During the unveiling of the second-generation Tiguan, Volkswagen also showcased the Tiguan GTE. Still billed as a concept, the Tiguan GTE is the first plug-in hybrid SUV from VW.
The Tiguan GTE Concept is anything but, because it looks production ready. Externally, it looks almost like the R-Line Tiguan but with unique bumpers and a different set of alloys. Even the interior is identical apart from the lighter colour scheme and the flat-bottomed steering wheel nicked from the Golf GTE, but that’s not important.
What’s important is what’s underneath. Under the front bonnet is a 1.4-litre TSI four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed DSG and an electric motor. Also included is an inverter to convert DC power from the battery to AC power for the electric motor. A 13 kWh lithium-ion battery is located in the floor and can be charged externally as well as from the solar panel built into the roof.
With the solar module, VW calculates the Tiguan GTE should add up to 1,000 km of driving range depending on regional solar radiation power, while the hybrid powertrain allows it to achieve an average combined fuel consumption of 1.9 litres per 100 km.
By default, the Tiguan GTE will start off in E-Mode using only the electric motor to propel itself up to a range of 50km with speeds up to 130 km/h. The Hybrid Mode kicks in when the battery runs low on juice, juggling the duties between the electric motor and the internal combustion engine.
A full-on GTE mode should be the mode of choice for petrolheads out there, where it changes the throttle, steering, and gearbox mapping to be “more dynamic“, while the TSI and the electric motor belts out maximum power and torque. In total, the powertrain generates 215 hp. Getting to 100 km/h from standstill takes 8.1 seconds, and the Tiguan GTE will go on until it reaches its top speed of 200 km/h. Not too shabby for a hybrid vehicle.
No mention on the the exact launch date of the Tiguan GTE, but it shouldn’t be too long because it looks like it’s just a production vehicle disguised as a concept.
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