When it comes to hybrids 
, Volkswagen offers only three as of 2015. But that’s about to change, and the Tiguan GTE concept that will debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show proves it.
The third vehicle to receive Volkswagen’s new GTE badge, the Tiguan is also the company’s first plug-in hybrid SUV. Although just a concept car, the Tiguan GTE is most certainly set to become a production model and hit the market sometime in 2016, albeit without the innovative solar module integrated into the roof.
The GTE Concept will be unveiled alongside the second-generation 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan , which rides on Volkswagen’s MQB platform. Slightly bigger, but lighter than its predecessor, the new Tiguan lends its redesigned exterior and interior to the GTE. The concept does feature a few styling cues of its own, but more about that, as well as the crossover’s hybrid drivetrain, in the review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Tiguan GTE.
Exterior
Much like the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTE and 2015 Volkswagen Passat GTE before it, the Tiguan GTE’s design is heavily based on the standard model. New for the 2016 model year, the second-gen Tiguan has been redesigned from the ground up, featuring a more aggressive design language with sharper lines. The crossover is also bigger than its predecessor, being 2.4 inches longer and 1.2 inches wider. At the same time, it’s 1.3 inches lower, which also contributes to its sportier appearance.
New for the 2016 model year, the second-gen Tiguan has been redesigned from the ground up, featuring a more aggressive design language with sharper lines.
Novelties also include a slimmer front grille that connects with the revised headlamps, a more aggressive front bumper, and a remodeled rear fascia that finally prevents the Tiguan from looking like a shrunken Touareg.
When it comes to unique features, the Tiguan GTE received the same treatment as the Passat and Golf GTE. Specifically, the intake surrounds below the headlamps received C-shaped LED strips, while the standard daytime running lights at the bottom have been removed altogether. The bumper’s center-mounted grille is also differ, now also featuring vertical slats on top of the two horizontal bars seen on the standard car. A blue “GTE” badge in the main grille round off the concept’s front end.
Interestingly enough, the Tiguan GTE Concept lacks the blue srtipe adorning the front grilles of both the Passat GTE and Golf GTE, but this might change on the production car.
The profile and the rear fascia are also nearly identical to the standard model’s, with only minor details setting it apart. These include blue “GTE” badges on the front fenders and tailgate, different wheels, and the lack of visible exhaust pipes. The crossover also misses the blue brake calipers seen on other GTE-badged models.
Interior
Note: 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan interior shown.
There aren’t any photos of the GTE Concept’s interior as of this writing and Volkswagen had nothing to say about it, but it should also mirror the cabin of the redesigned Tiguan. The crossover has a new dashboard with horizontally shaped air vents instead of the old round ones, a wider, but cleaner center stack, and a revised center console. Both the seats and the door panels are different, with the latter featuring larger storage boxes.
GTE-specific features should include blue inserts on the dash and the door panels, blue ambient lighting, and blue thread for the steering wheel and gear shift knob. The seats should also get a blue seating surface on the production car. The functions and display of the infotainment system and instrument cluster are also likely to be different and adapted to the car’s hybrid configuration.
Drivetrain
Here’s where the GTE Concept is radically different from any other Tiguan sold until now. Unlike the usual gasoline and diesel versions, the crossover combines a turbocharged, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor for a system output of 215 horsepower. Mated to a DSG gearbox specifically developed for hybrid use, the four-banger delivers 154 horses. Power figures are identical to the Passat GTE. Although Volkswagen didn’t release a torque figure for the combo, it’s safe to assume the front wheels get the same 295 pound-feet of twist as the Passat GTE’s.
Unlike the usual gasoline and diesel versions, the crossover combines a turbocharged, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor for a system output of 215 horsepower.
The electric motor is supplied with energy by a 13-kWh lithium-ion battery that enables the Tiguan GTE to cover 31 miles (51 km) on electric power alone. In this setup, the crossover can reach a top speed of 81 mph (130 km/h), figures that are also similar to the Passat GTE’s.
