Volkswagen teases new mini-SUV in the USA

VW Group North America has posted a teaser pic of an unidentifiable compact-sized crossover SUV set to go live on October 13, 2020. It looks like the German automaker wants to bring its Tarek/Tharu to the United States.

Despite the tender feelings that people in the U.S. tend to harbor towards utility vehicles, the local Volkswagen lineup only includes three such models: Tiguan, Atlas (a.k.a. Teramont) and Atlas Cross Sport (five-seater). The Tiguan starts from $24,945, and the new compact should prove more affordable than that.

In all likelihood, we will be seeing a car powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine burning gasoline for 186 hp (139 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). China-spec Tharu uses such a mill in tandem with a seven-speed DSG and 4Motion AWD.

VW revealed the Powerful Family SUV Concept in China two years ago, later nicknamed “Volks-SUV”. It eventually turned into a worldwide model named Tarek, known in China as Tharu. The latter is 4,453 mm (14.61 ft.) long, 1,841 mm (6.04 ft.) wide and 1,632 mm (5.35 ft.) tall with 2,680 mm (8.79 ft.) between the axles. The U.S. spec will be assembled in Mexico.