THIS is the production spec Volkswagen Taigun
The wait’s over. Kushaq’s cousin is coming to have its share of the CUV pie!
By the People, For the People. It won’t be wrong to say that the Volkswagen Group is pretty much living by these words under the Volkswagen’s India 2.0 strategy. Under their localisation drive, we saw their Skoda Kushaq being unveiled just some time back, and now the VW Taigun is here to pair up with its cousin. But, the sales figures aren’t doing anything to make them wanna stay in India!
Volkswagen has just pulled the wraps off their production-spec made-in-India SUV, the 2021 Taigun. It’s the second model to be based on the VW Group’s MQB-A0-IN platform, after Kushaq and will only come with turbo-petrol engines. The German C-SUV will be launched by August 2021 and will come with a GT Line trim with sportier cosmetic enhancements to lure enthusiasts. Along with its BFAM, Kushaq, the Taigun will face the South Korean cousin duo – Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
The production-spec Taigun looks quite similar to the concept displayed at Auto Expo 2020 with a few minor changes here and there. Unlike the concept-design, the SUV will now get 19-inches wheels instead of the 205/55 R17 units.
Another change (and it’s a much-welcomed one) now see the removed honeycomb mesh decal on the C-pillar. The rest of the design elements are the same as seen on the prototype at the last Auto Expo. This includes the auto LED headlamps, LED tail lamps with the signature light strip connecting the pair, faux front and rear skid plates and a whole lot of chrome throughout the body (even on the bumper, yes). The straight creases that run from the front fenders to the tail-lights make the car look sharp.
Just like the exteriors, the Taigun’s interior looks a lot like the concept. It gets a 10-inch touchscreen with touch-based air-con controls (the same unit seen on the Skoda Kushaq), ventilated seats, a digital cockpit, ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers and connected features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto.
Taigun will come with the robust German build quality alongside 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, tyre pressure deflation warning, ESC & Hill Hold Assist (standard across all variants). Its dimensions are yet to be disclosed, but the Taigun should be similar to the Kushaq considering both models share the same underframe.
On the mechanical front, the Taigun will get the same pair of 115 hp 1.0 TSI and 150hp 1.5 TSI engines along with the gearboxes as the Kushaq. The 1.0-litre motor will be mated to a six-speed manual and six-speed torque converter, while the 1.5 litre will more likely be provided in the GT variant with a 7-speed DSG. The torque figures will stand around at 175 Nm for the non-GT variant and 250 Nm for the GT.
With 95% localisation, we expect the Taigun to be priced very competitively, maybe between Rs. 10-17 lakh (but we’ll have to wait till August to know the exact figures).
