Volkswagen Taigun concept SUV builds on the New Small Family platform

 

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Posted on 23 Oct 2012 at 10:24, by Gareth Halfacree

Volkswagen has announced a new concept car, the Taigun, with which it hopes to gauge public reaction before planning a commercialised variant.

The VW Taigun is based on the New Small Family (NSF) platform, previously seen in the Volkswagen up!. As a result, the sport utility vehicle (SUV) concept is compact - measuring just 3.86m long and 1.73m wide - but spacious internally thanks to a generous 2.47m wheelbase and short overhangs.

Underneath the bonnet is a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharger petrol engine, based on the latest EA211 series, offering 110PS of peak power output at 5,000rpm and pushing 175Nm of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox. A combination of direct fuel injection and turbocharging technologies lead to a claimed fuel consumption in the combined cycle of 60.1mpg, while the vehicle is capable of sprinting from 0mph to 62mph in 9.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 115mph.

Externally, the Taigun is designed along the same lines as Volkswagen's Tiguan and Touareg with rugged side panels, underbody protection and roof rails with LED spotlights. Wide tracks - 1,473mm front and rear - give the Taigun a purposeful appearance, while 17in alloy wheels with 205/50 R17 tyres, high ground clearance and the engine's impressive torque give it off-road capabilities.

Despite this, Volkswagen claims to be target the urban market with the Taigun: a high driving position gives an optimum view in traffic, while the 280-litre loadspace can be increased to 987 litres with the rear seats folded down. Loading is made easier by a split tailgate with the top two-thirds opening upwards and the bottom third folding down.

Internally, the controls are pared back to a minimum: the front air nozzles control both the direction and the speed and temperature of the blower, displayed within the nozzle, while the central infotainment system can connect to most smartphones through an intuitive interface.

Thus far, Volkswagen hasn't made a decision on producing a commercial version of the Taigun concept, stating that it will be "monitoring public reaction to this vehicle before taking a decision on whether to put the Taigun into production."