Volkswagen 7 seat SUV

[Human]

Very utilitarian. Maybe too much so....

 

[SKY]

Very utilitarian. Maybe too much so....

Perfect definition, IMO.

 

[MarcinM]

The front end reminds me of a Range Rover

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I think they did a great job with this.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Nice.

 

[martinbo]

So basicly this is an Audi Q7?

Definitely not. This is a market engineered model making use of a stretched MQB platform with tranversely-oriented powertrain. This helps it fit in between Tiguan and Touareg price-wise.

 

[EnI]

Why would anybody in US then buy a Tuareg instead - it's not that much premium & upscale to justify the higher price. Or am I missing something here?

VAG obviously have a problem in US market - not knowing what to be ... a Toyota / Ford / Hyundai / Nissan / Honda etc fighter with economy-class reasonably priced large cars (for the segment), or being a typical German brand ala MB, Audi, BMW - offering more premium products (although not being the same tier as the German trio), moderately sized, and priced hefty for what the cars really offer.

They'll need to decide how to go on, which strategy to use: either to introduce even more US-centric products to fight Toyota, or just offer their Euro / global products there. Obviously they are opting for the former strategy. At least in some segments.

 

[Tumbo]

Definitely not. This is a market engineered model making use of a stretched MQB platform with tranversely-oriented powertrain. This helps it fit in between Tiguan and Touareg price-wise.

Oh really? What about size-wise? It's much bigger then the Touareq I presume?

 

[klier]

Not all are seven seaters:

View attachment fde1000bada18b461d1c25d481e57faa.jpeg

Holy crap, that's a long list of crappy cars!!! Damn! Except the Touareg, they all suck

 

[Deckhook]

Definitely not. This is a market engineered model making use of a stretched MQB platform with tranversely-oriented powertrain. This helps it fit in between Tiguan and Touareg price-wise.

You could easily argue that every car is market engineered, after all its demand or the expectation of sales that drives everything.

 

[martinbo]

Maybe I should have stated more explicitly that this is a North American market-engineered car. Would that be more specific?

 

[Deckhook]

Maybe I should have stated more explicitly that this is a North American market-engineered car. Would that be more specific?

I'm only highlighting that fact, nothing more.

 

[martinbo]

I'm only highlighting that fact, nothing more.

Don't quite know what fact you're highlighting then. It's clear that many models are engineered for a global (as opposed to regional) market. The VW Golf, BMW 3 Series, Porsche 911 and so on are good examples. Conversely there are vehicles that are engineered specifically for local (read: geographically defined) markets. Examples would be the Subaru Exiga, Chevy Corvette and the Holden Commodore. This new VW SUV is one such vehicle as it's market-engineered for the North American market: bigger, cheaper, simpler all factored in so that it can better compete in a market where the more sophisticated Touareg is less successful.

 

[Deckhook]

It makes no difference if it engineered for one market or every market, 99% of motorcars on sale are built for the sole purpose of maximizing sales (that's the marketing part). This is the fact I am highlighting.

Oh and BTW I wasn't disagreeing with you, price is king in any market not only the American and if you can offer something that looks to have superior bang for your buck then it will comfortably out sell a similar product that's much dearer in the case of the Touareg. It hasn't escaped my notice that this product looks more like it's bigger brother than the Tiguan, continuing the illusion it's remarkably value.

 

[martinbo]

It makes no difference if it engineered for one market or every market, 99% of motorcars on sale are built for the sole purpose of maximizing sales (that's the marketing part). This is the fact I am highlighting.

No way! Really... ?

 

[Wolfgang]

Starts at $32,000 according to Autoweek, and slots between Tiguan and Touareg. Also like the blue color, lapis blue? The 1998 ML320 started at $33,950 in its first year. The rearview mirrors seem too pointy and smallish. Would prefer them in a more proper utilitarian SUV size.

Volkswagen is using the Detroit auto show to preview a versatile full-sized SUV intended to grow its North American lineup and increase sales and production within the lucrative U.S. market.

While billed as a concept, Volkswagen officials openly acknowledge the all-wheel-drive CrossBlue foretells a fresh model conceived for sale in North America set to slot in between the Tiguan, a crossover considered too small for U.S. tastes, and the Touareg, an SUV considered too expensive to successfully compete against more affordable competition.

The big SUV would replace the slow-selling Routan minivan, a rebadged Chrysler Town & County. The CrossBlue will offer buyers the choice of gasoline, diesel and hybrid drivetrains.

No introduction date for the production version of the CrossBlue has been announced. It will be assembled alongside the U.S.-market Passat in Chattanooga, Tenn. Autoweek has learned Volkswagen plans to begin sales of the six-seat SUV in 2015 at a base price of around $32,000.

The Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Pilot and Ford Edge are among the rivals for the VW SUV.

The one-off concept in Detroit this week is based on Volkswagen's highly flexible MQB (modular transverse) platform--a move that will be reflected on the production model, which is described as being mechanically similar to the second-generation Tiguan due out in 2014. Unlike the Touareg, which uses longitudinally mounted engines, the new SUV is set to receive transverse-mounted drivetrains in a strategy aimed at lowering production costs and providing what Volkswagen describes as class-leading interior accommodations.

Inside, the concept has room for up to six people on individual seats in three rows -- a layout that will make way for a seven seats configuration in a two-three-two configuration on the production version, according to Volkswagen sources.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130114/detroit/130119921#ixzz2I48ogeJY

 

[Giannis]

It makes no difference if it engineered for one market or every market, 99% of motorcars on sale are built for the sole purpose of maximizing sales (that's the marketing part). This is the fact I am highlighting.

So the fact that the US market engineered Cadillac and Lexus brands are a complete flop in Europe is not an example of you being wrong?

 

[Merc1]

2015?? Seems like a ways away, but maybe not.

M

 

[Deckhook]

So the fact that the US market engineered Cadillac and Lexus brands are a complete flop in Europe is not an example of you being wrong?

I'm simply saying that every car is conceived, designed and built to maximise sales which basically means they are market driven. What works in one market and not another has little to do with this fact.

What the F*** are niche products if not proving my point, everything is market engineered even the humble banana.

 

[Giannis]

I'm simply saying that every car is conceived, designed and built to maximise sales which basically means they are market driven. What works in one market and not another has little to do with this fact.

Of course everything is market driven. That's the definition!

The point is that some products are driven by a specific market, like the US in Cadillac's case. The Opel/Vauxhall/Buick/Whatever Insignia, on the other hand, is a global market driven product. There's difference!

What the F*** are niche products if not proving my point, everything is market engineered even the humble banana.

Niche products are usually (if not always) based on high-volume selling vehicles, that they have a very small research and developement cost. Yet, just because they are niche, they sell at high price. So, they make money. Simple as that.