在紧凑型SUV刚成为市场新宠的那段时间里，2007版大众途观由于价格高、耗油大，因而未能取得轰动性的销售成绩。但投产后，它在全世界共售出264万辆，这一成绩为2015年法兰克福车展上亮相的下一代途观打下了坚实的基础。

大众对旧途观的缺点进行了彻底修正，选择高尔夫和其他紧凑车型的模块化横向矩阵（MQB）平台打造新版途观的基底，这一平台产量更高，成本更低。而用该平台制作的新途观车身更长更宽，底盘也更低，比其前身更像一辆轿车。

为了展现这辆跨界SUV的宽广用途，新途观将推出公路、非公路和名为途观GTE的油电混合版三种配置。

尽管新途观的载货容量提升了10%，达到18.4立方英尺（521升），但重量比旧版还要轻110 kg（243 磅）。车身总长增加了2.4英寸（61 mm），达到了176.6英寸（4486 mm），总宽度增加了1.2英寸（31 mm），达到了72.4英寸（1839 mm）。高度降低1.3英寸（33 mm），目前为64.3英寸（1633 mm）。除了降低车顶外，新途观的空气动力学还有一些其他改进，如利用风洞试验设计的侧视镜等。这些改进使整车阻力系数降低了40%，达到目前的0.31。

途观总共将在全球推出8款发动机，它们全都具备涡轮增压、直喷技术、自动启停、电池能量再生等标准配置。这些发动机中有一半是汽油机，一半是柴油机。汽油发动机中最高配置为220马力（164 kW）2.0L四缸发动机，而最强大的柴油发动机则是一台双涡轮240马力（179 kW）2.0L四缸发动机。总体上看，新版发动机的效率比符合Euro-5级别要求的旧版发动机高出24%，比目前取得Euro-6认证的一些发动机高10%。

一些发动机搭载了标准驱动系统，而另一些则可选择4Motion全轮驱动系统。全新的主动控制（Active Control）开关，可以让驾驶员根据实际的驾驶情况（如公路、非公路、降雪天气等）选择操作参数。

在普通的公路驾驶过程中，途观的Haldex耦合装置可以松开后轮与发动机的连接，实现效率最大化。

降低成本和提高效率是新途观最重要的改进内容，除此之外，大众还将重要的电子安全辅助系统提升为标准配置，使途观对年轻家庭更具吸引力。

这一系统中包括一个自动的碰撞后制动系统，和一个预测并防范碰撞的前方雷达系统。这两个系统都将是新途观所有车型的标准配置。如果雷达探测到前方有人，而且驾驶员没有采取行动，那么该系统就会发出警报。此外自动车道保持系统也将是所有车型的标准配置。

新途观的安全防撞系统还将行人纳入考量。当车辆撞上行人的时候，发动机盖将自动打开，使发动机盖的钣金部件与下方的发动机之间可以腾出更多空间。

尽管新途观2016年就要上市，但大众并未就同样在法兰克福车展上推出的油电混合版披露详细的信息。这辆车的驱动系统为一台115 kW（154马力）涡轮增压汽油四缸发动机和一台最大输出功率为160 kW的电机，搭配6速双离合变速箱。

13 kW·h的锂离子电池组让途观GTE的纯电动里程达到31英里（50 公里），电动模式下最高速度为130 km/h（81mph）。汽油发动机搭配电机后，最高时速可达200km/h（124mph），而百公里加速（0-62mph）时间为8.1秒。

此外，大众还在研究，未来是否能在车顶装配太阳能电池板，可以在没有额外花费的情况下收集可观的能量。尽管太阳能电池板不能在短时间内完全取代蓄电池，但对低纬度地区的用户来说，它一年内吸收的能量也足以支持1000 公里（621英里）的驾驶里程，而高纬度地区的用户则可在太阳能的支持下多行驶500 公里（310英里）。

