Volkswagen has formally revealed an intention to join the burgeoning junior SUV ranks by unveiling a concept that hints at a future production model at the Sao Paulo motor show in Brazil. Called the Taigun, the compact four-seater is expected to be priced below the Tiguan when launched globally around 2015.
The production model will provide the base for a whole new family of similar-sized offerings from Audi, Seat and Skoda. Ulrich Hackenberg, VW’s R&D chief, told Autocar that the compact SUV would be sold across VW’s global markets.
The Taigun is based on a stretched version of the VW Up’s NSF (new small family) platform. At 3859mm in length, 1728mm in width and 1570mm in height, the Taigun is 566mm shorter, 82mm narrower and 130mm lower than the Tiguan. The concept is not four-wheel drive, as the NSF platform currently only supports front-wheel drive.
VW design chief Klaus Bischoff describes the new SUV’s appearance as “confident, logical and clean”. Its styling is more rugged and technical than the Tiguan, and represents what will be the face of VW’s future SUVs.
The interior of the Taigun has, according to Bischoff, been inspired by the latest smart phones, with a clean and reduced look that aims to provide the sort of visual clarity and simplicity of operation associated with early workhorse off-roaders, albeit with modern day levels of quality and finish.
Power for the concept comes from the same 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with 108bhp and 17.83kgm as the upcoming Up GT. Drive is channelled through a six-speed manual gearbox. The 985kg Taigun can do 0-100kph in 9.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 187kph.