By the time the Tiguan, VW's small crossover that'll hit the U.S. in summer 2008, begins rolling off its Wolfsburg assembly line, it'll have undergone extensive testing in myriad terrains, climates, and elevations. It's a sport/utility after all, not to mention the Touareg's little brother, so much of its allure will be its perceived ruggedness; thus, testing in extreme conditions is a requisite. So with the start of production just a couple months away, Volkswagen, with time for one last shakedown, had a decision to make: Where to conduct the Tiguan's final torture test?
Naturally, the powers that be opted for Namibia in southwest Africa, a former German colony and now a popular destination spot for Teutonic tourists. Known for the extensive range of wild game in Etosha National Park, the 1000-foot sand dunes in Sossusvlei, and the fatal beauty of the Skeleton Coast, Namibia is also a country that boasts plenty of elevation change, severe temperatures, and loads (and loads) of dirt roads, most of which are as smooth as a rusty washboard. Could it get any better?
Well, yes-Volkswagen could invite a few auto journalists along for the ride. Luckily, I was one of the fortunate few, and, after 22 hours of flying time from L.A., I landed in the capital of Windhoek, ready to join the team of engineers at the tail end of a four-month, 40,000-kilometer (roughly 25,000 miles) test run. But before kicking up dust clouds the size of Rhode Island, I was first briefed on the vehicles.
The four pre-production Tiguans at our disposal were all European spec and as such were notably different from the version the U.S. will be getting. All had VW's new 1.4-liter Twincharger four-cylinder-an Eaton supercharger and a Borg-Warner turbocharger combine forces to deliver 168 horsepower, 177 pound-feet of torque, and roughly 30 mpg combined fuel economy-a six-speed manual, 16-inch wheels with 215/65 Pirelli P6 tires, and a new Haldex 4 all-wheel-drive system (dubbed 4Motion), the last utilizing a wet multiplate clutch and electronic, rather than mechanical, sensors to detect slippage and engage all-wheel drive. Two of the cars also came with a "Track & Field" package, which adds a different front fascia to accommodate a 28-degree approach angle, and an Offroad Mode that utilizes ABS, the Haldex, the throttle, and both hill descent and climb features. In total, five ECUs manage this off-road system.
American customers will not get the Twincharger nor the "Track & Field" package (at least not initially) and will instead be treated to "Sport & Style" Tiguans (replete with an 18-degree approach angle and no Offroad Mode) fitted with VW's robust 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower turbo four, a six-speed manual or Aisin automatic (the latter will be replaced by a six-speed DSG a year or so after making its debut), electromechanical power steering, an electronic parking brake, and all-wheel drive (front-drive Tiguans may be added later). Seeing that few Americans ever really venture off-road, the "Sport & Style" approach seems to be the wise choice. Available options will include a panoramic moonroof, 17- and 18-inch wheels, an eight-speaker 300-watt Dynaudio sound system, Park Assist (automatic steering into a parking space), and a new Siemens RNS 510 radio/navigation system, which includes a 6.5-inch touch screen, a 30GB hard drive, and off-road navigation that allows up to 500 route points to be recorded during a journey.
