VW working on 7-seat crossover/SUV for U.S.

[jnrdavo]

From the VW People-Moving Dept.: Three-Row Crossover Moves Forward, Next Tiguan To Be More U.S.-Friendly

When we spoke with Volkswagen’s U.S. boss Jonathan Browning last April, he told us that the company was very seriously considering a three-row SUV. We can now confirm—though not by way of Mr. Browning—that the company is moving ahead with its Honda Pilot–fighter.

The SUV almost definitely will be built in Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant or a company facility in Mexico. We expect that VW will use the new Passat’s platform as a starting point, which should ensure the crossover will be big enough to satisfy the tastes of American consumers. Volkswagen’s European subsidiary Škoda also recently announced it was working on a seven-seat crossover, and we suspect that the VeeDub we get and the Czech company’s model will be closely related—if not badge-engineered twins.

Shoppers in our market will also be happy—or at least happier–with the ute’s price tag when compared with the sticker on the Volkswagen Touareg. Starting at $43,845, the ‘Reg serves as something of a halo vehicle for VW, which is rapidly making over its U.S. product lineup to include larger and less-expensive offerings. The new three-row SUV will follow that philosophy, and should become a vital cog in the company’s attempt to sell 800,000 vehicles here by 2018. The standard engine is likely to be Volkswagen’s 3.6-liter V-6; a 3.0-liter diesel V-6 could be optional.

Popular models like the Pilot and Ford Explorer will be the primary targets for the VeeDub; given the competitive pricing attached to the U.S.-market Passat, we don’t expect a price premium over those models. The Pilot currently starts at $29,280; the Blue Oval’s big boy at $29,105.

With Volkswagen’s three-row crossover hitting the market in just a few years, don’t be surprised if the Routan minivan—a rebadged Chrysler Town & Country—bites the dust in the interim.

About That Other VW SUV


A Volkswagen exec has also confirmed to us that the next Tiguan will be less of a GTI on stilts and more oriented toward American shoppers. Think Honda CR-V or Nissan Rogue and you’ll be on the right track. At present, the Tiguan is imported from Germany, and that means VW has to charge a premium for it over mainstream competitors and that profits are slimmer.

Let’s just hope an Americanized Tiguan doesn’t mean the death of the Jetta SportWagen

[source: caranddriverblog.com

[Aussie Volks Guy]

I could use one of these!

[Eddy]

Hoyhoy.

Seems like Louise & Guy are planning on more little ones........

[Aussie Volks Guy]

hmmmm, maybe not - we seem to do our fair share of babysitting though!