Images showing Volkswagen’s upcoming seven-seat SUV have emerged online. Expected to be christened ‘Teramont’, the new model will be an addition to VW’s burgeoning SUV line-up.
Earlier spy images suggested the seven-seater would carry the look first seen on the Crossblue concept of 2013; the latest images showing the car in its entirety confirm the final model stays true to the concept’s design.
The Teramont gets distinct features such as a muscular bonnet and squared-off wheel arches that give it a rugged appearance. Size-wise, the Teramont will be quite close to the Audi Q7. The new VW SUV is 5,039mm long, 1,989mm wide and 1,773mm tall making it around 13 mm shorter than a Q7 but wider by about 20mm. The wheelbase measures a lengthy 2,980mm.
The 2013 Crossblue concept had a 190hp 2.0-litre diesel engine supported by two electric motors – a 55hp unit situated next to the combustion engine at the front, and a 116hp one mounted at the rear. Together, the three power sources provided a combined power of around 306hp and a peak torque figure of 699.60Nm. Energy for the electric motors was supplied by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which was mounted in the floor of the cargo area.
A hybrid drivetrain similar to this is expected to be included in the Teramont’s engine line-up, alongside the more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines. For the Chinese market, the large SUV will be powered by a choice of 2.0-litre turbocharged engines though select markets are also expected to get a V6 powerplant as one of the images leaked previously showed the SUV sporting a 'V6' badge on its rear.
As standard, the Teramont will be front-driven, with four-wheel drive available as an option. It could be offered as standard on the most powerful models. Volkswagen hasn’t revealed when the SUV will go into production, but it is expected to make its debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China later this year.
A sportier Crossblue Coupe, as previewed by Volkswagen's Shanghai 2013 concept, could be produced in the future.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
