Volkswagen Philippines announced that the Tharu will be making its local debut on September 29, a vehicle that was teased by the car brand last month.
In fact, Volkswagen Philippines confirmed that the first batch of Tharu units has already arrived in the country, and it will be available in two variants, the entry-level SE and the top-of-the-line SEL. Aside from the variant options, Volkswagen PH has yet to share more details about its upcoming model.
The Tharu is a compact crossover that’s set to go up against the likes of the Ford Territory, GAC Emkoo, MG HS, and Toyota Corolla Cross, among others. As such, it slots a step higher than the smaller T-Cross when you take into consideration Volkswagen’s local model lineup.
In China, the Tharu is powered by either a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine or a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline. But, it’s more likely that the Philippine-spec Volkswagen Tharu will be equipped with a 1.5-liter turbo gas power unit since it adheres to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four gasoline engine delivers 158 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The engine is then connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.
Based on the initial photos shared by Volkswagen Philippines, the top-spec Tharu SEL could come with two-tone alloy wheels that feature red accents. The roof rails, roof, and spoiler of the SEL trim all come in black, which sort of gives the top-spec Tharu a two-tone exterior finish.
The top-spec Tharu SEL also has a silver trim on the rear bumper as compared to the all-black finish seen on the SE variant. Another thing to note is that the SEL trim could come with a gloss black on the bumper while the SE has chrome. Moreover, standard on all Tharu PH-spec variants is the illuminated VW rear badging. The PH-spec Volkswagen Tharu could also come with LED headlights.
No interior photos were shared as of this writing, but the Chinese-spec Volkswagen Tharu features a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as well as a 10-inch digital instrument cluster.
Volkswagen Philippines did confirm that the Tharu will be offered in the following exterior colors: Pure White, Mangan Grey, Petroleum Blue, and Polytech Blue.
The 2024 Volkswagen Tharu will be making its official PH debut on September 29. The car brand will also be holding a public display of the Tharu from September 30 to October 1 at the Karrera Café in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Interested individuals can even test drive the Volkswagen Tharu on the said dates.
Get more of the latest automotive news in Philkotse.