Volkswagen is to launch the new T-Cross, Tiguan and Touareg locally during this year, and a test fleet of its electric ID.4 vehicles will also arrive here.
Volkswagen T-Cross:
With more than 1.2 million sales globally since it was introduced in 2019, the T-Cross is the smallest member of VW’s “T” family of SUVs. Sharing its MQB A0 platform with the sixth-generation Polo hatchback, T-Cross has been the best-selling imported model for Volkswagen in South Africa with 34 261 units sold since it was launched in 2019 with the latest model launched locally in the second half of 2024.
From the outside, the updated T-Cross is immediately recognisable by the new design of its front and rear with new integrated LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED taillight clusters.
Inside there is a new free-standing infotainment display. The standard touchscreen measures (8 inches) across the diagonal; the top-of-the-range version has a 9.2-inch display. In addition, all versions of the four-door five-seater will now be fitted with a digital cockpit as standard.
The dash panel in the T-Cross has also undergone a complete redesign with higher-quality surface materials. The same applies to the front door trims.
Volkswagen Tiguan:
The third-generation Tiguan, of which more than 7.6 million units have been sold since it was introduced in 2007, is set to launch in the second half or 2024. The Tiguan has been in the market for over a decade in South Africa and 50 832 units have been sold since its launch.
The design is completely new. A distinctive feature is the higher, more powerful-looking front end. The standard LED headlights are integrated here. In between, a glass-covered horizontal bar with an optionally integrated LED strip replaces the traditional radiator grille. The wheels are up to 20-inch in size. A horizontal LED strip between the tail light clusters emphasises the width of the Tiguan’s new rear end.
On the inside is a new, redesigned cockpit with a modular infotainment lay-out. It includes the new Digital Cockpit (digital instruments with anti-reflective coating in tablet landscape format), a large infotainment screen with a completely new menu structure and graphics (standard display: 12.9 inches, optional (15 inches) and a new optional head-up display.
Volkswagen Touareg:
Since its introduction in 2002, the Volkswagen Touareg has achieved remarkable success with over 1.3 million units sold globally. The Touareg has sold 8 671 units in South Africa since it was launched in 2004 and will land here in the second half of 2024.
What’s new?
The premium SUV can be recognised immediately by its new front and rear design. At the front, the unit formed by the radiator grille, headlights and the front apron has been given a new look. The design of the rear end is also sharper: it now has a continuous horizontal LED strip for the taillight clusters and incorporates a Volkswagen logo, which is illuminated in red.
The interior has also been updated. The standard voice control has been improved. USB-C connections with a charging capacity of 45 watts (previously 15 watts) permit significantly faster charging of electronic devices. The Touareg’s interior has been further improved. For example, the centre console trims are now softer than before, for extra comfort.
Volkswagen ID.4:
Going all electric, we will see a test fleet of the manufacturer’s ID.4 locally.
The battery stores up to 77 kWh of energy and enables ranges of up to 520 km. The electric drive motor, positioned at the rear axle, generates 150 kW – good for 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h. The ID.4 is set to be introduced locally in the first half of 2024 as a test fleet.
JLR reports growing demand for plug-in hybrid models, with global retail sales for the first half of the financial year up 29% compared to the prior year, as more customers use the technology as a stepping stone towards battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) called on the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to announce measures in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to ensure that a transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) will result in the reduction of carbon emissions in the country.
The ratio of used to new vehicles financed increased in the second quarter of this year, indicating a growing consumer preference for used vehicles, according to TransUnion South Africa.
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