Wolfsburg, Germany - Volkswagen has
announced it will introduce a drop-top version of its attractive new T-Roc compact
SUV.
To be launched in the
first half of 2020, it will be VW’s first convertible SUV and continues the
German firm’s major model offensive into the sports utility market.
“Volkswagen is
evolving into an SUV brand,” said
bold">Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “The T-Roc is already
setting new standards in the compact SUV segment. With the cabriolet based on
the T-Roc, we will be adding a highly emotional model to the range.”
The German automaker
hasn’t revealed whether the T-Roc cabriolet will have a hard or soft folding
roof, and the single design sketch VW has released doesn’t make it clear.
However, the topless
T-Roc should otherwise be mechanically identical to the hard top version that went
on sale in Europe late last year, and which has already sold around 40 000
units.
Smaller than the VW
Tiguan, the T-Roc was launched in August last year as VW’s new contender in the
compact crossover segment to compete against vehicles like Toyota’s C-HR and Nissan Qashqai.
Most of the
derivatives are front-wheel-driven, but VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is
available with the bigger engines.
Petrol engines
include an 85kW/200Nm 1-litre TSI, 110kW/250Nm 1.5 TSI and 140kW/320Nm 2.0 TSI.
Diesel buyers have the choice of an 85kW/250Nm 1.6 TDI or a 2.0 TDI with either
110kW/340Nm or 140kW/400Nm. Six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearboxes are
offered.
Like the latest Golf
and Polo, the T-Roc's cabin is highly digitised, with a digital instrument
cluster available as an option, along with a range of infotainment systems.
However, even the base model receives a Composition Colour touch-screen as
standard, along with driver aids like City Emergency Braking, Pedestrian
Monitoring and Lane Assist.
Owners will also be
able to access a wide range of online services and apps via smartphone and VW
Car-Net.
SUVs are currently making a key contribution to the growth
of VW. With 720 000 Tiguans sold, this car is among the 10 best-selling
models in the world and the top three SUVs. By 2020, the brand intends to
expand its SUV range to 20 models, by which time aout 40
percent of the vehicles sold by Volkswagen will be SUVs.
The T-Roc is
destined for South Africa, although the timing has yet to be confirmed.