The T-Roc for the next SUV attack
Over the next few years, a total of 19 SUVs around the world will present the two letters in the brand logo that come from Wolfsburg. After the Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace (Tiguan with extended wheelbase) and Atlas / Teramont, the Wolfsburg-based company is now sending the T-Roc around the world. After the SUV and crossover segment is booming up to a third of the market share not only here in this country, VW promises to claim a large share of the cake for itself. Taking over the narrow radiator grille from its big brothers, the T-Roc shows itself with the hood pulled far down, fitted aggressive headlights that start with a bead after the front wheel arch. Its external dimensions with an overall length of 4.234 mm, a width of 1.819 mm and a height of 1.573 mm make the smallest SUV to be produced in the Portuguese plant Setúbal (near Lisbon) appear very large in the compact SUV segment. The engineers found support in the modular transverse matrix (MQB), which is already known within the group and which is used in the new Polo, among other things. If the external proportions are not great, its "inner values" make you sit up and take notice. The fully-seated small SUV can hold a full 445 liters of luggage. In order to do justice to the digital world, the T-Roc is equipped with a 6,5-inch touchscreen as standard. A glass-covered 8,0-inch display can also be used as an option, which, in addition to the infotainment system, also leaves space for the navigation system to perform. The driver assistance systems used in the group, which are trendy, are also finding their way into the T-Roc. The entire package of the new from Wolfsburg is to be placed in the 20.000 euro class.
Volkswagen T-Roc, digitized SUV?
Cernobbio (Italy), Villa Erba, around 50 kilometers from Malpensa Milan airport on beautiful Lake Como. Volkswagen presented its new compact SUV to around three hundred and fifty invited media representatives. Exciting for those responsible because it is also a new entry into new territory for Volkswagen. Addressing target groups is not just the experienced driver, as is usual with SUVs. Young and inexperienced drivers alike should be delighted with the T-Roc. This includes a measure of functionality, sportiness and upbeat design that the T-Roc has to represent on the catwalk of the event location of Villa Erba. The first impression conveys exactly these topics. In addition, the small SUV represents the Volkswagen philosophy of digitization. The T-Roc will generally be optionally available with VW's new generation of the “Active Info Display”. Behind it is an 8,0-inch touch screen in the middle of the dashboard and the fully digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel. The small VW will announce its launch after the IAA in Frankfurt this year. The dynamic tests will start soon in September. The binding entry price remains open, but should be in the 20.000 euro range. Due to the promised digitization and the use of driver assistance systems, we suspect end prices above the 30.000 euro mark.
Wolfsburg also sticks to the diesel with the T-Roc
With three petrol engines (1.0 TSI, 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TSI) and two diesel units with 3 power levels (1.6 TSI and 2.0 TSI), the new T-Roc is quite tidy. All engines meet the latest exhaust emissions and are equipped with a start-stop system as standard. That the "fuel screw" will be turned down is a basic promise of the German group. Both a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed DSG transmission are used in combination. With the diesel units, Volkswagen will demonstrate sustainability with the SCR catalysts used. Those who want to master their driving skills off-road with a front-wheel drive can prove this with the gasoline engines with a 1.0 TDI and 1.5 TDI or with the diesel engines with a 1.6 TDI and 2.0 TDI. The T-Roc provides its top engine with a 2.0 TDI diesel with a nominal output of 140 kW (190 PS) and 400 Newton meters.
And finally ... From the end of the year, he can prove whether the new T-Roc, like its SUV colleagues from Volkswagen, will become a bestseller. However, its key data and appearance are promising.
Text: Stefan Beckmann
Image: Stefan Beckmann, Studio-AUTOmativ.de (thanks Benne) and manufacturer (Volkswagen AG)