Volkswagen is planning to launch a new smaller SUV below the compact Volkswagen Tiguan to expand its presence in crossover market especially targeting the small crossover niche. According to VW design head Walter de Silva’s statement, the company wants to produce crossovers of different sizes and design solutions to meet the demand of a broader audience.
The new tiny Volkswagen Tiguan will actually be the company’s first model in small SUV/crossover niche, which was the fastest growing segment in European retail auto market featuring 81% rise in sales in the first half, with Dacia Duster leading the way.
“Crossovers demand is expanding from mature markets to emerging markets and we have to cover this growing appetite with a multilateral expansion in the offer of our brands,” said de Silva in his statement.
The new Volkswagen Tiguan will probably feature some of the design elements of the Cross Coupe unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show last week (see pictures below). “The Cross Coupe is not a preview of the next Tiguan – a vehicle which will keep more traditional proportions – but a first look at how we could lure different customers in the crossover segment,” de Silva said.
The Cross Coupe concept shows off the new look of future Volkswagen SUVs and that new look features a wide grille that integrates the xenon headlights and turn signals. We will probably see this familiar “face” on the new baby Volkswagen Tiguan as well.
As for the Cross Coupe production, the company is strongly considering delivering this new concept car to China, which “… is showing a growing appetite for crossovers that we need to take into account in our next production decisions,” says de Silva.
Anyway, the first generation Volkswagen Tiguan (which is by the way a combination of the words “Tiger” and “Iguana”) and Volkswagen Touareg were Europe’s most selling vehicles in their segment in the first half, so let’s see whether the baby Volkswagen Tiguan can follow their lead.
