Volkswagen unveiled a new generation of the Tiguan compact crossover last fall, but that isn’t the version bound for the U.S.
Instead, the U.S. will once again get a larger Tiguan distinct from the version sold overseas, and the covers will come off on Nov. 20 ahead of the formal debut that same week at the 2024 Los Angeles auto show.
To build excitement, VW on Thursday dropped a teaser photo showing the design of the new Tiguan’s taillight.
VW didn’t release any other details, but Pablo Di Si, Volkswagen Group of America’s CEO, hinted at the possibility of a hybrid powertrain in an interview with Automotive News published in September.
He said he wants to get VW to offer hybrids in the U.S., and pointed to how the latest Tiguan the rest of the world gets offers a plug-in hybrid option.
“We have the technology, we know how to do it, and we’ll adjust the portfolio in the next couple years,” he said.
VW’s last hybrid in the U.S. was the Jetta Hybrid, which was dropped in 2016.
Di Si is not alone in his desire to launch hybrid vehicles to capture the growing demand for electrified vehicles that still carry a gas engine. Many automakers are backtracking from plans to exclusively sell electric vehicles. A senior Jeep executive also recently said the brand may launch lower-cost traditional hybrids to sell alongside plug-in hybrids and EVs.
The redesigned U.S.-spec Tiguan will debut as a 2025 model. The vehicle will use the same updated MQB platform as the Tiguan sold overseas, and is expected to share much of its design with the redesigned Chinese-spec Tayron previously spotted testing.
VW is also out testing a redesigned Atlas midsize SUV that is expected to arrive as a 2026 model.