Thursday, October 16, 2008

VW Tiguan launch in Malaysia

What: VW Tiguan launch in Malaysia

When: 16 October 2008

Where: Volkswagen Group Malaysia HQ, Bangsar


Heidi Klum and what’s-his-face with their Tiguans


People will often tell you, “stick to what you’re good at” or “you’re already so good at what you’re doing currently, why would you want to make things more complicated?” There are many of us who will actually heed all these warnings and crawl back into our little shells known as our comfort zone. And there will be the select few who will throw caution to the wind and just do it! Because for these few, not doing something is far worse than the prospect of failure in the process. As they will all tell you; from failure is where you reap the most knowledge and experience to succeed.


This little anecdote brings us to my subject of the day, which is the new Volkswagen Tiguan. For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past 12 months, this is VW’s first foray into the midi SUV or “soft-roader” category. A segment of which much as in Western Europe as it is in Malaysia has been traditionally monopolized by the Japanese in the form of the Honda CRV and while not so much in the case of Malaysia the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4, due to the fact that it is a CBU from Japan and thanks to our hefty tax and duties levied on non-ASEAN CBUs basically priced this car out of the segment in our shores. In Western Europe however, 1 of every 4 midi SUVs sold is the RAV4 and the fact is even more impressive when you consider that last year alone, the midi SUV segment constituted about half a million units.


This is when VW jumped up and said “We want a piece of that pie too!” (or more likely “Ich möchte pie abessen” or something like that; excuse my rubbish German) The name Tiguan is actually a play on the word “Tiger” and “Iguana” in German, and for the first time ever, VW actually had a poll in a popular motoring magazine to let the public decide on the name of this car. I am personally very relieved that we’ve ended up with Tiguan, for the runner ups were Nanuk, Namib, and Rockton (*cringe).


The right size

Let’s get right down to the car itself. The Tiguan is based on the current Golf platform, which is actually a good thing considering it’s high structural rigidity. At 4457mm it’s about the same length as the current VW Jetta. Against the competition, its sized right smack in between the Honda and the Toyota, with the CRV being the biggest of the lot.



Dimensions: “Sports & Style” (top) and “Track & Field”


Seal and Heidi

The Tiguan comes with 2 different fronts, much like the transgenders you find in the dodgier streets of Thailand. In the UK they call it the “S/SE” and the “Escape”, in other parts of the world and in Malaysia we would be referring to it as the “Sports & Style” (obviously for the stylish urban version) and the “Track & Field” (for the off-road version). What this basically means is that the city cruiser will be coming with a lower angled nose (18 degrees to be exact) and the terrain blazer will be coming with a 28 degree nose, designed to improve the approach angle so as not to get stuck the moment you want to climb a mole hill (or in the case of Malaysia more likely trying to park on top of a curb in Bangsar/Sultan Ismail on clubbing night). In the international advertising campaign, VW is using Seal (of “Kiss from a Rose” fame) and wife (yes I know God isn’t fair but it’s true) Heidi Klum (of the fact that she’s just so uber hot fame) as the ambassadors for the Tiguan because like the couple, the Tiguan represents two polar opposite ends; the stylishness vs. everyday, glamour vs. conservative,


The “Sports & Style” (left) and “Track & Field”


Off-road mode

In Malaysia, Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) will be exclusively offering the “Track & Field” version. The reason behind this is said to be due to the fact that they wanted to offer a thoroughbred off-roader and hold a unique positioning against its “soft-roader” competition. Besides the different nose, the “Track & Field” version comes with and “Off-road” mode. This in theory is supposed to change the Tiguan into a different animal at a touch of a button. First of all “Hill decent control” is activated, this system provides easy control when descending steep gradients. All you have to do is steer the car as the speed and braking of all 4 wheels will be controlled by the ESP hydraulics. Next the accelerator pedal characteristics are adjusted to allow finer modulation of engine torque using smaller accelerator pedal angels in low gears. This is key in off-road situations because you would want finer control of the vehicle’s torque at low speeds, while on the flip side less sensitivity in the pedals is desired when you’re going fast and flopping about in the rough terrain. The electronic differential locks (EDL) are activated at lower slip values and the ABS is also adjusted to work better on loose and constantly changing surface conditions. Gear pre-select gives you optimum engine braking effect so that your automatic gearbox doesn’t jump about when needle is all over the rev meter. Finally you would get creature comforts in the form of the parking brake auto release (or Auto hold) function where it automatically activates the brakes when you’re stationary on an incline and deactivates when you touch the accelerator pedal.



