A new crossover is set to join the local lineup of Volkswagen Philippines, as the German automaker has just released a new teaser photo.

While the image doesn’t reveal much about the vehicle, it showcases the grille and headlight design. This will help us narrow down the choices once we look at the brand’s international lineup of cars.

The Volkswagen Tharu

A quick look at the Volkswagen global website reveals that the teaser image could be for the Volkswagen Tharu or Taos, depending on which market you look at. It is similar in design to the currently available Volkswagen T-Cross but has larger dimensions.

It measures 4,458mm long, 1,841mm wide, and 1,632mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,680mm. The Tharu is 240mm longer, 81 mm wider, and 33mm taller than its T-Cross sibling. It means that the 2024 Volkswagen Tharu could end up competing in the compact crossover segment in the Philippines.

Power for the Tharu could come from two sources; the first is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 158 PS and 250 Nm of torque, while the other is a 2.0-liter turbocharged motor that pushes out 184 PS and 320 Nm of torque. Both engine options come with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. 

While getting the 2.0-liter motor would be ideal, Volkswagen Philippines may bring in the smaller powerplant to help keep it affordable. 

We don’t know how Volkswagen Philippines will equip the Tharu for the local market, but we suppose it will come with a large 10-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay. It may also come with Carbit Link or Baidu Carlife to allow Android users to connect with the touchscreen. 

As it is a SAIC Motor Volkswagen joint product, we could expect to see it come with advanced driver aids.

Is it a case of being too little too late or right on time for the upcoming launch of the Volkswagen Tharu?

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