WOLFSBURG: The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept makes its world debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) with its plug-in hybrid system that uses two electric motors in conjunction with a petrol engine.

Its system supplies all four wheels of the five-seat concept with power, either automatically or at the push of a button for this completely redeveloped second-generation Tiguan.

The GTE Active concept is due to arrive in the U.S. market next year with a longer wheelbase and a seven-seater functionality.

For Volkswagen, the new Tiguan marks the kickoff of an SUV product offensive that will significantly expand the range of vehicles offered, especially in North America.

The concept car starts every journey in all-electric E-mode as a zero emissions vehicle, usually powering the rear wheels, but upon loss of traction, the front wheels are engaged within fractions of a second.

Four-wheel-drive is also activated when the driver selects 4MOTION Active Control (Volkswagen-speak for all-wheel drive) or when GTE-mode is selected, for instance.

The vehicle can reach up to 113kph and cover up to 100km in all-electric mode with driving range - based on a battery capacity of 12.4kWh and a 64-litre fuel tank, around 933km.

Safety systems for the Tiguan GTE Active Concept include front assist with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring, an active hood for pedestrian protection, lane assist and the automatic post-collision braking system.

The GTE Active concept features latest generation infotainment system with a 9.2-inch touchscreen, which comes with gesture control (implemented for the first time in this class), an active info display (fully digital instruments) and a heads-up display.

The screen can be filled with ten different types of content, such as Media (including song/album cover information) or Phone (including an image of the person to whom you are talking).

In addition, the entire home screen can be used to display the navigation map, to show special instruments for the Off-road program (steering angle, compass, altitude indicator) or to show, via Car-Net App-Connect, the smartphone apps for Mirror Link, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Under the hood lies a turbocharged direct-injection TSI petrol engine with 14bhp abd 250Nm of torque, mated to two electric motors to make 53bhp at the front wheels and 111bhp at the rear for a total system power output of 217bhp

With all that output, it gets managed by a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox that was specially designed for hybrid use, with the front electric motor being housed inside the casing and even comes.

Six driving modes of On road (Comfort or Eco); Offroad (Rocks, Sludge & Sand, or Gravel); Sport; Snow; Charge (battery is charged while driving); and Battery Hold (maintains a constant battery charge) will be provided.

In terms of performance, the concept is able to sprint to 100kph from standstill in 6.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of almost 200kph.

Furthermore it also gets coasting function and regenerative braking.

The Tiguan GTE Active Concept has a wheelbase of 2,682mm and measures 4493mm-long, 1,900mm-wide and 1,765mm-tall, while ground clearance under the axles increased have increased from 180mm to 226mm and maximum ground clearance under the body has increased from 200mm to 244mm.

The increases has improved the approach and departure angles from 25.6 to 26.1 degrees (front) and from 24.7 to 29.9 degrees (rear), while the maximum ramp angle for overcoming road bumps has grown from 20 to 24.7 degrees.

To indicate it off-road capabilities, the concept displays a matte aluminium shield that’s equipped with four solid black polymer protectors to guard it against contact with stones and bushes and can be easily replaced after an extreme trip through the bush.

The front bumper is also trimmed in an all-terrain element made of “Dark Graphite” (matte anthracite-gray) durable polymer, while the front features two aluminium-coloured metal hooks in the front air intakes on the left and right sides - two additional solid aluminium-coloured metal hooks are at the back for towing purposes.

While rolling on 16-inch wheels with 245/70 series tyres, it also has front LED lights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights, high-strength aluminium roof cross-rails and two LED auxiliary matte aluminium roof spotlights.

The two-tone Nappa leather-clad interior of Rhodium Grey with Dark Graphite gets dark Black Night chrome accents for the steering wheel, dark Blade-design aluminium around the instrument panel as well as door trim panels and fine “Dragon Red” strips for the air vent frames.

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