Volkswagen Group will introduce the Skoda Kushaq mid-sized SUV this month as a part of new India 2.0 Project. This SUV will debut the company’s new locally developed MQB AO IN platform, which will also underpin the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun mid-sized SUV. The SUV was first previewed at the 2020 Auto Expo. Volkswagen claims that the new Taigun will be the “safest, strongly built SUV” in its segment.
Launch Timeline
The new VW Taigun is scheduled to be launched in the third quarter of 2021 that’s between July and September. If reports are to be believed, the new Taigun will be introduced by August 2021. Deliveries are expected to commence in September, during festive season.
Expected Price
Volkswagen Group has claimed to achieve over 95% localisation levels with the new Kushaq and the Taigun. A VW dealer claims that the new Taigun will be priced between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 17 lakh. At this price point, the mid-sized SUV will rival the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the upcoming MG Astor.
Taigun Bookings
Volkswagen is yet to make an official announcement on the pre-bookings for the Taigun mid-sized SUV. However, dealers have unofficially started accepting bookings for the SUV at a token amount of Rs 10,000.
New Infotainment System
The Taigun mid-sized SUV will receive the new infotainment system, which is called the Volkswagen Play infotainment. This system was first introduced on the VW Nivus Coupe-SUV in Brazil. It is jointly developed by VW Brazil and automotive component maker Visteon. It comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen that doubles as a rear-view camera monitor. The infotainment is compatible with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with connected car tech via SIM-based internet access along with in-car Wi-Fi.
Engine Options
The new Taigun will be offered with two engine options – a 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol. While the former is good for 113bhp of power and 175Nm of torque, the 1.5L engine produces 147bhp and 250Nm of torque. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual as standard, a 6AT with 1.0L petrol, and a 7-speed DSG with 1.5L petrol.
Longest Wheelbase
The new Taigun will be the second product based on the MQB AO IN platform. The MQB AO IN is the Indianized version of the MQB AO platform, which underpins the global-spec T-Cross, Nivus, new Polo, Virtus, Skoda Kamiq and the new Fabia. The VW Taigun has a wheelbase of 2,651mm, which is longer than the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos – 2,610mm.
Could Get ADAS
It is expected that the new Volkswagen Taigun could be equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Features). This will make the Taigun first model in its category to offer this feature. The ADAS features are lane assist system, adaptive cruise control, park pilot, park assist, blind spot detection, emergency braking system and others. The park assist function helps in automatically steering the vehicle during parallel parking, while the Park Pilot function will help drive the vehicle through tight parking spot using various sensors.
Key Features
In terms of features, the new Taigun will get digital instrument console, multi-functional steering wheel, automatic AC, cruise control, electric sunroof, powered drivers’ seat, a touch-sensitive climate control, wireless phone charging pad, Type-C USB, ventilated front seats, 17-inch alloys, LED lighting system etc. The new Volkswagen Taigun is equipped with several high-end safety and security features such as six airbags, ESP, traction control, hill hold and descent control, and TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System).
