Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen TiguanIBTimes India

German car-maker Volkswagen showcased India-bound Tiguan SUV at the Auto Expo 2016 in February and it was touted that the market launch can be expected by the end of the year. However, the latest reports indicate the launch has been pushed to next year.

The postponement of the launch reportedly is to concentrate on the Ameo diesel, Polo GTI and the new-gen Passat, reports NDTV Auto. Volkswagen is reportedly planning to locally assemble the compact SUV to keep price in check. Based on the MQB platform, the Tiguan is a five seater SUV, which is expected to go up against Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA and even the BMW X1.

The new Tiguan, despite being 60mm longer and 30mm wider than the original, has lost more than 50kg and sits 33mm lower. The wheelbase has been stretched by 77mm to 2,681 mm and has a boot capacity of 615-litres. In India, the Tiguan is likely to be powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which can churn out 187bhp. In the international market, the Tiguan's powertrain includes eight engines in petrol and diesel with power ranging from 115bhp to 248bhp.

The new Tiguan takes a serious departure from the current edition in terms of design. The new design has been inspired by the Cross Coupe GTE, Volkswagen unveiled last year. The round body panels have made way for more straight panels and the edges are sharp in new avatar.

The vehicle also boasts of Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, Lane Assist and the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, all as standard safety features.