Volkswagen India is planning to dominate the SUV market in India. The German carmaker has already launched two products this year, the Tiguan AllSpace 7-seater SUV and the T-ROC mid-sized premium SUV. While the year 2020 is about to end and we do not expect any new VW this year, we do expect two new VWs next year. The carmaker has revealed some plans about the 2021 Volkswagen Taigun, by listing it on their official Indian website. Expect the Taigun to arrive in India in early 2021.
VW Taigun: A brief overview
The Volkswagen Taigun crossover is actually the first product to be unveiled under the brand’s India 2.0 project. It will be based on the company’s localized MQB A0 IN platform. On the design front, the Volkswagen Taigun comes with a clean and simple design, which, along with the name looks a lot similar to that of the VW Tiguan. However, when we have a look at the rear end of the car, we can see a wider, stretched, and a refreshed look. Interestingly, VW’s MQB AO IN platform also underpins the Skoda Vision IN-based SUV, new Vento, and the new Rapid. The Taigun will enter the mid-sized SUV space, where it will rival the likes of the popular- Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
Expected powertrains
The Volkswagen Taigun mid-sized SUV is expected to arrive with two different engine options – a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol, and a 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine. The new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine will also power VW’s other cars under the ‘India 2.0’ project. This engine produces up to 115bhp of power and 200Nm of torque, and we expect the transmission duties will be performed by a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic.
On the other hand, the 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine is borrowed from the VW T-ROC and the Skoda Karoq. This engine is capable of producing 148bhp of maximum power and 250Nm of peak torque, using a 7-speed DSG automatic. This powertrain has been programmed to use something which VW calls cylinder deactivation technology, which allows the engine to deactivate up to 2 cylinders, depending on the load on the engine. This helps the car in getting higher fuel efficiency and reduce pollution.