
phone within the five minutes it remains visible.)

2. Activate the Bluetooth feature in the phone and initiate a search for Bluetooth devices or audio enhancements.

3. Select ‘VOLKSWAGEN’

4. Enter the Bluetooth pass code ‘0000’ on the phone. (On some phones, you will need to confirm the connection separately.)

5. Optional: To allow the phone and Bluetooth to connect automatically, set the Bluetooth system as an “authorized device” in the phone’s Bluetooth menu.

6. The Bluetooth system is now paired with the phone and ready for use. The pass code is not needed to connect the devices again.
For more detailed descriptions, please see the user guides of the Bluetooth system and cellular phone.

Place a Call
1. To place a call, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “dial number.”

3. When the system says “number please,” speak the number clearly and slowly, one digit at a time.

4. To quit before the call is completed, press the “phone” button on your steering wheel You can also place a call by speaking the name, if it has been stored in the Bluetooth phonebook along with the number. See the Bluetooth user’s manual for more details.

Redial
1. To redial the last number you called, start by pressing and holding the “microphone” button until you hear the beep

2. Then release the “microphone” button and say “redial.” The last number you dialed will be automatically dialed.

Answer a Call
When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled). The number will display on the navigation system screen; if the number is in the phonebook, the name will also display.

1. To answer the call, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

2. To ignore the call without answering, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

Ignore a Call
When connected to the Bluetooth system, an incoming call will mute the car radio and the ringtone will sound over the car speakers (if enabled). The number will display on the navigation system screen; if the number is in the phonebook, the name will also display.

To ignore the call without answering, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

End a Call
To end a call, press once on the steering wheel phone button.

Switch to Private Mode
To switch to private mode during a call, press and hold the phone button for more than 2 seconds.

Play Phone Book
1. To play all the names stored in the vehicle’s phone book, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Play phone book.” The system will read the list of names stored in the phone book.

Store Name and Number
The Bluetooth phone book can store up to 50 entries.
1. To store a number, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Store Name.”

3. The system will ask you for the name and the number.

4. Speak the name, then say “store name.”

5. Speak the number clearly and slowly, one digit at a time, then say “store number.”

You can also do this using the controls on the Radio Navigation system. See the Bluetooth user’s manual for more details.

Select Name
1. To select a stored name and number from the Bluetooth phone book, press  the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Select name.”

3. The system will say “Name please.”

4. Speak the name (as stored in the phone book), then say the command “Call.”

5. The system will say “The number is being dialed.”

Delete a Name
1. To delete a name from your Bluetooth phone book, press and hold the “microphone” button until you hear the beep.

2. Release the button and speak the command “Delete name.”

3. The system will ask “Name please.”

4. Speak the name (as stored in the phone book). The name will be deleted from the phone book.

Con la entrada del nuevo mes, Volkswagen prepara una serie de novedades para la mayor parte de sus vehículos. Destaca el sistema Start&stop en la gama BlueMotion o los nuevos mandos del climatizador para alguno de los modelos.

La gama ecológica de Volkswagen recibe nuevos medios que ayudan al coche a consumir menos gasolina y a reducir las emisiones de CO2. Se trata del sistema Start&stop de parada y arranque automático del motor y del sistema de recuperación de energía, en el que un alternador aprovecha la que se pierde al frenar para recargar la batería del vehículo. Este nuevo paquete de medidas se denomina BlueMotion Technology y estará disponible en todos los modelos de la marca, a excepción del Phaeton. Algunos llegarán en noviembre y otros a principios de año.

El mes que viene se podrán hacer los primeros pedidos del Golf más potente hasta la fecha, el R20. Además, el GTI y el GTD podrán montar los pilotos con tecnología LED. Éste último equipará de serie el autoblocante electrónico que estrenó el GTI, el XDS. El motor 1.6 de 102 CV desaparece y en su lugar Volkswagen introduce el 1.2 TSI de 105 CV. Además, el Golf que acople un propulsor de  más de 120 CV con cambio manual, tendrá en la pantalla multifunción el sistema que recomienda el cambio óptimo de marcha. Estas dos últimas novedades también estarán presentes en la gama Golf Plus.

