The Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover SUV (although slightly a long-wheelbase version of the Nisan Qashqai) that debuted in October 2007 for the 2008 model year, produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan. It is the North American counterpart of the X-Trail sold outside North America (even though it is still sold in Mexico), as well as the Qashqai in Europe and the Dualis in Japan and Australia. The Nissan Rogue comes in only two trims: S and SL. S is the base model, which comes factory equipped with anti-lock brakes; air conditioning; cruise control; power windows, locks, and mirrors; remote keyless entry; and AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers and auxiliary input jack. An optional "360 Value" package on the S model adds 16-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming rearview mirror with rear view monitor, body-color rear spoiler, chrome grille, and rear privacy glass. An S Krōm trim edition includes Krōm integrated body design, center exit exhaust, body-color rear spoiler, 17-inch brilliant-finish aluminum-alloy wheels, and rear privacy glass.
During coasting and braking phases of the Tiguan - i.e. whenever the driver releases the accelerator pedal or brakes - the system elevates the voltage of the alternator (generator), and this electricity is used to bulk charge the vehicle's battery. In Volkswagen's line-up of four-cylinder engines, DSG has replaced the conventional torque-converter automatic transmissions. In the new Tiguan, an extremely fast and efficiently working 7-speed DSG version is used. Its most prominent design characteristics - two dry clutches whose pressure is regulated hydraulically. Engine power is transmitted to the dual clutch via the crankshaft and a dual-mass flywheel. Clutch I handles the odd-numbered gears, and clutch II the even gears plus reverse gear. The results of this sophisticated clutch management: when shifting, there are no gaps in propulsive power. Comfort and convenience are excellent, and the driver experiences an incomparably dynamic yet comfortable shifting feeling. Responsible for this - along with an intelligent electro-hydraulic transmission control (mechatronics) - are two clutches as well as two drive shafts and three final drive shafts.
This networked system makes it possible to continually "lie in wait", ready to go into action at the next higher driving level. And indeed it is lightning-fast. Normally, the front axle is driven in the 4MOTION system - including on the all-wheel drive Volkswagen Tiguan; the rear axle only gets ten percent of propulsive power. This saves on fuel. Not until necessary - based on the specific powertrain and carriageway situation - is the rear axle brought into play, step by step. This is done by an electrohydraulic all-wheel drive clutch. An important difference compared to the previous generation 4MOTION: no speed differences are needed between the front and rear axles to activate the all-wheel drive clutch, since pressure is built up via an electric pump. The multi-plate clutch system itself was integrated in the rear differential. The pressure reservoir is supplied with oil by an electric pump with a working pressure of 30 bar. An electronic control unit computes the ideal drive torque for the rear axle and regulates, via a valve, how much oil pressure is transferred to the working piston of the multi-plate clutch.
Here, the surface pressure on the clutch plates is proportional to the torque desired at the rear axle. The amount of transferred torque may be continuously varied by altering the magnitude of the pressure applied to the clutch plates. The system operates independent of wheel slip, since the working pressure is always available. When the Tiguan is driven off from a standstill or accelerated, wheelspin of the front wheels is fully prevented, since the control unit regulates the torque distribution based on dynamic axle loads. In extreme cases, nearly 100 percent of the drive torque can be directed to the rear axle. New aboard the Tiguan is the optional XDS electronic differential lock. It is a functional extension of the electronic locks already integrated via ESP. XDS improves handling when driving quickly through bends, and it calibrates the vehicle more in the direction of "neutral" by preventing potential wheelspin of the unloaded wheel at the inside of the curve by active brake intervention, thereby improving traction. In updating the new Tiguan, Volkswagen has also updated the equipment lines and engine line-up of its best-selling SUV.
