Volkswagen's new Sports Utility Vehicle, the Tiguan, has been unveiled for the first time in the Middle East at the Middle East International Motor Show.

The Tiguan was first witnessed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007.

"Volkswagen has lifted the lid off the future of the compact SUV segment with the launch of the Tiguan.  Over 10,000 advance orders for the four-wheel drive all-rounder have already been placed in Germany and we are expecting an equal level of interest in the Middle East," said managing director of Volkswagen Middle East Hans-Dieter Keller.

"This show provides us with an excellent platform to premiere the Tiguan in the region as well as keeping our customers informed about new models that have launched in 2007 and what is coming up in 2008," he added.

The Tiguan is a completely new development from the ground up.  The name itself was selected together with more than 350,000 readers of AutoBild, the leading motoring publication in Germany.

It is a combination of the words "Tiger" which reflects quickness, power and elegance and "Iguana" which are highly capable of surviving in harsh habitats. Volkswagen wanted to use this exotic name to evoke associations with travel, adventure and excitement. Moreover, the Tiguan name fits in well with the name of its "brother" model, the Touareg, said a Volkswagen official.

This "small brother" of the Touareg transfers the Touareg idea of the masterful cruising and off-road SUV to another class.  Just like his larger brother, the more compact Tiguan also masters the ride through both worlds - taking on asphalt as well as natural trails.

The design of the Tiguan matches this character precisely.  The Tiguan will arrive on the market in the equipment versions Trend & Fun, Sport & Style which are specifically designed for on-road use and Track & Field which was specifically designed for life next to the asphalted trails. 

At this year's show, the Volkswagen stand will be welcoming visitors to witness the first regional appearance of the new Phaeton, which is all set to excite audiences.  This is a car that has been reconceptulised in many technical areas including the "Front Assist" braking distance reduction, "Side Assist" lane changing assistant, a new DVD navigation system and a modified infotainment system. 

Volkswagen is also using this year's show to unveil the new version of the Golf: the CrossGolf.  It merges the can-do qualities of a compact SUV with the versatility of a small Multi Purpose vehicle (MPV) into a new crossover model. 

Additionally, Volkswagen will be displaying some of their most iconic vehicles such as the Golf GTI, Golf R32, the New Beetle, the new generation Touareg as well as the Jetta and Passat Turbo.- TradeArabia News Service