Los motores con tracción delantera (Advance) TDI 140CV y TSI 150CV del Tiguan pasan a ser BlueMotion Technology. Equipa el sistema de frenado ABSplus para conducción Off-Road con lo que se reduce las distancias de frenado en terrenos accidentados o pedregosos.

El Scirocco también recibe el indicador de cambio de marcha en el ordenador de a bordo, sólo en los coches que equipen propulsores de gasolina con cambio manual. El deportivo recibe, por fin, el techo panorámico. Aparece la versión más bestia, el Scirocco R. La potencia del 2.0 TSI pasa de 200 a 210 CV, con el incremento aproximado de 500 €. Lo mismo ocurre con el Eos. En este último modelo, el precio de las llantas de 18 pulgadas Volkswagen Individual baja unos 500 €.

La gama Passat/Passat Variant se amplía con el nuevo TDI de 170 CV con cambio DSG y tracción 4Motion. El color azul Marino desaparece en lugar del gris Urano y azul Glaciar metalizado, que sustituye al azul Ártico.

Por su parte, el Passat CC TDI de 140 CV acoge el acabado Advance y aparece el TDI de 170cv con DSG y 4Motion. Además, y como novedad, el cliente puede elegir entre dos o tres plazas traseras. Si opta por la última opción tendrá que abonar 150 € y esperar al segundo mes de 2010.

El único cambio previsto para el Volkswagen Touareg es la finalización de la comercialización del color azul Plata Ártico para la carrocería.

Por último señalar que el Tiguan, Scirocco, Eos, Passat y Passat Variant acoplan los nuevos mandos del climatizador en toda la gama.

sono capitato per caso sul sito di Nissan Italia e mi ha incuriosito il termine E-brochures (→ pagina web). Ne ho scaricata una relativa al modello Qashqai: un crossover abbastanza popolare sul mercato italiano. La e-brochure di Qashqai è un file pdf di 30 pagine dotato di strumenti di navigazione e non protetto: in questo modo puoi sbizzarrirti a recuperare pulsanti e altri elementi interessanti.

NISSAN > Qashqai E-brochure

Oltre a Nissan, come è naturale, anche altre case automobilistiche usano ormai i file pdf come alternativa alle costose brochures cartacee e ai listini prezzo pesanti (su carta) come guide del telefono: i prezzi di Volkswagen, ad esempio, occupano 106 pagine (→ file pdf 2 Mb). E anche per la Tiguan concorrente  VW della Qashqai c’è una e-brochure (→ file pdf 2 Mb) che loro, chissà perché chiamano “catalogo”… Quale delle due e-brochures è quella fatta meglio? Cosa si potrebbe fare per migliorare ciascuna delle due brochures? Valutazione e commenti li lascio a te.

? Ecco allora un’idea per la tesina della laurea triennale: una comparazione di e-brochures relative ad auto (o moto) della medesima categoria. Un’occasione per vedere fino a che punto le funzionalità di Acrobat vengono sfruttate e ottimizzate e per individuare chi realizza le soluzioni migliori.

You may haven seen this commercial on TV last week. It’s part of a new campaign VW Canada is running until the end of October. It’s a very cool spot – the clip above is from the European launch of the Tiguan, which is what it was originally developed for, but the footage and music are identical to the Canadian version.

Saat Audi Q5 diperkenalkan ada seorang rekan yang bertanya, siapa rival Q5? Nah lho. Jawabannya, hmm… memang tidak ada. Audi Q5 melenggang sendirian karena memiliki basis yang berbeda dengan SUV premium yang saat ini beredar di tanah air.

Beberapa media menulis Audi Q5 adalah pesaing BMW X3, Lexus RX350, Mercedes-Benz ML350, dan Volvo XC90. Tapi jika dilihat dari kapasitas mesinnya, empat nama ini punya mesin yang lebih besar. Artinya, bukanlah lawan yang sekelas dengan Audi Q5.

Ada juga yang kemudian menyebut nama Volvo XC60 dan Freelander. Tapi kalau bicara Indonesia, yang paling mendekati baik dari tampilan maupun mesin hanyalah sepupunya sendiri, Volkswagen Tiguan.

