Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept revealed – previews next gen Tiguan

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The VW Tiguan GTE Active Concept debuts in Detroit as a 4WD off-road plug-in hybrid Tiguan, previewing the next generation Tiguan in the process.

You have to wonder if Volkswagen had originally planned to debut a plug-in hybrid concept of the next generation Tiguan at the Detroit Motor Show, or whether the whole dieselgate mess has forced then to move ‘Green’ cars front and centre.

Whatever the reason, the 2016 Detroit Motor Show sees the debut of the VW Tiguan GTE Active Concept, a preview of the next generation Tiguan complete with off-road pretensions and a 4WD powertrain made up of a petrol engine and two electric motors.

That means a petrol four-cylinder engine good for 148bhp, an electric motor at the back good for 112bhp and another at the front for an extra 54bhp. Altogether, they can give the Tiguan up to 221bhp to play with, all delivered through a six-speed dual clutch ‘box with a range of up to 580 miles.

The Tiguan GTE has three drive modes, with ‘E’ for electric only driving, GTE which throws the ICE and electric motors at performance and ‘Hybrid’ which mixes and matches to suit.

There are also modes for the right setup for your needs, with a choice of On Road, Off Road, Sport, Snow, Charge and Battery Hold.

Based on VW’s MQB platform, the GTE has modified breakover angles and extra ground clearance to better tackle rough terrain, and the addition of stuff like skid plates, tow hooks, 16″ off-road wheels and tyres, polymer-covered bumpers and cross rails on the roof with LED spots.

Inside, the Tiguan GTE gets VW’s next-gen infotainment with a 9.2″ touchscreen, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Carnet App Connect and gesture control.

The VW Tiguan GTE Active Concept may preview the next Tiguan, but we’d be surprised if the rufty-tufty, butch GTE Concept turns in to a production model.