Tread lightly in Volkswagen’s rugged-yet-efficient Tiguan GTE Active concept

[Wireless News]

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/f7FL5nUBNUVb7cOFBWiHYA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9ODY7cT03NTt3PT EzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/digital_trends_973/31e4626cdc90924121ead2568450ebe4 (http://news.yahoo.com/tread-lightly-volkswagen-rugged-yet-162314209.html)Volkswagen is showing a concept called Tiguan GTE Active at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. As its name implies, the show car hints at what a more rugged-looking version of the all-new second-generation Tiguan could look like. Power for the Tiguan GTE Active concept comes from a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain made up of a 148-horsepower TSI turbo four, a 54-hp electric motor mounted on the front axle, and a 114-hp motor located on the rear axle. The drivetrain sends up to 221 ponies to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system, enough to propel-the Tiguan GTE from zero to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. The Tiguan GTE offers several driving modes. In E mode, the rear-mounted motor drives the crossover by itself for 20 miles at speeds of up to 70 mph. In Hybrid mode, the TSI works jointly with the rear-mounted motor to deliver more power, or to help the Tiguan get over rough terrain. GTE mode unleashes the drivetrain’s full output, and it creates a sportier driving experience by making the suspension stiffer, by telling the transmission to hold each gear longer, and by making the throttle more responsive. Finally, the TSI can power-the Tiguan on its own while the front-mounted electric motor recharges the battery pack. Volkswagen explains the Tiguan GTE Active was developed for extreme off-road situations. It boasts approach and departure angles of 26.1 and 29.9 degrees, respectively, and a 24.7-degree ramp angle thanks to redesigned bumpers on both ends and a lifted suspension. It’s also equipped with skid plates, protective cladding over the wheel arches and the rocker panels, a practical roof rack, and alloy wheels wrapped by Mud-Terrain tires. The cabin is standard Tiguan fare save for a 9.2-inch high-resolution screen that runs the next generation of Volkswagen’s infotainment system. The software can be controlled via hand gestures — a technology that Volkswagen has vowed to bring to the market in the not-too-distant future — and it’s fully compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Related: The Golf Cabrio could return to the United States The Tiguan GTE Active is merely a concept that most likely won’t ever see the inside of a Volkswagen showroom. However, an all-new Tiguan will arrive in time for the 2017 model year, and the concept shown in the nation’s Motor City suggest it could launch with a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain.



More... (http://news.yahoo.com/tread-lightly-volkswagen-rugged-yet-162314209.html)