当然，即便是少量的免费能源，也有助于改变公众对途观的高油耗印象。

作者：Dan Carney

来源：SAE《汽车工程杂志》

翻译：SAE 上海办公室

Volkswagen re-engineers Tiguan

Volkswagen’s original Tiguan compact SUV of 2007 was too expensive and too thirsty to achieve blockbuster sales during the segment’s emergence as a key source of sales. But it achieved worldwide sales of 2.64 million during its production run, providing a strong foundation for the next-generation version, introduced at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The company has aggressively addressed the original Tiguan’s shortcomings, building the new generation version on its high-volume, low-cost modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform used for the Golf and other compact models. This has produced a vehicle that is longer, lower, wider, and more car-like than its predecessor.

Illustrating the anticipated range of uses for a crossover SUV, the Tiguan debuted in both on-road and off-road-centric configurations along with a hybrid-electric concept of a future efficiency-focused Tiguan GTE model.

While the Tiguan’s cargo capacity has increased 10% to 18.4 ft³ (521 L), the vehicle is 110 lb (243 lb) lighter than before. Overall length is up 2.4 in (61 mm) to 176.6 in (4486 mm) and width is increased 1.2 in (31 mm) to 72.4 in (1839 mm). Height is reduced by 1.3 in (33 mm) to 64.3 in (1633 mm). The lower roof combines with other aerodynamic improvements such as wind tunnel-designed side-view mirrors to slash drag by 40% to 0.31 coefficient of drag.

Worldwide, Tiguan features a suite of eight different engines, all of which include turbocharging, direct injection, automatic stop/start, and battery regeneration as standard equipment. Half the engines are gasoline and half are diesel, with the gasoline family topping out with a 220-hp (164-kW) 2.0-L four cylinder and the diesel family headed by a twin-turbo 240-hp (179-kW) 2.0-L four. Overall, the engine families are 24% more efficient than those on the previous model, which were Euro-5 compliant and 10% more efficient than those that were Euro-6 certified.

The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is optional with some engines and standard with others. Its new Active Control switch lets drivers set the parameters of its operation according to the conditions; on-road, off-road, and snow.

In normal on-road driving the Tiguan’s Haldex coupling disconnects the rear wheels from the engine for maximum efficiency.

While cost containment and improved efficiency were critical upgrades to the Tiguan, Volkswagen has made important electronic safety aid systems standard equipment, making the Tiguan even more appealing to young families.

That means an automatic post-collision braking system and a forward radar system that watches for potential collisions and acts to prevent them. Both are standard on all new Tiguans. If the radar spots a person in the road ahead, it issues an alert followed by automatic braking if the driver doesn’t act. Automatic lane-keeping assist that steers the Tiguan back into its lane is also standard.

Tiguan’s crash-safety extends to pedestrians, with the use of a pyrotechnic hood release that pops the hood open in the event the car strikes a person, providing additional crush space between the sheetmetal and the engine beneath.

While the new Tiguan goes on sale in 2016, the company is less specific about plans for the hybrid-electric concept version also shown at Frankfurt. Its internal combustion engine is a 115-kW (154-hp) turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder, which combines with an electric motor for a maximum system output of 160 kW. They drive the vehicle through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The 13 kW·h lithium-ion battery pack can propel the Tiguan GTE concept 31 mi (50 km) on electric power alone, with an electric top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). Using the electric motor to boost the gasoline engine’s performance produces an available top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) and 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of 8.1 s.

VW also imagines the possibility of a roof-mounted solar panel that can, over extended periods of time, provide a worthwhile amount of free energy. Though a solar panel cannot quickly top off a discharged battery pack, it can soak up enough energy in a year to provide 1000 km (621 mi) of free driving energy for customers in southern latitudes, while northern drivers might see a free 500 km (310 mi) of energy from the sun.

Certainly even a small amount of free driving energy helps shift the Tiguan’s perception as fuel-thirsty for its size.

Author: Dan Carney

Source: SAE Automotive Engineering Magazine