Volkswagen Tiguan updated in China

The German carmaker and its Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp chose last week's Guangzhou motor show to unveil a freshened Tiguan, complete with Chinese language badging.

The changes are minor, but front of the baby VW off-roader gets a new grille and bumper that brings it into line with the Polo and Golf and just-upgraded Caravelle range in Europe.  However, don't expect the facelift to make it into other markets, including Australia.

VW Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says at this stage the facelift is for the China-only Tiguan.  The car has only been on sale here for the past 18 months and is still relatively young in the local market, he says.  "We won't see anything for another year or so," Gehling says.

Although details are scarce, the Chinese Tiguan is expected to carry over the same petrol and turbo-diesel four cylinder engines and Haldex all-wheel drive system.  However, a six speed DSG gearbox is expected to replace the six-speed automatic.

Inside the cabin gets the Golf's new three-spoke steering wheel and white dials, while the switchgear for the heating and ventilation has also been upgraded.  Reports out of Europe also suggest VW is also working on a longer seven-seater Tiguan to join the lineup in 2011.

However, Gehling says this remains speculation."I've heard it but nothing has been confirmed," he says.  Nor is VW Australia likely to follow other carmakers by introducing a front-wheel drive version of its off-roader.

Gehling says there would be little price advantage over the all-wheel drive version.  The Tiguan has been on sale locally for about 18 months and has been a solid contributor.   Initial supplies were restricted because of the car's popularity overseas but almost 4000 have been sold this year.

Year-to-date VW sales are down 3 per cent against and overall market drop of 12 per cent.  China remains one of VW brightest markets.
Over the next three years, the VW Group China will launch 20 new models there.

This year VW's China sales have grown by 37 per cent this year to more than 1 million cars, exceeding last year's total sales figure.  The Chinese auto market is set to exceed 13 million sales this year, eclipsing America for the first time.