The new product will be offered with two engines to choose from. The drive is most likely exclusively front-wheel drive. The model will hit the market before the end of the year.
Certification images of this crossover produced by the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture were found in the database of the Ministry of Industry of the People's Republic of China last week. And now the company has released official images. In the Middle Kingdom, the model received the name Tharu XR; the SUV is positioned as the younger brother of the “simply” Tharu (analogous to the Russian defunct VW Taos). In reality, what we have in front of us is a restyled Chinese Volkswagen T-Cross. By the way, a year ago the Chinese pulled a trick with the appearance of a more affordable version of the VW Lavida sedan: then the joint venture brought to the market the Lavida XR, that is, a variation of the Virtus.
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The crossover intended for China distinguished itself not only with a new name — it has its own design, and the Tharu XR is not similar to the restyled versions of the T-Cross for Europe and South America. So, the SUV got original bumpers, headlights and taillights. In addition, there are horizontal dams at the front — in the style of the new generation Chinese VW Tiguan L Pro. Inserts have appeared in the rear roof pillars — this is already in the likeness of the VW Taigun (Indian version of the T-Cross). Customers will also be offered Tharu XR with a black exterior decor instead of a chrome finish (it is the “darkened” design that is captured in the company pictures).
The length of the SUV is 4351 mm, which is 133 mm longer than the current T-Cross for China. The width of the Tharu XR is 1762 mm (+2 mm compared to the local T-Cross), height – 1605 mm (+6 mm). Wheelbase is the same 2651 mm. Dimensions of the true Tharu: 4458/1841/1632 mm, distance between axles – 2680 mm
The interior has not yet been shown. It is possible that a new multimedia system tablet and climate control unit were installed inside, and the finishing materials could also be replaced.
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SAIC Volkswagen has confirmed that, like the pre-reform T-Cross, the Tharu XR SUV will be available with two petrol engines to choose from: a naturally aspirated 1.5 (110 hp) and a 160-horsepower turbo engine of the same volume. The previous crossover did not have all-wheel drive, so the model with the new design is also most likely exclusively front-wheel drive. The larger “simply” Tharu is equipped with turbo fours 1.5 (160 hp) and 2.0 (186 hp), the cross with a two-liter engine has all-wheel drive.
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The presentation of the Volkswagen Tharu XR will be held in the coming months. An old T-Cross in China now costs from 115,900 yuan (about 1.36 million rubles at the current exchange rate), and a real VW Tharu will cost at least 158,600 yuan (1.87 million rubles).