The first early engineering mule for a production version of Volkswagen's T-Roc SUV has been spotted testing.
Disguised in a Tiguan body, this mule is believed to be chassis testing for the new T-Roc, which should reach the market in two to three years' time, according to a Volkswagen spokesman. This test mule features a much narrower wheelbase than the current Tiguan, and also appears to be shorter.
Destined to become a rival for the likes of the Nissan Juke, the Golf-based T-Roc was shown in concept form at the Geneva motor show earlier this year. It will become part of a five-strong SUV line-up from VW, and is tipped to share its underpinnings with the Audi Q1, which is due to start production in 2016.
At 4179mm long, the T-Roc is some 200mm shorter than the current Tiguan, accounting for the shorter wheelbase seen on this test mule. VW is believed to be targetting a kerb weight of 1420kg for the production model.
Based on the flexible MQB platform, the production T-Roc should come from a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail diesel engine with 181bhp and 280lb ft of torque. Drive will be sent through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, while four-wheel drive and selectable driving modes should also be offered.
A new version of the Tiguan SUV is also due to arrive in 2017, while production versions of the Taigun and CrossBlue should also go on sale.
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AutoCar wrote:VW is believed
Doesn't that seem like a lot? A MINI Countryman Cooper SD with the heavy 2.0 diesel engine and 4 wheel drive weighs in at 1420kg, which is understandable considering the stuff its packing, and its an older design. Rivals like the Juke or 2008 both with the smaller diesel engines than the MINI weigh in at a lot lighter at 1245kg and 1180kg.
I wonder if this will stay as
Quite ridiculous comments
It has long been known that this breed of car rarely ventures furthers from the tarmac than the nearest school playing field and that the real reason for their burgeoning popularity has little to do with how well they fit family life relative to, say, a conventional small estate and rather more with how their owners think such cars will help them be perceived by the neighbours
On what basis was this comment made? On what empirical evidence? Has a survey been carried out that we can see the results of? Do you really think that the people buying these cars buy them over any other car simply on the basis of what they think their neighbours will think? And how exactly do the buyers of these cars think their neighbour will perceive them if they buy one? This is lazy, crass journalism at its worst. Fair enough for Top Gear which is a deliberate pastiche of a car show and is comedy. This sort of comment is the domain of the trolls - not journalists.
That said, a lot of these cars are horrible and that includes VW. The Tiguan was horrible and this will probably be as well.