Wolfsburg, Germany - Volkswagen has dropped plans to produce a compact version of its Tiguan off-roader, which was to have spawned a small family of down-scaled SUVs.
The cut-down Tiguan was to have closely resembled the Cross Coupe GTE concept shown at the 2015 Detroit motor show. An earlier future Tiguan variant was seen in Brazil at the beginning of 2012.
“The car in the form that we have previously shown it, is simply too short,” said a VW spokesman, after the German news magazine Focus earlier reported on the decision.
Golf and Polo-based SUVs have been mooted by VW in the past, along with one based on the Up minicar.
BIG SUV IN LINE FOR AMERICA
Volkswagen said it would be fielding the concept version of a new smaller SUV at the Geneva motor show in March; a full-size SUV for North America is also being fettled.
Volkswagen's range currently has two SUV lines, the chunky Touareg and the medium-sized Tiguan.
Analysts said a VW sports utility for the US market could refocus the brand's image and deflect attention from the emissions-rigging scandal which has prompted a sales slump of Volkswagen sedans and station wagons in North America.
DPA