At the 2012 Sao Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil, Volkswagen has presented the concept of a newly developed SUV in compact format in a world premiere: the Volkswagen Taigun Concept. Technically, the Volkswagen Taigun Concept resembles the very contemporary New Small Family by Volkswagen, which it would round out in an upward direction if it were to be produced. The concept’s exterior look follows the very concise and clear Volkswagen design DNA. This gives the Sport Utility Vehicle a sophisticated and powerful appearance. The VW Taigun is 3,859 mm long, 1,728 mm wide and 1,570 mm tall. Between the front and rear bumpers, the vehicle sports a wheelbase of 2,470 mm, which is large in relation to its exterior length. The results: short overhangs and appealing proportions.
The four-seat concept car is powered by a new 1.0-litre TSI engine with 81 kW / 110 PS. The Volkswagen Taigun Concept engine extends the range of the three-cylinder petrol engines by adding direct fuel injection plus turbocharging technology, which opens a new chapter in downsizing strategy at Volkswagen. The Volkswagen Taigun Concept, which is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and size 205/50 R17 tyres, is also adept at handling offroad terrain thanks to its high engine torque and high ground clearance. Also providing a plus in active safety is the ESC electronic stabilisation programme.
The styling of the concept car, which is painted in “Seaside Blue”, lives up to its sophisticated technological concept. The Taigun has an exterior look that is independent, confident and very logical and clean. In a side view, the flared wings catch the eye; their powerful form is smoothly integrated into the side section and extends into the doors. The front and rear sections of the concept car are visually joined by a precisely sculpted character line beneath the side windows; at the rear, this line transitions into the C-pillars. As on the exterior, the designers developed a look for the interior that reflects, in its clarity, the spirit of the times in our urban world. Those with an affinity for the latest smart phones or tablet computers will also like the interior design, the feel of its surfaces and the layout of controls in the Volkswagen Taigun Concept.
The operation of all interior functional elements is intuitive. Furthermore, the clean design, many storage surfaces and exceptionally good space conditions generate a very positive spacious feeling. Meanwhile, the youthful colour and material combinations highlight the offroad character of the Volkswagen Taigun Concept.
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images courtesy of Volkswagen
