Will the ID. revolution finally come up to deserved pace with a battery-dedicated addition to NZ’s favourite passenger VW?

TWO Volkswagen electric cars that never reached full potential here are being replaced, by a single model whose nameplate is new to battery dedication but already respected by Kiwis.

That VW ID. Tiguan was destined to replace the ID.4 and ID.5 has been known for some time.

The covers coming off today shows exactly what we’re getting and VW New Zealand advising it is down to launch this completely new design next year also settles speculation about ‘if’.

With electric car sales very much on the rise again, the new model is expected to provide the leverage VW here should have enjoyed with the successors, but largely didn’t due - as much as anything else - to cruel luck.

It was the brand’s misfortune that it had barely actioned a carefully planned launch of ID.4 and ID.5 when the National coalition government retracted Clean Car incentives that the products’ pricing and volume predictions relied on.

VW Germany had given special allowances for a big count of cars - initial volume was an bold 1000 units - at better pricing than it might normally has countenanced, all based on very solid sales predictions.

But everything went bust as soon as the incentives ended just months after the launch. The whole market fell into a black hole that lasted more than 30 months. Existing stock was firesaled; VW having a huge count of cars it could not off-load to other markets, was especially burned.

Now the market has recovered - with no thanks to Government, it’s all because of Trump-triggered Middle East turmoil smashing up petrol and diesel prices - VW here will doubtless be hoping that the ID. Tiguan finally delivers the volume success they deserved but never saw first time around.

Strictly speaking, this is a major redesign of the ID.4. But, VW giving it a new identity is just as key.

Having an electric Tiguan is a big positive; there’s no need to create consumer understanding. The fossil fuel vehicles with that name have been very popular, rising to be VW NZ’s best-selling passenger products and remained that way even when the market went into a slump.

One point of emphasis - this is not a process of electric replacing those cars. ID.Tiguan is an addition to that choice.

The Auckland-based national distributor emphasised in a media share today that introduction of ID. Tiguan will not replace the existing Tiguan range when it lands next year, an exact timing yet to be shared.

We also won’t know specifications and pricing until closer to the model's planned local introduction.

“The Tiguan nameplate has played an important role in Volkswagen's success story in New Zealand and remains the brand's best-selling model” said Chanelle McDonald, VWNZ general manager.

“As our best-selling vehicle locally, Tiguan has earned a strong reputation with Kiwi customers over many years.

“The introduction of ID. Tiguan is significant because it extends that success into the electric vehicle space, giving customers another way to experience the qualities they know and value from Volkswagen SUVs while embracing the latest generation of electric mobility.

“Volkswagen will continue to offer Tiguan with traditional powertrain options, while ID. Tiguan will provide an additional battery electric SUV option for customers seeking the benefits of electric mobility.”

What’s incoming attunes completely to NZ taste in being more SUV-oriented, bringing with it increased driving range and more technology.

ID. Tiguan uses an evolution of the ID.4’s platform, now called MEB+, and there are as many changes under the skin as outside, suggesting that this is more than a mere facelift and a name change.

Every exterior panel of the ID. Tiguan is new, and the car takes on an SUV appearance that is more angular than its predecessor, being further treated to a R-Line look (the white car) if the standard trim - in the new Glacier bronze hero hue - seems a touch too tame.

At the front, it is more upright, more distinctivewith slimmer headlights that can be fitted with Volkswagen’s ‘IQ. Light’ LED-matrix technology, along with an illuminated bar that links the two headlights, with an illuminated VW logo in the middle.

There are new air curtains in the front bumper to help channel air down along the car’s sides and a larger intake at the bottom.

A range of wheel sizes that start at 19 inches and go up to 21 inches is available, and many of these designs are claimed to be aerodynamically optimised to help boost range and efficiency.

Also contributing to aero optimisation an asymmetric front wheel arch design that reduces the gap at the leading edge to the wheel, thus reducing air turbulence.

Meanwhile, a black piece of trim extends from the front wheel arch to help reduce the visual height of the car, while traditional pull-type door handles replace the old touch-sensitive items of the ID.4.

A fresh look around the C-pillar further distances the ID. Tiguan from its predecessor. It retains a large rear spoiler and keeps its rear window wiper.

The rear design has changed in much the same way as the front, featuring a light panel spanning the tailgate and wrapping around the sides, a tie in to the T-Roc and incoming Polo. As per T-Roc, the VW logo lights up, and several thin strips form a detailed light bar that extends to the rectangular clusters, which feature a three-dimensional look.

Boot space is a little bit better than the ID.4, with 534 litres available with all seats in use, rising to full cargo capacity of 1577 litres. The roof is capable of carrying a 75kg load, while the towing weight limit at between 1800kg and 2000kg with a braked trailer, depending on the powertrain, is lighter than for most of the ICE choices with this nameplate.

The factory’s has begun introduction with three variants.

The entry-point to the lineup features a new 58kWh LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) battery that is paired with a 142kW electric motor on the rear axle, resulting in a quoted driving range of 450 kilometres. An 11kW AC charge rate on three-phase outlets and a 105kW peak DC charge rate are available with this battery.

From there, the ID. Tiguan moves to a 77kWh NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery. A mid-range version uses a single electric motor on the rear axle producing up to 213kW.

This is set to be the range champion of the lineup with around 600 kilometres between charges on the WLTP cycle. This battery also gets 11kW AC charging, but a higher 165kW DC-charge rate.

Topping the ID. Tiguan portfolio for now is the dual-motor version that has a maximum power output of 223kW and up to 560 kilometres of range.

The 77kWh cars get the higher towing capacity.

Volkswagen has made a lot of changes to the layout of the interior and also the materials used throughout. The dashboard has a new appearance with more screen area than before for a start.

The driver’s seat can be electrically adjusted and fitted with massage functionality in addition to seat heating. A new-look two-spoke steering wheel contains physical buttons that are far easier to use than the old haptic-feedback versions.

A twist-style drive selector on the right is used and a single stalk on the left of the steering wheel operates the wipers and indicators. A 10-inch digital instrument display also features.

In the centre of the dashboard is a 15-inch touchscreen that sits slightly proud of the fascia. It has a new-look menu that seems to be quite smartphone-like, with app icons to get to various parts of the system, and it also offers a retro skin that includes a small ‘garage’ that shows a number of the company’s past models: The original Tiguan, the first Beetle, MkI, MkII and MKIV Golfs and a Race Touareg.

It gets a bank of proper switches for the climate and temperature controls that are just below the touchscreen, while a new centre console design incorporates two wireless phone chargers.

These circular units are magnetic, so your device will snap into place and stay there while you’re driving. They’re also illuminated to match the interior ambient colour.

Other details include two cupholders, a proper volume knob, space underneath the centre armrest and more storage below the console in an open area that includes two USB-C charge ports.