Likewise, the Tiguan GTE can be driven in four modes. Once started, the vehicle drives automatically in the “E-Mode,” using only the electric motor. When there’s a high demand for extra power, the system switches over to “Hybrid”, in which case the Tiguan behaves like a classic hybrid, using the gasoline engine and charging the battery during deceleration. The third mode is “Battery Charge,” allowing the battery to recharge during the drive. This mode can be activated in both “E-Mode” and “Hybrid” modes.
Finally, there’s the “GTE” mode, which activates the sportier side of the car by changing the characteristics of the gas pedal, gearbox and steering to a more aggressive setup. In this mode, the Tiguan GTE can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 124 mph.
Combned fuel consumption sits at 1.9 liters per 100 km according to Volkswagen, which is nearly 124 U.S. mpg. The company quotes emissions of only 42 grams of CO2 per km.
While these figures are also very similar to the Passat GTE’s, the Tiguan GTE does have a feature other GTE-badged cars don’t. The crossover comes with a solar module integrated into its roof, which could generate enough energy to add up to 1,000 km (621 miles) of driving range per year, depending on the regional solar radiation power. There’s no data for the U.S., but VW says the driving range could increase with 500 km (311 miles) in Germany and between 800 and 1,000 km (497 to 621 miles) in Southern Europe.
There’s no word as to whether this solar module will make it on the production car, but it’s likely Volkswagen needs a few more years of development before sending it in showrooms.
Drivetrain Specifications
Conclusion
The Tiguan GTE sounds promising on paper, and given the drivetrain is identical to the Passat GTE, there’s a big chance it won’t disappoint. However, its success depends on the impact it will have on the European market and whether it will cross the pond to the U.S. Unfortunately, the innovative solar roof isn’t likely to become a feature on the production car, but its impressive fuel economy and reduced CO2 footprint should propel it among the best hybrids on the market.
Press Release
Demonstrating the future directions the Tiguan might take is the Tiguan GTE – the first plug-in hybrid SUV from Volkswagen, which the brand is showing at the IAA. This Volkswagen, which is being presented as a concept vehicle, develops a system power of 160 kW / 218 PS and can cover a distance of up to 50 km in “E-Mode” driving as an all-electric zero-emission vehicle. Its average fuel consumption (combined) is a mere 1.9 l/100 km; this equates to a CO2 emissions figure of 42 g/km. The relatively long electric driving range not only benefits from the externally chargeable lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 13.0 kWh, but also from a solar module that is integrated in the roof – a world exclusive. Under ideal conditions, the energy that it generates annually is sufficient to add up to 1,000 km of driving range (Germany 500 km, Southern Europe 800 to 1,000 km), depending on the regional solar radiation power.
TSI plus E plus DSG
The concept car is driven via its front axle by a direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine (1.4 TSI with 115 kW) and an electric motor. The lithium-ion high-voltage battery supplies the electric motor with energy. The Tiguan GTE operates with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) that was specially developed for hybrid use. The electric motor was integrated into the gearbox housing. Additional components of the hybrid drive include the power electronics (converts DC power from the battery to AC power for the electric motor) and a charger. The Tiguan GTE can be driven in the described E-Mode or in one of the three other modes Hybrid, Battery Charge, or GTE. After starting the drive system, the concept vehicle automatically drives off in “E-Mode”. When a minimum charge level of the battery has been reached or when there is very high demand for power, the drive system automatically switches over to the “Hybrid” mode. This means that “E-Mode” is deactivated, and the Tiguan GTE now behaves like a classic full hybrid vehicle. It charges the battery regeneratively during deceleration and automatically uses the TSI and/or electric motor according to the driving situation. By pressing the “E-Mode” button, the driver can manually switch to zero-emissions operation if necessary. Exclusively driven by electric motor, the Tiguan then has a top speed of 130 km/h.
GTE mode as boost function
The driver presses the GTE button to switch to GTE mode, which activates the sporty side of the concept car. This GTE mode is an exclusive feature of all Volkswagen vehicles with a plug-in hybrid drive system. The characteristics of the accelerator pedal, gearbox and steering are made noticeably more dynamic, and the tuning of the TSI is more performance oriented. In addition, in the GTE mode the TSI and electric motor work together in what is known as “boosting” which makes the full system power and the maximum system torque available. The Tiguan GTE then has a top speed of 200 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in a short 8.1 seconds.