by Announcement of the New Volkswagen T-Roc
Volkswagen plans to unveil the next generation of the T-Roc at the Munich Motor Show in September. This event remains important in the automotive calendar, despite the overall reduction of Western auto shows after the COVID-19 pandemic. The second generation of the compact SUV will be available with internal combustion engines, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.
Design and Exterior
The published image of the T-Roc shows a black prototype covered in bright yellow text. Although the model is only shown from the side, it is obvious that this is the same car whose photos appeared online earlier this year. Those photos revealed a completely updated front end with a large black honeycomb-shaped radiator grille, sharp headlights, and an LED light strip. The rear has also undergone numerous changes, including new LED taillights.
Significance for the European Market
Although the T-Roc is not sold in the United States, it is an extremely important model for Volkswagen in Europe. It consistently ranks among the most popular cars on the continent, often competing in sales volume with models like the Golf, Renault Clio, and Dacia Sandero. Therefore, the new generation must win customer loyalty, otherwise, VW’s European problems could deepen.
Variety of Powertrains
In addition to conventional internal combustion engines, Volkswagen will offer the new T-Roc with a full hybrid system, which will also be available in the Golf and Tiguan. This system combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor that can power the rear wheels independently or work together with the engine, functioning on a principle similar to Toyota’s approach, where the system can switch between gasoline, electric, or combined mode as needed.
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer noted that this hybrid version will be particularly important in South America. “We needed to do this anyway because South America has a need for a hybrid powertrain – and the T-Roc is produced in South America for South America, as well as in China. Interestingly, hybrids have also become a big topic specifically in the USA. It’s a technology that everyone said was no longer needed, but now with the slowdown in electric vehicle development in the USA, the balance [is shifting] in favor of hybrids.”
Electric Version
The electric version of the T-Roc will be built on Volkswagen’s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), becoming only the second model to use this architecture. It will provide ultra-fast charging and Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities.
The unveiling of the new T-Roc comes at a critical time for Volkswagen, as the automaker tries to adapt to different regional markets and their energy needs. The variety of powertrains reflects the company’s global approach, attempting to satisfy both traditional ICE enthusiasts and those ready to transition to electrified technologies. The success of this model in Europe could be an indicator of how effectively Volkswagen manages to balance between different types of transport in a changing environment.
