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The Citizen
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Volkswagen's new compact SUV gears up for Africa, with a new name you can vote for
Volkswagen's new compact SUV gears up for Africa, with a new name you can vote for Volkswagen has been in the process of adding the Tera compact SUV to its global line-up, with assembly for a locally produced iteration scheduled to begin at its Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape by late 2026 or early 2027. The only caveat is that it won't be called the Tera here… Looking for a new or used Volkswagen? Find it here with CARmag! Last week, Volkswagen sold 12 000 Tera units in 50 minutes during its launch day in Brazil. The event spanned the extent of the country, across all Volkswagen dealerships, which generated millions of rands worth of revenue. Volkswagen Group Africa will want to replicate this success when it unveils the locally produced SUV across the continent, and has officially kicked off with a campaign to imbue the forthcoming model with a more appropriate name for the African market. The move is backed by a R4b investment and marks the brand's attempt to gain ground in the competitive entry-level SUV market. While the vehicle is known as the 'Tera' in other regions, Volkswagen South Africa has confirmed it will adopt a unique name for the local market. The company has opened a public poll to select from four shortlisted names: Tengo, Tavi, Tiva and Tion. Each name was chosen for its cultural or linguistic significance, and the final decision will reflect feedback from local voters. Place your vote here. Related: VW's Kariega Plant Will Pause Production in 2025 For R4 Billion Investment of Tera SUV The forthcoming model will be an alternative to the T-Cross, giving buyers a more affordable option in Volkswagen's SUV line-up. It's expected to compete with similarly priced models from brands like Renault Captur and Chery Tiggo 4, all of which have gained traction with budget-conscious buyers. Underneath, the SUV will use the same MQB-A0 platform as the Polo and T-Cross. That means it will likely share some design elements and interior tech, including Volkswagen's latest infotainment systems and digital driver displays. In terms of engines, the 1l, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit is expected to be the main option. Final pricing and full specifications will only be announced closer to the model's launch in 2027, but the local production and platform-sharing suggest Volkswagen is aiming for a competitive price point to appeal to a wide range of buyers. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Volkswagen Hands Over To SA To Select Locally Produced SUV's Name appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Volkswagen asks South Africans to choose a name for its new SUV: these are the four options
Tengo, Tavi, Tiva or Tion? What will VWSA call its new budget SUV? Image: Supplied Volkswagen South Africa is planning to build a new entry-level SUV at its Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape from 2027. Although the local division hasn't officially unveiled the product, all the evidence is pointing to it being closely based on the new Volkswagen Tera, a product of Brazil. VWSA CEO Martina Biene previously told the media that the product would be adapted for the African market and would also receive a unique name. Now it's time for South Africans to choose that name, with the company posting an online survey calling on members of the public to choose between four names: Tengo, Tavi, Tiva and Tion. The new vehicle was developed in Brazil, but will have local adaptations. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The fact that they all start with a 'T' is no surprise, of course, as this is the naming convention for all of Volkswagen's current SUVs. But the four options are not just random alphabet soup: VWSA has put a great deal of thought into the names and the meaning behind them: Tengo: Signifies rich cultural significance in African languages and describes qualities like strength, resilience and purpose. Tavi: A gender neutral word meaning good or beloved. In Latin, it also means eight. Tiva: This word means nature in Hebrew and is also associated with vitality, life, and energy. Tion: Signifies aesthetic appeal and evokes a sense of movement and change. You can CLICK HERE to cast your vote, but be responsible with it. Volkswagen's Polo was almost called the Bonito or the Mini Golf, as we touched on in our recent story on the Polo's interesting history. For the record, most IOL team members voted for 'Tion' in our internal poll, although all four names received votes. What to expect from the new SUV VWSA has already completed the necessary upgrades to its Kariega plant, to build the new 'AO SUV Entry' model, as it is code-named. Built on the MQB-AO platform, beneath the skin, it is closely related to the current Polo hatchback, albeit with unique interior and exterior styling and a taller stance. plied The interior bears some resemblance to the latest Tiguan and T-Cross models. Image: Supplied plied The interior bears some resemblance to the latest Tiguan and T-Cross models. Image: Supplied The Brazilian version is offered with normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. While the 1.0 TSI is practically a given for local introduction, it's likely that South Africa's entry-level models will use the current normally aspirated 1.4-litre MPI engine, which is locally produced. In terms of pricing, the new model will slot beneath the T-Cross, which currently starts at R399,900. This new SUV's success will be crucial to the future of the Kariega plant, as the current Polo, which is exported to major markets such as Europe in prolific volumes, is likely to be discontinued at the end of this decade. Although the new SUV will be exported into Africa, it remains unclear whether the locally built model will be shipped beyond the continent. IOL
