Volkswagen India has unveiled the Taigun SUV concept, ahead of the 2020 Auto Expo. The carmaker will showcase the concept model at its stall during the much-awaited car show. The Taigun concept previews a production model that VW will launch next year. The production-spec VW Taigun in India will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier, Kia Seltos, and MG Hector.
It is worth noting that the VW Group has also revealed the Skoda Vision IN concept. The production version coming out of the Vision IN will closely resemble the Taigun production version, primarily in the mechanical department. Both these models will be the first cars to be launched in India to come with the group’s MQB A0 IN platform. This platform is claimed to have been especially developed for the Indian market and will underpin a variety of models coming from the two brands.
The VW Taigun is still a concept. However, VW authorities have confirmed that the production model will carry forward majority of the design cues shown in the concept. While the design looks similar to the T-Cross SUV that is on sale in some international markets, the Taigun for India has been tweaked for Indian customer preferences. Hence, it has a 100 m longer wheelbase, and a 205 mm of ground clearance.
Design of the Taigun is quite sharp, agressive, and boxy. The front gets a vertical nose, projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, and a lot of chrome. Being a concept, the SUV gets large shiny wheels. However, it is highly unlikely that the same will be carried forward to the production model. Meanwhile, the rear end is characterized by a LED light guide that spans across the width of the SUV and joins the LED tail lamps on either side.
VW aims to strike the heart strings of young car buyers in India with the launch of the Taigun SUV. As a result, it will come with advanced features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electronic sunroof, and connectivity features. The automaker is also stressing heavily on the safety aspect of the SUV. It is worth noting that the Latin-spec T-Cross has already earned a 5-star safety rating from Latin NCAP. We thus hope the closely matches Taigun is also similarly equipped in the safety aspect.
Under the hood, the production-spex Taigun is expected to come with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine putting out close to 130 PS of power. The talking point of this engine will be cylinder deactivation technology, which will shut down one of the four cylinders when the car doesn’t need high power. This will limit fuel consumption and thus enhance the SUV’s economy. This will be beneficial for the pocket-friendly image of the Taigun as VW has no plans to introduce a diesel engine with the SUV.