The New Volkswagen Tiguan 2012

Having accidentally leaked a look at its 2012 Tiguan, Volkswagen is making the face lift official with this batch of photos. The little ute is scheduled to be physically unveiled in Geneva in March, but European dealers are already accepting pre-orders for the new Tiguan, as the current model has sold out.

To be sure, the compact SUV has undergone a refresh, rather than a full-fledged redesign. Most notable among the Tiguan’s changes are a pair of new front-bumper designs, headlights with LED running lights, and the two-bar grille that has come to define current VW products. At the back, the tailgate wears sharper creases, and the light housings are smaller and more squared-off. Updates to the interior are minimal, with new HVAC controls and a new multifunction steering wheel being the most obvious. (It should be noted that this Tiguan is different from the reworked version shown in Beijing last year for the Chinese market.)

Three of the seven engines offered in Europe – all of them charged fourcylinder direct-injection engines – are new to the Tiguan engine line-up. The four petrol engines (TSI) produce between 90 kW / 122 PS and 155 kW / 210 PS. The three diesel engines (TDI) span a power range from 81 kW / 110 PS to 125 kW / 170 PS. The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) is also available as an option in the new Tiguan. All Tiguans with BlueMotion Technology (BMT) also have a Stop/Start system. They reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.7 l/100 km in the new SUV. Clearly, this Volkswagen – available in either a front-wheel drive or naturally an all-wheel drive (4MOTION) version – is one of the most fuelefficient SUVs in the world.

We’ll have to wait until Geneva for full information, but we do know the new Tiguan will retain its current engine options, meaning Volkswagen’s 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four will remain the only choice in the U.S. Base prices aren’t expected to climb above current levels, which begin at $24,540 for a 2011 Tiguan with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission, and peak at $38,210 for an SEL Premium model with all-wheel drive.