Who says that diesel SUVs have to be clumsy? Since the first Touareg edition, and now with the various Q7, Tiguan, Q3 and Q5 variants, ABT Sportsline has shown that this does indeed not have to be so. The Bavarian art of engineering has rendered these best selling models not only very individual but also very dynamic, especially the new ABT SQ5, based upon the Audi SQ5. This car guarantees high-end sportiness and huge power reserves with which it also becomes an ideal towing vehicle. To put it in figures: The serial 313 hp (230 kW) have been “ABT Sportslined” to 360 hp or 265 kW. Torque has been increased from 650 to an enormous 700 Nm. The 3 liter V6’s performance curve is particularly impressive: In the ABT SQ5 it evenly unfolds its power at all revs and pushes the car, which weighs almost 2 tons, ahead with much aplomb.
18 degrees: Volkswagen is offering the sporty on-road model in the two versions "Trend & Fun" (base version) and "Sport & Style". Beneath the lateral surface of the painted bumper, the "urban" front end exhibits a broad grille in the middle and two smaller openings towards the sides with front fog lights incorporated there. A rugged black front spoiler finishes the lower section. The overhang angle in front is the mentioned 18 degrees. With 90 kW / 122 PS (TSI) and 81 kW / 110 PS (TDI), this Tiguan is built as a front-wheel drive vehicle. 28 degrees: The powerful off-road version is offered in the "Track & Field" equipment line (base model) that is familiar from its predecessor and in a new top version for the first time: the "Track & Style". With a 28 degree angle of approach, the Volkswagen Tiguan can handle even greater challenges off-road. Beneath the rugged redesigned bumper, underbody protection ensures the well-being of the powertrain components. Visually, the central air intake is designed to be very flat to aid underbody protection. Here too, the bumper is bordered by the protected, integrated fog lights towards the sides of the SUV.
The grey underbody protection itself, which has three distinctive openings, is framed on both sides by black air-flow guides. Off-road versions of the Tiguan are always equipped with 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive. One of the features which denotes all new Volkswagens is distinctive rear lights. This also applies to the redesigned two-part rear lights of the Tiguan. Inside, the lights now reflect the look of the Touareg's rear lights with dual L-shaped elements. The lower border of the rear lights, now consistently following a horizontal line, makes for a new, even cleaner design in the area of the C-pillars that gives the entire rear section a higher-end appearance. At the rear, all Tiguan versions have an angle of departure of 25 degrees. This angle may of course be reduced by vehicle payload (the same is true of the approach angle at the front end). A clear, powerful design dominates the SUV's side profile too. The design here incorporates solid yet modestly trimmed wheel housings, a window line that rises towards the rear, distinctive door and wing surfaces, and - also typically Volkswagen - unmistakable C-pillars.
Every detail follows a logic of form that unites the whole. A range of new alloy wheels visually distinguishes the Volkswagen Tiguan from the previous model. In side profile, the "Sport & Style" and "Track & Style" versions are distinguished from the base models by chrome trim on the side rubbing strips. All models share a ramp angle of 20 degrees and 200 mm ground clearance and - in the top versions - silver anodised roof rails. The previous Tiguan model attained a maximum five star rating in crash testing by the European consumer protection organisation EuroNCAP (New Car Assessment Programme). The American IIHC (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) also named the SUV its TOP SAFETY PICK; this evaluation covers extensive measures in the areas of active and passive safety. The latest version of the Tiguan is definitely one of the safest cars as well. Its safety is built on the strong foundation of its rigid occupant cell, its deformation zones and the restraint systems that are tuned to them. 2 front airbags, 2 side airbags (front) and 2 head/thorax airbags; the latter cover the entire lateral surface of the windows.
The Volkswagen may also be ordered with two side airbags in the rear as an option. It is always possible to deactivate the front passenger airbag, when a small child is travelling in a rear-facing seat. The status of this airbag is reported to the driver by an indicator light. Standard Isofix fitting points in the rear seating locations complete the protective measures for children. Integrated at the front and outer rear seating positions are seatbelt force limiters that reduce chest loads. Belt tensioners for the front seats, which are electrically ignited by a central control module in an accident of sufficient severity, ensure that the movements of occupants are coordinated to vehicle deceleration early on. Along with rear side airbags, the optional rear safety pack includes belt tensioners for the outer rear seats. One of the key factors in the Tiguan's success is the versatile, sophisticated and user-friendly design of its interior.
