2012 Volkswagen Taigun Concept

São Paulo International Motor Show: World premiere of the Volkswagen “Taigun” concept

Compact SUV comes with new 1.0-litre TSI

Wolfsburg/São Paulo, 22 October 2012 - At the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil, Volkswagen is presenting the concept of a newly developed SUV in compact format in a world premiere: the Taigun.

Technically, the Taigun 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 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 Taigun 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 engine delivers a high torque of 175 Nm at a low 1,500/min. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand for Technical Development, comments: “The torque-strong three-cylinder is an ideal engine for such a compact SUV; it is a companion for driving through the urban environment that is as efficient as it is dynamic.” The lightweight concept car, weighing 985 kg, has a top speed of 186 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds; its combined fuel consumption is about four and one-half litres of fuel per 100 km.

The Taigun, 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.

In the lower body area, the rugged side trim panels are appealing; they cover the side sills, wheel arches and lower sections of the bumpers. The vehicle’s short overhangs are advantageous both visually and for space utilisation; in front the overhang is just 708 mm, and at the rear 681 mm. Last but not least, practical roof rails with integrated LED spotlights upgrade the vehicle’s look in side profile.

Like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Touareg SUVs, the Taigun also exhibits lines that are dominated by horizontal design elements in front. A metal underbody protection panel was designed into the bumper. This was also done at the rear bumper. Overall, horizontal lines also define the styling at the rear section. The tailgate of the concept is designed in two-part construction. The upper section that extends down to the lower edge of the rear lights swings upward, while the lower section (1/3) extending to the underbody protection swings downwards towards the road.

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 Taigun. The SUV is also a prime example of optimal space utilisation. The tailgate encloses a 280 litre bootspace; when the rear bench seat is folded down, cargo capacity increases to 987 litres.

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 Taigun. Similarly, the concept development team designed individual solutions for user controls in the SUV as well. They include dials in the air nozzles on the dashboard – which for the first time can be used to control the temperature and blower speed and read their settings.

SOURCE:Volkswagen

World premiere of the Volkswagen SUV concept Taigun

São Paulo International Motor Show

Confident, compact and efficient:

World premiere of the Volkswagen SUV concept Taigun in Brazil

Volkswagen shows concept of a future SUV of the A00 class in São Paulo 3.86-metre long Taigun SUV debuts with high-tech turbo engine and sophisticated design

Wolfsburg / São Paulo, 22 October 2012 - In a world premiere at the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show (22 October to 04 November), Volkswagen is presenting the concept of a newly developed compact SUV: the Taigun. The all-round vehicle now being presented in São Paulo is a tribute to the Brazilian market – if it were to become a production car, however, the new Volkswagen would not only be offered in South America, but around the world. Technically, the Taigun resembles the very contemporary New Small Family by Volkswagen, which it rounds out in an upward direction.

The concept’s exterior look follows the very concise and clear Volkswagen design DNA that was defined by heads of design Walter de Silva (Group) and Klaus Bischoff (Brand). The new Sport Utility Vehicle makes an extremely sophisticated and powerful appearance. The 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. In the spacious interior, the concept car shows how Volkswagen imagines a sophisticated, versatile and compact SUV at affordable prices to be.

New high-tech turbo engine concept with 110 PS

The four-seat Taigun is powered by a new 1.0-litre TSI engine (turbocharged, direct injection petrol engine) with 81 kW / 110 PS (from 5,000/min). Its combined fuel consumption is just 4.7 l/100 km (110 g/km CO2). The direct-injection turbocharged engine debuting in the Taigun is also a world premiere; the new engine extends the range of the three-cylinder petrol engines based on the EA211 engine series by adding a configuration with direct fuel injection plus turbocharging technology, which opens a new chapter in downsizing strategy at Volkswagen. The new engine is very fuel-efficient, and it offers high torque at low engine revs (175 Nm from 1,500/min). This makes the three-cylinder TSI an ideal match for the Taigun. The concept vehicle (weight: 985 kg) accelerates to 100 km/h in just 9.2 seconds with the new engine. On the German ‘Autobahns’, which essentially do not have a speed limit, the Taigun would reach a top speed of 186 km/h. The engine is combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

ESC is an effective stabilisation programme

The Taigun, which is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and size 205/50 R17 tyres, is adept at handling off-road terrain thanks to its high engine torque and high ground clearance. Nonetheless, the Volkswagen was clearly designed for the urban environment. Wherever it is used, the SUV utilises powerful disc brakes. Also providing a plus in active safety is the ESC electronic stabilisation programme; it significantly reduces the risk of skidding.

Clean design, powerful and confident

The styling of the concept car, which is painted in “Seaside Blue”, lives up to its sophisticated technological concept. The Taigun  as compact as it is attractive  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 homogeneously integrated in 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. The independent form of the C-pillars is typical of a Volkswagen. Designers also worked in the rear door handles so that they terminate flush with the body, which is aerodynamically ideal. The entire side profile expresses confidence and safety.

In front, designers of the Taigun intentionally emulated the Volkswagen Tiguan and Touareg SUVs. Like them, the concept also exhibits lines that are dominated by horizontal design elements. A metal underbody protection panel was designed into the bumpers. Just as in every other perspective, the concept car  with its balanced proportions  is also very powerful and self-confident at its front; this is conveyed by the opulent track width of 1,473 mm (front and rear identical) in relation to the vehicle’s overall width (1,728 mm without mirrors).

