The Volkswagen Tiguan has only been in production for a little under three years but a facelift for the compact SUV is planned. The changes are designed to bring the styling of the Tiguan in line with the rest of Volkswagen family. Other models that have already recieved the same corporate styling treatment include the 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton flagship sedan and the 2011 VolkswagenTouareg SUV.

The changes to the Tiguan will be mainly cosmetic, with a redesigned front grille and new bumpers, plus a more pedestrian-friendly shaped bonnet. As the spy shots reveal, the rear of the Tiguan will remain mostly unchanged although there could be some minor revisions to the lights.

The powertrain lineup will also likely be revitalized, with a range of more fuel-efficient engines introduced in-line with more stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations. A hybrid variant may also be introduced, though its release wouldn’t be for several years still and possibly not until the launch of the second-generation of the model.

Expect to see the facelifted Tiguan arrive in showrooms early next year as a 2011 model, with a world debut pegged for October's 2010 Paris Auto Show.