VW Tiguan
Mesin: 4-Cylinder petrol engine
Kapasitas: 1.984 cc
Tenaga: 147 kW (200 bhp) @ 5100 rpm
Torsi: 280 Nm @ 1700-5000 rom
Harga: Rp 768 (off-the-road)

(Tulisan ini dimuat di Koran Tempo edisi Minggu, 16 Agustus 2009, hal. C1)

My orange Honda fit had been serving me for 2 years. but this car is never what i actually wanted other than it’s fuel economy and a fun car to drive. I always wanted to drive an SUV.

My next car is going to be an SUV. Considering whether to get a Subaru Forester 2.5 Turbo or a volkwagen 2.0 TSI.

Personally I am always amazed by the volkswagen technology. however, if i’m buying an SUV, i would also like to have a sunroof to go along with it. the subaru comes with a sunroof whereas the volkswagen does not.

Dilemna….But 1st of all, i need to have the money to get it!

Tigress with sharp eyes

If I am asked to name gender of sedan, I don’t even bat my eyelid before saying “feminine”. Sedan is feminine because most of sedans are inarguably beautiful, attractive, sleek and also patient. Like women who eat less in present, as far as I know, to keep their future tension free, sedans consume less fuel so that their masters do not feel the burden of maintenance. As men are well aware, women should be handled with care. So are also sedans whose best friend is a paved road and archrival is an inch deep sand.

If sedans are feminine, SUVs should, in my opinion, be masculine because like most of men, they are ugly, unattractive, rugged and also impatient. Like some of the men who drink alcohol as if there is no tomorrow, SUVs drain fuel so much that if Indian Ocean is full of petrol, an SUV will look for another ocean after a couple of years. As women are well aware, men will remain intact even if they are handled with hammer, Hummer and hacksaw. So are also SUVs who treat mud, sand and dirt like buddies.

But if someone asks me about gender of crossover vehicle, also sometimes called CUV, I will have to think for a while before saying “neuter” because these vehicles are a blend of best qualities in cars and SUVs. Though CUV stands for Crossover Utility Vehicle, its expansion should be Car + Utility Vehicle = Crossover.  However, it is debatable which one has more influence over the crossbreed, but I have tested Volkswagen Tiguan Track & Field  recently and found the crossover from the German carmaker  extremely appealing.

Handing over keys of slate gray metallic colour Tiguan to me, Ms Mona El-Mahdi, PR Manager of Volkswagen Middle East in Dubai said: “This is a soft off-road vehicle, not meant for sandy desert or soft ground.”    

I was little disappointed because in UAE we only find sand wherever we go for an off-road drive except in Fujairah and its surroundings. Though I did not have enough time on hand to take it to the mountains of Fujairah, I had driven it long enough, going on two decent, but short drives. I enjoyed every bit of those drives and I must admit that Tiguan is a Cute Utility Vehicle which never disappoints it occupants whether on the paved road or off it.

To describe the cute utility vehicle in detail, I should start with its name. Volkswagen took up quite a big exercise to choose a name after it decided to bring in a little brother to its best selling SUV Touareg. A poll was conducted through magazines and websites of Autobild group in Germany to choose the name and over 350,000 people participated in it. Majority of them rooted for Tiguan though there were other names like Namib, Rockton and Nanuk on the list. Like a crossover vehicle, Tiguan the word is also a blend of two German words: Tiger (also tiger in English) and Leguan (Iguana). It is an appropriate name because Tiguan embodies strong features of Tiger and smart vision of Iguana.

Tiguan is offered in two bodystyles with different frond ends, in the Middle East. One is the Sport & Style which is designed for on-road use and has a maximum entry angle of 18 degrees.

The second one is Track & Field which with an extreme entry angle of 28 degrees can handle soft off-road duties. It has an excellent engine underbody protection.

 The T & F Tiguan I tested came with 2.0 litre 4-cyliner TSI engine that produces 200 bhp power and delivers peak torque of 280 Nm from 1700 rpm through 5000 rpm. A six-speed automatic does the transmission duties. The Tiguan sprints from 0-100 kph in 8.5 sec, reaching a top speed of 207 kph.

