Volkswagen has taken a further step in the development of its first compact utility vehicle, the Taigun. The company has recently released information that the Taigun, which was formerly a concept, will enter in its initial development phase soon. If everything will stay on track as per the development schedule, the Taigun will be launched by Volkswagen in 2016. The compact-SUV is not intended to be introduced in the US market as Volkswagen doubts its success there because of its compact dimensions and smaller capacity engine that are unfavourable to the US customers.
The Volkswagen Taigun will be based on the New Small Family platform structure (PQ12) that also underpins Volkswagen’s small hatchback, the Up!. The Taigun will be offered in both petrol and diesel options. The petrol motors are expected to be a 1.2-litre TSI engine along with the 1.6-litre petrol motor derived from Vento sedan. The diesel is more likely to be a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine that has been employed in the Polo. The drivetrain will power the front wheels only. Volkswagen has no any plans to launch a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive variant as the company wants to make the product economically competitive.
The Volkswagen Taigun will be a sub 4-metre vehicle and will be slightly longer than the version you are seeing in these images. The model is expected to enter the production phase by 2015-end. The market for compact-SUVs is booming in Asian and European countries. Thus India will be one of the first markets to get the Taigun besides the commencement of its RHD (right hand drive) model production here in India.
The LHD (left hand drive) configuration of the Taigun will be assembled at Volkswagen’s manufacturing facility situated in São Paulo, Brazil. The potential rival of the Volkswagen Taigun will be the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, upcoming Nissan Terrano and Maruti Suzuki XA-Alpha along with Honda’s C-SUV (based on Urban Concept) in the Indian market. Volkswagen’s built quality doesn’t need any introduction and if the company prices its baby SUV aggressively, the Taigun will be a perfect nemesis for its rivals.
Source – Autoweek
