GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: VW confirms two more SUVs
Two all-new small Volkswagen SUVs to be positioned beneath new Tiguan trioApart from debuting its second-generation Tiguan — which launches in Europe next month, arrives Down Under by year's end and will be joined by long-wheelbase seven-seat and low-roofed 'coupe' versions next year, Volkswagen used last week's Geneva motor show two confirm two additional small SUVs.
The smaller of the two will be a pint-sized B-segment SUV closely related to the Polo, as previewed in convertible form by the T-Cross Breeze, which made its world debut at the Swiss show.
A larger, C-segment (Golf-size) SUV to sit below the D-segment Tiguan and E-segment Touareg, meantime, was previewed at the 2014 Geneva show by the T-ROC concept.
Volkswagen chairman Dr Herbert Diess confirmed the German car-maker's plan to fill every mainstream SUV segment for the first time at the Geneva show.
That means two all-new SUVs in addition to the Touareg, Tiguan and Taigun -- a South American-made micro-SUV based on the up! but not sold here.
"With the T-Cross we are providing a first look ahead to Volkswagen models to come. We will in particular be significantly developing our range of SUVs and in future offering an SUV in every core segment."
Dr Diess described 2016 as "a year of new beginnings for Volkswagen", which has vowed to put an end to the Dieselgate emissions scandal before 2016, and said the T-Cross Breeze marked the start of a broad SUV offensive for the brand.
Both the T-ROC and T-Cross Breeze concepts featured just two doors, the larger T-ROC will be five-door SUV by the time it reaches showrooms, although the smaller T-Cross could remain a convertible.
"The T-Cross Breeze is the most compact sports utility vehicle that there will be from Volkswagen," said the Wolfsburg car-maker at Geneva.
"It is the first open-top SUV of its class and at the same time an affordable cabriolet with a raised seating position for perfect visibility."
As we've reported, the T-ROC will enter production next year, followed in 2018 by the smaller T-Cross, which will be fast-tracked into production to compete with popular city-crossovers like the Mazda CX-3.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