The five-seater’s interior is spacious and rear row of seats is comfortable for three adults with sufficient legroom. Its exterior is also trendy with ample curves and rugged look. The front end though having a close resemblance to the Touareg’s, has some distinctive streaks of its own. If you look from behind, Tiguan dominates the road more prominently than its big brother. The taillights, to put in simple words, are sexy and have completely transformed the look of the cute utility vehicle from behind. It has plenty of cargo area with trunk having space for 470 litres. The area goes upto 1500 litres when the rear seats are folded.

The Tiguan I test drove radiated an unknown aura, but initially I couldn’t fathom the real reason for it. Is it its colour or the vehicle itself? I asked myself every time I hopped into the vehicle. However, it did not take long for me to realise that it was the vehicle indeed. When a tigress with sharp eyes prowls, it certainly radiates an aura of arrogance and invincibility.    

VITALS:

Model: Volkswagen Tiguan Track & Field

Engine: 2.0 litre 4-cylinder TSI

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Peak Power: 200 bhp

Max. Torque: 280 Nm @1700-5000 rpm

Acceleration: 0-100kph: 8.5 sec

TopSpeed: 207 kph

Price: Starting from AED 99,000

By now all the tiger/iguana jokes have been told at the Volkswagen Tiguan’s expense, but it’s hardly anyone’s fault but VW’s for naming their compact SUV after an improbable feline-reptile crossbreed.Debuting as a 2009 model, the Tiguan is a Volkswagen’s punchline to the compact SUV question.

Neat and tidy on the outside with a distinctively VW face, the Tiguan matches the exterior with the conservative but stylish interior. Front and rear seats are comfortable, and while the rear seatbacks do fold forward to increase cargo capacity, they don’t make a flat cargo floor. The rear seats slide six inches forward and back to optimize rear legroom or cargo capacity, depending on the need of the moment. An optional panoramic sunroof is available for, as VW puts it, “almost 13 square feet of sunshine.”

With a curb weight of 3600 lbs, the Tiguan is not a lightweight, but the turbocharged 2.0T, the only engine available in the States, makes 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. That’s good enough, according to Volkswagen, for 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds with the six-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive, as tested. The Tiguan is also available with front wheel drive with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. The manual transmission is not available with all-wheel drive.

The Volkswagen Tiguan has fully independent front suspension and four-link suspension at the rear. Ride is well controlled and cornering good considering the high center of gravity of an SUV. Stability control is standard.

No diesel engine option is available in the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, nor is one planned for 2010. That’s surprising, perhaps, considering the success that Volkswagen has had with diesel engines in other models. Why no diesel with the Tiguan, especially after Volkswagen added the V-6 diesel Touareg 3.0 TDI?

The Tiguan gets no diesel simply because of the stringent U.S. emissions regulations. While Volkswagen offers diesel Tiguans in other markets, putting a diesel engine in a Tiguan for America would require use of the expensive AdBlue system as used in the Touareg. The largest vehicle size before needing AdBlue to meet emissions regulations is the Jetta 2.0 TDI. And it’s that cost of the elaborate urea injection and control system that mitigates against a diesel-powered Tiguan.

So in a way, the joke’s on us. Despite obvious environmental advantages of diesel power, environmental regulations restrict diesel applications. In the meantime, in a field flooded with domestic and Japanese compact SUVs—none diesel though several hybrid—the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T has a lot to offer, and that’s no joke.

Os ensaios realizados pelo US-NCAP vieram confirmar os resultados que o Tiguan tinha alcançado nos testes de embate EuroNCAP. Quer isto dizer que às cinco estrelas obtidas na Europa, o Tiguan passa a ter também cinco estrelas no mercado norte-americano. Assim, o Volkswagen Tiguan recebeu o título de “Top Value” tendo recebido nota máxima em duas das três categorias em análise: choque frontal, choque lateral e capoamento. Nas primeiras duas recolheu as cinco estrelas, no terceiro quatro. Contas feitas, o risco de ferimentos é muito baixo. Uma excelente notícia para os utilizadores de SUV’s que pensem optar por um Tiguan, que agora está também disponível em versão de duas rodas motrizes.

Filme DUCA pro off-road Tiguan, da Wolksvagen. A criação é da AlmapBBDO.

Mostra um menino brincando pela casa com um carrinho, e tudo o que ele faz com o brinquedo, acontece com o carro de verdade. Bem, quase tudo.

P.S.: O espirro e a risada dele são o auge. hahaha