The Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept hybrid has been revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, but despite the fuss the Range Rover Sport Hybrid and Outlander PHEV already exist…

THE VOLKSWAGEN Tiguan GTE Active Concept hybrid has been revealed at the Detroit Motor Show which VW claims is the “forbearer of an entirely new generation of SUVs”. Only the Range Rover Sport Hybrid already exists, so that’s not exactly correct… And don’t try and make out the VW is a plug-in hybrid and so it’s different, because the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of them, so…

Anyway, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept runs two electric motors and an engine and can run for 32km on battery power, but the Outlander PHEV has a bigger range. With its 64-litre fuel tank its range is around 900km. It can run in either two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive via the press of a button.

“After starting the drive system, the concept car always drives at first as a zero emissions vehicle in the all-electric E-mode. Normally, it is driven by the rear wheels, but if there is a risk of traction loss, the front wheels are engaged too within fractions of a second. All four wheels are also activated when the driver selects 4MOTION Active Control of the all-wheel drive or off-road programs. Then too, the Tiguan GTE Active Concept starts up in all-wheel drive and with zero emissions (provided of course that the battery is sufficiently charged),” Volkswagen said.

But what’s most interesting about this concept car is that it will arrive in the US in early 2017, although that model will have a longer wheelbase and seven seats. “For Volkswagen, the new Tiguan marks the kickoff of an SUV product offensive – the range of SUVs offered will be significantly expanded, especially in North America.”

The Tiguan GTE Active Concept gets Front Assist including City Emergency Braking and pedestrian monitoring, an active bonnet, Lane Assist and the automatic post-collision braking system. It also gets a new infotainment system with gesture control.

There’s no word yet on whether this new plug-in hybrid SUV will make it Down Under, but we’ll let you know as soon as we hear something.