At the Auto Expo 2014 (5–11 February) in New Delhi, Volkswagen will present an advanced version of the near-production concept of the Taigun SUV. Compared to the first conceptual design – presented in São Paulo, Brazil – the new sport utility vehicle features a new rear section with outside-mounted spare wheel.
And this is exactly the solution our future drivers wished for in the new Taigun. Background: the popularity of the version of the concept shown in São Paulo was simply overwhelming Nonetheless, Volkswagen took the opportunity to analyse feedback from around the world to adapt the new SUV ideally to customers’ wishes. One of these wishes: fast access to the spare wheel without having to empty the boot first. The advanced version of the SUV concept now meets this demand.
The Taigun is 3,859 mm long; with mounted spare wheel, it is 3,995 mm; the width of the SUV is 1,728 mm and the height 1,570 mm (with roof rails 1,605 mm). Between the front and rear bumpers, the vehicle sports a wheelbase of 2,470 mm, which is large in relation to its exterior length. Consequence: short overhangs and appealing proportions. Meanwhile, in the spacious interior, the concept car shows how Volkswagen imagines a sophisticated, versatile and compact SUV at affordable prices should be.
The four-seat Taigun is powered by a new and fuel-efficient 1.0-litre TSI engine (turbocharged, direct injection petrol engine) with 81 kW / 110 PS (from 5,000/min). Average fuel consumption is just 4.7 l/100km (110 g/km CO2). This enables a range of around 1,000 kilometres (with a fuel tank capacity of 50 litres). The direct-injection turbocharged engine of the Taigun extends the range of the three-cylinder petrol engines based on the EA211 engine series by adding a configuration with direct fuel injection plus turbocharging technology, thus opening a new chapter in Volkswagen’s downsizing strategy. The engine is very fuel-efficient, and it offers high torque at low engine revs (175 Nm from 1,500/min). The concept vehicle (weight: 998 kg) accelerates to 100 km/h in just 9.2 seconds with the new engine. On the “Autobahns” of the country in which it was developed, namely Germany, which essentially do not have a speed limit, the Taigun would reach a top speed of 186 km/h. The engine is combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The Taigun, which is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and size 205/50 R17 tyres, is adept at handling off-road terrain thanks to its high engine torque and high ground clearance. Nonetheless, the Volkswagen was clearly designed for the urban environment. Wherever it is used, the SUV utilises powerful disc brakes. Also providing a plus in active safety is the ESC electronic stabilisation programme which significantly reduces the risk of skidding.
The high seat position is typical of an SUV and is based on the desire of many customers to drive a car with optimal comfort in entry and exit and to have the best possible visibility in traffic. Headroom in front is 1,036 mm, while it is 980 mm in the rear seating area; in addition, the vehicle’s long legroom ensures excellent comfort in the rear seating area. The driver’s workspace can be optimally adjusted for every body height; the steering wheel, for example, can be adjusted in height over an angle of 25 degrees.
