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Volkswagen shows off Tiguan GTE Active Concept at the North American International Auto Show

Looking to expand their lineup of crossovers in America, and maybe trying to drum up some goodwill after Dieselgate, Volkswagen brings the plug-in hybrid Tiguan GTE Active Concept to Detroit.

Emme Hall Former editor for CNET Cars
I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted 2001 Miata for pre-running. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. I have won the Rebelle Rally, seven-day navigational challenge, twice and I am the only driver to compete in an EV, the Rivian R1T.
Emme Hall
4 min read
Volkswagen
Watch this: Volkswagen shows off the Tiguan GTE Active Concept, its idea of a plug-in hybrid off-roader

Looking to belatedly renovate its SUV lineup in North America, Volkswagen is bringing the Tiguan GTE Active Concept to this week's 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Based on the all-new Tiguan (due to arrive in the United States for 2017), its name doesn't exactly give it away, so let me break it down for you: It's a plug-in hybrid, all-wheel-drive crossover SUV with two electric motors and a gasoline engine. Oh, and it just happens to be off-road capable.

With Volkswagen presently mired in Dieselgate (including recent news that they are being sued by the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency), it's no wonder the German automaker is happy to be pushing cleaner technology. If the Tiguan GTE ever goes into production, Volkswagen will have another clean vehicle to add to its showrooms alongside the e-Golf and Jetta Hybrid.

Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept

Three wheeling in the dunes.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen also has a long-term plan to shower the US in crossovers, and hopes to bring at least two new or redesigned models to the US by 2019. It's none too soon, as VW sales have been steadily declining in the US despite the red-hot market. In particular, crossover SUV sales have been a major growth area in the industry, and VW has been caught out with two aging models.

Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept

Roof rails and auxiliary LED lights make the Tiguan GTE concept ready for adventure.

Volkswagen

The Tiguan GTE's turbocharged TSI four cylinder is good for 148 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, while its electric motors produce 54 horsepower at the front wheels and 114 at the rear, for a total system power of 221 German horses. VW claims 60 mph comes in 6.4 seconds en route to a top speed of 120 mph. A six-speed dual-clutch transmission puts that power to the pavement.

The first model to be built on Volkswagen's Modular Transverse Matrix platform, the Tiguan has a rather long 105.6-inch wheelbase. Overall, the SUV takes up 176.9 inches of space lengthwise with a width of 74.8 inches. Roof height is 69.5 inches. That's a bit shorter than the Mazda CX-5, and 3 inches taller than the Ford Escape, both of which figure to be key rivals.

The Tiguan GTE starts every trip in rear-wheel drive, all-electric mode, where it can cover 20 miles at speeds of up to 70 mph with the front electric motor and gasoline engine decoupled from the drivetrain to reduce drag and save energy. 4MOTION all-wheel drive can be engaged manually by the driver or automatically by a loss of traction. The Tiguan GTE uses a combination of the gasoline engine and electric motors depending on the charge of the battery. If the battery isn't sufficiently charged, the gasoline engine starts and the front electric motor acts as a generator for the rear electric motor. With a full battery capacity of 12.4kWh and a 16.9 gallon fuel tank, the expected range is impressive at 580 miles.

The Tiguan GTE Active Concept features six drive modes: On-Road, Off-Road, Sport, Snow, Charge and Hold. Off-Road mode covers everything from rocks to sand to gravel, while Charge replenishes the battery while driving. Hold maintains the battery at a constant charge.

The GTE can also coast when the battery is fully charged, shutting down the drivetrain when the accelerator is released. When the battery is not sufficiently charged and the accelerator is released, the gasoline engine is shut off and the energy generated under braking is fed into the battery.

Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept

A short front overhang and front skid plate bring a dash of off-road good looks to the Tiguan GTE concept.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen has increased ground clearance and geometric angles from the current production Tiguan to boost its off-road capability. Maximum ground clearance is 8.9 inches, while approach, departure and breakover angles are 26.1 degrees, 29.9 degrees, and 24.7 degrees respectively, much better than the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid.

Other off-road goodies include easily replaceable front and rear skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, and modest 16-inch wheels with 245/70 off-road tires. The infotainment system can also display information regarding steering angle and altitude, as well as a compass.

Whether the off-road mode in the Tiguan GTE concept would really be worthy of the desert is a whole other story. With no locking differentials, 4MOTION is not the same as four-wheel-drive. However, the photos indicate the Tiguan GTE would come with BF Goodrich mud terrain tires, which would give the crossover a huge advantage in the dirt if it's every produced.

Still, the concept SUV comes equipped with a new gesture-controlled infotainment system with a 9.2-inch display. All instruments are fully digital and there is a heads-up display. The home screen has a large main window and two smaller customizable tiles that can be filled with content like media or phone information. Alternatively, the entire screen can be used for one feature, like navigation. App-Connect can connect your smartphone to the system via Mirror Link, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Safety features include front assist with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian monitoring, lane assist and automatic post-collision braking.

Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept: A plug-in hybrid that's off-road capable (pictures)

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The Tiguan GTE Active Concept looks great under the bright lights at Volkswagen's Detroit auto show stand. The beefy BFGoodrich tires along with the aggressive looking fascias and additional body jewelry makes this family-focused crossover SUV look ready to do some serious off-roading.

Whether a production version of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept ever hits showroom floors remains to be seen. Volkswagen is definitely readying a gas-only version of its next-gen Tiguan for the US in the near term, but America's exploding SUV market suggests the company can use as many variants as it can get, and a green-tinged GTE could help win back the hearts of the people. It wouldn't be surprising if this little guy is pushed through quickly, giving VW a foothold in today's small-but-growing hybrid crossover segment.