The rear of the Taigun was also made to show stylistic similarities to the larger Tiguan and Touareg. The rear lights are visually interconnected by an edge beneath the VW badge; directly under this edge is the vehicle’s licence plate. In general, horizontal lines influence the styling at the rear of the vehicle as well. Like the front end, the concept car has an underbody protection panel at the rear as well. Visually hidden is the two-part construction of the tailgate. The upper section (2/3) down to the lower edge of the rear lights opens upward, while the lower section (1/3) extending to the underbody protection swivels downwards towards the road. It is possible to open the upper part with the rear window separately.

Interior has optimal space utilisation

As on the exterior, the designers developed an 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 Taigun.

The SUV is a fine example of optimal space utilisation. The tailgate encloses a 280 litre bootspace; when the rear bench seat is folded down, cargo capacity increases to 987 litres. The high seat position is typical of an SUV and is based on the desire of many customers to drive a car with optimal comfort in entry and exit and to have the best possible visibility in traffic. Headroom in front is 1,036 mm, while it is 980 mm in the rear seating area; in addition, the vehicle’s long legroom ensures excellent comfort in the rear seating area. The driver’s workspace can be optimally adjusted for any body height; the steering wheel, for example, can be adjusted in height over an angle of 25 degrees.

The interior designers systematically reduced the number of functions to just the most essential. As a result, operation of all interior functional elements is absolutely intuitive. Furthermore, the clean design, many storage surfaces and exceptionally good space give a very positive feeling of spaciousness. Meanwhile, the youthful colour and material combinations highlight the offroad character of the Taigun. Similarly, the development team designed individual solutions for user controls in the SUV as well. They include dials in the air nozzles on the dashboard, which for the first time can be used to control the temperature and blower speed and read their settings.

The Taigun is also equipped with an infotainment system on the dashboard; it offers interfaces for all commonly used smart phones. To the right of the radio-navigation system is the combination on/off/volume control. Centrally located under the infotainment system and finished in fine aluminium are the hazard warning light switch (middle) and the buttons for rear window heating, defrost function, air conditioning system and exterior lights. Above the radio-navigation system on the dashboard there are three other auxiliary instruments (oil pressure, coolant temperature and charge pressure). Fitting in well with these features is the leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, which has a sporty flat bottom and fits perfectly in the hands.

A quality that applies to all vehicle concept cars which Volkswagen presents at international motor shows is that they could all be implemented as production vehicles. The prospects for the Taigun being seen at Volkswagen dealers someday are quite high – what is crucial here is the overall response of the public to this concept.

SOURCE:Volkswagen

VOLKSWAGEN SHOWS COMPACT SUV CONCEPT AT SAO PAULO SHOW

Volkswagen’s latest concept car, the Taigun, has been unveiled at the São Paulo motor show, and previews the look of a possible small SUV based on the New Small Family platform, which underpins the award-winning up!.

Just like the up!, the Taigun is small on the outside – at just 3.86 metres long and 1.73 metres wide – but big on the inside, thanks to a generous 2.47 metre wheelbase. These dimensions give the Taigun short overhangs (708 mm front and 681 mm rear) and purposeful proportions, while the clear, concise exterior styling follows the unmistakable Volkswagen design DNA.Powering the four-seat Taigun is a new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 110 PS at 5,000 rpm and pushing 175 Nm (129 lbs ft) of torque through the six-speed manual gearbox. The engine is based on the latest EA211 series, and with the use of direct fuel injection and turbocharging it is able to return a combined fuel consumption of just 4.7 litres per 100km (60.1 mpg), despite being able to take the 985 kg Taigun from zero to 62 mph in 9.2 seconds and on to 186 km/h (115 mph) top speed.

The look of the Taigun is deliberately styled to emulate that of its SUV siblings, the Tiguan and Touareg, as is evident in the rugged side panels, underbody protection and practical roof rails with LED spotlights. Wide tracks (1,473 mm front and rear) help give the Taigun a purposeful look, while 17-inch alloys with 205/50 R17 tyres, high ground clearance and plentiful torque enable it to deal with rough surfaces. This is, however, very much a vehicle for the urban environment: the high driving position gives the driver an optimum view in traffic, while there’s plenty of room for luggage, thanks to a practical 280-litre loadspace that increases to 987 litres with the rear seats down. What’s more, the tailgate is split, with the top two-thirds opening upwards and the bottom third folding down, making loading even easier.

The interior of the Taigun is simple and spacious (headroom is 1,036 mm in front and 980 mm at the back), with controls pared back to a minimum. The front air nozzles, for example, not only individually control the direction of the air flow, but also the blower speed and the temperature, which is displayed within the nozzle. Meanwhile the central infotainment system can pair with the majority of smartphones, providing an intuitive interface. Above this are mounted auxiliary instrument gauges that display oil pressure, coolant temperature and turbo charge pressure.

Volkswagen will be monitoring public reaction to this vehicle before taking a decision on whether to put the Taigun into production.

SOURCE:Volkswagen