VW reveals Tiguan XL details
New seven-seat SUV on the cards for Australia; plus more SUVs under consideration.
More details of the long-wheelbase, seven-seat Volkswagen Tiguan have emerged at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Speaking in an interview at the show, Volkswagen's board member for technical development, Dr Heinz-Jacob Neusser, confirmed that the rumoured long-wheelbase Tiguan would feature seven permanent seats.
The seats would remain high-mounted in SUV style as this maximised interior space as well as making entry and egress easier.
"People are getting older and older," Dr Neusser said.
"Also, this gives a commanding seating position; you can look over the traffic and this is a feeling people really enjoy."
Neusser also confirmed that the model – which will still be called Tiguan – was being developed for the core markets of China and the USA.
The long-wheelbase SUV would be built in right-hand-drive form, making it a possibility for Australia.
And Dr Neusser was adamant that SUVs are the future of cars in the near future and said that Volkswagen would have an SUV version of every one of its platforms in every market segment before too long.
"This is the biggest segment in the business and it's increasing very steeply. The predictions for this segment are very good," he said.
Other SUVs slated for development include a Polo-based model dubbed T-Cross and another mid-sizer called T-Rock.