Volkswagen unveiled the Taigun compact SUV last year, a vehicle which it plans to sell in emerging markets like Brazil and India. The German car maker might launch the Taigun in India in the next couple of years. Since Volkswagen owns Skoda, the Czech automaker comes up with its own version of Volkswagen cars. Just like the Rapid is actually the Vento, the Laura is the Jetta and the Citigo is the Up!. Thus there is little doubt that Skoda will bring its own version of the Taigun.
Volkswagen hasn’t been doing very well in India, as the market is in doldrums and only UVs are showing decent sales. Same is the case with Skoda. One thing is common between both companies, the lack of an affordable SUV. The Duster has changed Renault’s balance sheet overnight and similar things could happen to Skoda when they launch a compact SUV. Our rendering of the Skoda compact SUV shows the vehicle to be very SUV like in appearance, although it might not have 4-wheel drive.
Although there are no names for Skoda’s Taigun, we can temporily call it as compact Yeti or junior Yeti. This vehicle will draw power from small displacement engines, including a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor which belts out 110 BHP and 175 Nm. Skoda could offer its compact SUV with the upcoming 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine which is expected to produce around 95 BHP of power. The Skoda compact SUV should be priced around Rs. 8-10 lakhs, competing against the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport.