Look ma’ no hands!

Also coming as a standard feature in Malaysian Tiguan (it’s a £450 option in the UK) is the Parallel Park Assist. This is purportedly the first SUV in the world that is fitted with such a system. When activated the system basically scans for parking lots with its ultrasonic sensors mounted on the side of the car. It can perform both right or left sided parallel parking and the system will know which side the driver intends to park based on the direction of the indicator signal (Malaysian read: you signal right or left lor).When a parking lot that it could fit in is found (it must be at least 1.4m more than the length of the car), the driver just needs to put the gear into reverse and control the accelerator/brakes. The system will steer the vehicle into the parking lot minus the stress and periodic cussing of the car behind you within 15 seconds. For safety reasons at any moment if you put your hands on the steering wheel or accelerate above 7km/h, the system will cease and the driver is given full control of the vehicle.



New engine

The Tiguan for Malaysia comes with the new EA888 1,984 c.c. (2.0l) Borg Warner K03 water-cooled turbocharged direct injection 4-pot petrol engine. Just like the one featured on the Audis, this new inline 4 boasts 147kW/200PS at 5,100 rpm and 280 Nm at 1,700-5,000 rpm. New features include a two-stage valvelift inlet valve lift variable control, timing chain (previous EA133 was belt), and six-hole injectors.


4 is better than 2, I think

As expected from any self respectable SUV, this 4X4 actually comes with 4X4, or in the VW world, 4Motion. This system bears more similarities to the Golf R32 rather than the Touareg. This is because just like the Golf the power is distributed by a Haldex clutch instead of a transfer case found in most 4X4s. For a start this system is more cost effective than the former system, and since the Clutch pack coupling system is located at the rear axle it also means you don’t have to leave generous space between the gearbox and the prop/drive shaft. Basically less cost, less weight and less space consuming ultimately means the less your wallet will be hurt in case something goes wrong. Power distribution is 90%-10% (Front-Rear), which is achieved via the intentional slippage of the clutch plates. The reason behind this front-wheel-drive minded set-up as opposed to the “true blue” SUV 50-50 set-up of the Touareg or the sporty 38-62 Porsche Cayenne is because this gives the Tiguan the opportunity to reap the benefits of front-wheel-drive cars such as better fuel efficiency and better tire wear and tear.


…and I’d like to thank the Academy

So far the Tiguan has already been voted the No.1 Off-roader/SUV and given the Auto 1 Award early this year by more than 40 million readers of Auto Bild group.


So what’s it gonna cost me?

To enjoy this innovative marvel of German technology, one will have to cough up just under a quarter of a million ringgit or RM249,888 to be exact. Of course we all know that more than 50% of this goes into the Tabung Mengkayakan Negara (a.k.a. Customs Excise Duties). So with all things equal, you do get quite a package in this Tiger-Iguana from Wolfsberg.



The lowdown

Price: RM249,888 (without registration and insurance)

Engine/power: 2.0l 200PS turbocharged petrol in-line 4

Transmission: 6 speed Tiptronic

Wheels: 235/55 R17


Sweet extras at no extra costs:

  • Off-road mode
  • Parallel Park Assist system
  • Advanced Front lighting System (bending cornering lights)
  • Bi-Xenon headlights
  • Servotronic steering system
  • RCD510 Touch screen infotainment system
  • Front, curtain, and side (front only) airbags
  • Vienna leather seats
  • Cruise control
  • Rain sensor

2 comments:

AutoIndustrie said...

I thought Namib is supposed to refer (unofficially at least) to an SUV version of the RPU (Robust Pick-up)? Nein?

Anyway good stuff there.
I blog at autoindustrie.blogspot.com

AutoIndustrie said...

Hi thanks for the info commented on my blog.

On hindsight, I am not sure if you are who I think you really are...my email is address is the top right corner of my blog. Feel free to drop a line.

Keep on rocking (or driving...)