VOLKSWAGEN TAIGUN
Volkswagen is kicking off 2021 with one of its most important launches, and we cannot wait!
We’ve been looking forward to the Volkswagen Taigun for almost a year now and finally, the Cretarivalling SUV is around the corner. We tell you what to expect from the first Volkswagen based on the MQBA0-IN platform
VOLKSWAGEN IS TAKING INDIA very seriously. After a flurry of launches that included the updated Polo and Vento with the new 1.0 TSI engine, came the brand’s flagship in India, the Tiguan Allspace. We are now gearing up towards the reveal of the first of the India 2.0 cars — the Taigun. The mid-size SUV is part of Volkswagen’s SUVW offensive — a totally focused charge to bring in more SUVs to India. Volkswagen first announced this campaign at the 2020 Auto Expo, and the first fruit of it was the Tiguan Allspace. After the seven-seater Tiguan came the youthful T-Roc. But while these were international models, the Taigun is made for India, in India, and already promises to be one of the most awaited cars of 2021.
At the Auto Expo, we saw a near-production version of the Taigun and we expect the final production version to stay quite similar to the show car in terms of styling. At the front are a pair of big, bold LED headlights that neatly flow into the sleek triple-slat grille. The lower half of the front bumper gets a blacked-out section, which houses the fog lights united by a strip of chrome. Down the side, the Taigun stays classically German with a neat profile highlighted by a strong shoulder line and a medley of blacked-out and chrome bits. The rear of the Taigun is quite handsome and compliments the front end well. The taillights seem to be a single unit running across the width of the car and the whole thing is illuminated, exaggerating the Taigun’s generous proportions. The massive rims we saw on the Taigun at the Auto Expo probably won’t make it to production but everything else should remain largely unchanged. Even on the near-production unit, the Taigun’s interior is instantly recognisable as a Volkswagen with a clean, simple layout that is intuitive. Yet, it feels new thanks to the Taigun being the first
Volkswagen in India to wear the updated, flatter Volkswagen brand logo. It also gets a new steering wheel design, high quality switchgear, and a splash of colour going across the dash and flowing into the cabin. Fit and finish should be top-notch, like all other Volkswagens. The Taigun is positioned to attract younger buyers and Volkswagen seems to have hit the nail on the head with its design.
To keep it competitive, the Taigun will also feature the very latest technology from Volkswagen, including a fully digital instrument cluster — a first for the segment. While rivals claim to have fully digital instrument clusters, these are merely workarounds to replace the analogue clocks and don’t provide too much additional functionality. The Taigun will be offered with a unit that is on par with other Volkswagen Group models, if not better. It also gets a large infotainment display, mounted high up in the cabin to put it closer to your line of sight. And you know what the Taigun also gets? A volume knob and physical air-conditioning controls! More screens and touch-sensitive buttons may look cool but there’s nothing more intuitive than a knob or a well-damped button, especially when you’re driving.
The Taigun will also be the first Volkswagen, among many in the near future, to ride on the MQB-A0-IN platform; the important bit being the ‘IN’ suffix. It signifies that this modular transverse matrix platform is not only localised, but also tailored to meet the demands of the Indian market. The MQBA0-IN platform should allow the Taigun to have more space for the rear seats as opposed to similarly sized (and priced) rivals. And from our brief interaction with the pre-production Taigun in February, we can already tell you that passenger comfort is going to be one of its strong suits. The MQB-A0-IN platform should also allow the Taigun to sit a little higher than cars riding on the non-IN platform, aiding ground clearance to easily clear the pointiest of speed breakers.
Volkswagen has always made cars that are safe, and they feel that way the moment you hear the thud from when you pull the door shut. The MQB-A0-based SUV has scored a full five-star safety rating in NCAP crash tests, and you can expect the Taigun to perform similarly strongly. Dual airbags, ESP, ABS and all the regular kit should be standard equipment. So, in terms of safety, the Taigun should top its class.
We expect that another one of the Taigun’s strengths will be the Thrill of Driving. Volkswagen has always been able to make the enthusiast smile with the turn of speed of its cars and also the planted yet involving handling. The Volkswagen Polo’s new 1-litre TSI engine, paired to the new torque converter automatic, helps the (almost decade-young) Polo retain the crown of our favourite hatch in the country. On the other hand, the T-Roc, with its 1.5-litre TSI Evo engine and seamless DSG transmission, is one of the most fun SUVs to drive. It handles like a car when you need it to, but offers the added bonus of high ground clearance and ample space on the inside. Why am I telling you about these two Volkswagens? That’s because the Taigun will inherit both these powertrain options. Entry variants will be offered with the 1-litre TSI engine and the top-spec variants will get the 1.5-litre TSI Evo. Both these engines are part of the award-winning EA211 family, packing cutting-edge technology to aid fuel efficiency and power.
We expect the Taigun to be revealed in its final production form in the first half of 2021 and hit the showrooms shortly thereafter. The most anticipated launch of the year? You bet! ⌧
THE TAIGUN IS MADE FOR INDIA, IN INDIA, AND PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST AWAITED NEW CARS OF 2021