VOLKSWAGEN is about to offer its most powerful Tiguan SUV which has more power on tap than the current iconic Golf GTI.

It is fitted with the new 240bhp bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel, designated BiTDI, which offers an increase of 30bhp over the previous most powerful Tiguan, the 2.0 TSI seen in the previous generation of the car.

The bi-turbo engine is similar to that offered in the current Volkswagen Passat and Passat Alltrack, and has a high-performance cylinder head and two-stage turbo charger.

It comes as standard with Volkswagen's 4MOTION four-wheel drive system which gives it prodigious performance in the mainstream SUV market.

The BiTDI is capable of reaching 142 mph and has a sprint time from rest to 62 mph in just 6.5 seconds.

The SUV also includes a start/stop system and battery regeneration which, together, contribute to a COâ figure of just 167g/km.

As well as the new diesel engine the most powerful of the Tiguan's three petrol engines is also now being released.

The 2.0 TSI 180bhp Tiguan is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmission.

It is also offered as standard with 4MOTION four-wheel drive and offers a top speed of 129 mph, 0-62 mph time of 7.7 seconds and a COâ figure of 170g/km.

Both new Tiguan engines are available the range-topping SEL or R-Line trims.

The Tiguan SEL comes with Volkswagen's Discover Navigation infotainment and satellite navigation system, which includes an eight-inch colour touch-screen as standard.

Other standard kit includes adaptive cruise control which uses radar to govern the distance to the car ahead automatically and what VW calls an active info display - a 12.3-inch high-resolution TFT screen located within the binnacle and replacing conventional analogue instruments.

The addition of the two new engine options in Tiguan completes the model's seven-strong power plant range, which now extends from 1.4 TSI 125bhp to 2.0 BiTDI 240bhp.

The Tiguan SEL 2.0 TSI 180 six-speed manual 4MOTION is priced from £30,540 while the Tiguan SEL 2.0 BiTDI 240 seven-speed DSG 4MOTION costs from £36,450.

The new engines in R-Line trim cost from £32,855 for the 2.0 TSI 180 to £38,640 for the 2.0 BiTDI.