news

Volkswagen Taigun mini SUV : second iteration concept receives several tweaks

The Volkswagen Taigun concept baby SUV has been shown in "near-production" guise bearing a number of changes over the original version at the 2014 Delhi auto show.


The second iteration of the tiny Taigun concept comes 15 months after the original version debuted at the Sao Paolo motor show in 2012, and the changes are chiefly focused on the back end of the car.

There's a newly designed boot section with an exterior-mounted spare wheel, which may appear to be yet another idea borrowed from the Ford EcoSport - yes, the orange hue is very close to the blue oval brand's - but the VW's boot lid offers a clever double functionality. The glass top section can be opened independently of the main tailgate, which swings open towards the driver's side.

Volkswagen says this design change was "exactly the solution our future drivers wished for in the new Taigun", claiming "fast access to the spare wheel without having to empty the boot first" was a must for potential buyers of the Taigun, which is expected to be sold in developing markets such as India and Brazil ahead of the rest of the world.

Measuring 3995mm long including the spare wheel, 1728mm wide, 1570mm tall (1605mm with roof rails) and with a wheelbase of 2470mm, the Taigun is essentially a size smaller than Ford's Indian-built model.

Inside, Volkswagen says the Taigun's cockpit shows how an affordable SUV could look, with its four-seat layout boasting neat, simple presentation. The boot space is 280 litres - about the same as a light hatchback - but expands to 996L when the rear seats are folded down.

The Taigun concept is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 81kW of power and 175Nm of torque, with average fuel use claimed at 4.7L/100km and an approximate running range of 1000km. Volkswagen says it hit a top speed of 186km/h under testing in Germany, and that the 998kg concept can jump from 0-100km/h in 9.2 seconds. The car is front-wheel drive, with a six-speed manual transmission.

The Taigun concept rides on 17-inch alloys and boasts high ground clearance, and is fitted with disc brakes all around and electronic stability control.

There's no word yet on when a production-ready version of the Taigun will debut, though reports have suggested it could be on sale by 2015. We'd expect the actual production version to be shown relatively soon given the statement at the conclusion of the brand's media release:

"The response of the Indian trade-fair visitors and the Indian media is something Volkswagen awaits with great excitement – their feedback will also be incorporated into the final conception of the production model."

MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent