Volkswagen may introduce Tiguan TDI in North America for 2015

[ahmed_7erzon]

Volkswagen has long been offering diesel-powered cars in Canada and the United States, but SUVs and crossovers are a different story. A number of consumers would love to benefit from the TDI engine's extra torque and fuel economy, though.

This week, VW executives confirmed to Automobile Magazine their desire to launch a turbodiesel-equipped Tiguan in North America for 2015, when the next-generation model is scheduled.

For now, it's only a wish. Some key hurdles remain in the way. Contrary to the notion that Americans hate diesel, the lack of a Tiguan TDI this side of the Atlantic isn’t because customers don’t want one. It's essentially a matter of production costs and the automaker's capacity to build enough units to supply the market.

The TDI engine currently used in Europe would require significant changes, including the addition of new components, in order to meet North American emission standards. More specifically, a urea-based catalyst system (AdBlue) would have to replace the nitrous oxide storage canister found on the smaller TDI models. This sounds like a good idea for the big Touareg, but one that could push the smaller Tiguan's price to an uncompetitive point.

Furthermore, Volkswagen may not be able to produce a sufficient amount of vehicles for North American customers after catering to Germany and the rest of Europe. Since most Tiguans sold over there are fitted with the diesel, it makes sense for VW to feed its home market first.

Still, none of these obstacles are insurmountable. R&D efforts to lower engine costs along with various investments in TDI plants could very well help North American drivers finally get their hands on a diesel-powered crossover.