VW’s new compact SUV to be named the ‘Tengo’

VW’s new compact SUV to be named the ‘Tengo’

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Instead of sitting back and watching the Chinese marques take over the market share, Volkswagen thought it was better to strike back with the introduction of a small SUV that will be built at VW Group Africa’s Kariega plant, alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo models. 

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While this new model is known as the Tera in markets like Brazil and Argentina, VW GA made it clear that the local version will carry a different name. At the time of announcing its plans for a third locally-built SUV, the brand also revealed a massive R4 billion investment into the Kariega plant to gear up for production, which is set to kick off in 2027.

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While little has been said about the SUV, including its name, VW GA recently opened a public poll to select from shortlisted names: Tengo, Tavi, Tiva and Tion. And finally, the name that received the most votes is Tengo – a name that carries deep cultural significance in several African languages, symbolising qualities like power, resilience, and ambition. 

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The naming convention doesn’t come as a surprise since the current SUV and crossover range begins with the letter ‘T’ (T-Cross, Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tayron and Touareg. Interestingly, the local production team is working closely with VW in Brazil for the development of the Tengo, which will likely share similar aesthetics with the Tera pictured here. 

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While Volkswagen hasn’t revealed much about the upcoming model just yet, the Tengo is expected to launch with a variety of trim levels tailored to suit a broad range of buyers. When it finally goes on sale in 2027, it will likely adopt VW’s typical spec line-up, think Base, Life, Style, and the sportier R-Line. As for what’s under the bonnet, expect a familiar mixture of naturally aspirated and TSI turbocharged engines, mirroring the setups seen in other models within VW’s small-car family.

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Small SUVs are a big deal in South Africa right now, with Chinese brands dominating the segment thanks to their value-packed offerings. That’s why the upcoming Tengo is such an important model for the brand locally. If it can match the quality and appeal of the Tera seen overseas, the Tengo could be the breakthrough VW needs to claw back market share in this highly competitive space. 

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