#HustleModeOn – The Volkswagen Taigun

The wait is finally over! Prospective buyers can now pre-book the Volkswagen Taigun. An exclusive preview was given to a select few prospects in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

The ‘SUVW’ goes by the name, T-Cross,  in the international market and comes with the familiar 1.0 TSI and the 1.5 TSI that we have seen on its not so distant cousin, the Skoda Kushaq. The engines also produce the same amount of power and torque. And you guessed it right, the Taigun is even built on the same MQB A0 IN platform in India. This too is the ‘Made in India, Made for India’ from the VW portfolio. Not that we are complaining. We are after all big fans of the European face and solid build quality that is typical of the Volkswagen family of cars. Here’s a look at the specs.

 

Engine	1.0L TSI	1.5L TSI EVO
Displacement (cc)	999 cc (3 cylinders)	1498 cc (4 cylinders)
Transmission	6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic	6 Speed Manual, 7 Speed DSG
Max. Power [PS (kW) @rpm]	115 PS (85 kW) @ 5000 – 5500 RPM	150 PS (110 kW) @5000 – 6000 RPM
Max. Torque [NM @rpm]	178 Nm @ 1750 – 4500 RPM	250 Nm @ 1600 – 3500 RPM

 

 

The Taigun is built in Pune along with the Kushaq, the Vento, and the Polo. There are a few segment first features as is the case in most VW cars, and the most noticeable is the light bar, the Infinity LED tail lamps, that runs across the breadth of the car at the rear. It also has a chic looking fully digital cockpit that distinguishes the Taigun from the other cars in the VW portfolio in the country, including the King.

 

Having said that, the SUVW does strike you quite boldly. Whether it is the chrome embellishments up-front or the back, the Taigun will stand out of the crowd.to express this boldness in design, the vehicle is complemented with:

• The Infinity LED tail lamps which is a segment 1^st
• An elevated and muscular bonnet
• A 3D Chrome Step Grille
• LED headlamps with integrated drls
• An electric sunroof
• A Signature trapezoidal chrome wing
• Dual-tone premium interiors
• Sporty Red ambient lighting
• Soul Leatherette Upholstery with Wild Cherry red stitching
• Ventilated seats
• 385 L useable boot space (extendable upto 1405 l)
• Rear seating with 60:40 split

The digital cockpit, the 17” Manial smart alloy wheels, the paddle shifters, the aluminum foot pedals, all add to the character of the Taigun. We could never stop raving about how safety is important to VW cars. And the Taigun is no different. One of the safest car in the industry and not just the segment, the Taigun comes with a host of safety nets, which are:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Up to 6 Airbags
• Multi Collision Brakes
• Auto Dimming IRVM
• Hill Hold Control
• 3-point Seatbelts for All Seats
• Park Distance Control & Rear-View Camera
• Tire Pressure Deflation Warning
• ISOFIX Child Seat Mount
• 40+ Safety Features

A lot of #heart, #soul, and #hustle has gone into the making of this compact cross-over, and it shows. With 95% localization, the pricing of the Tiguan is expected to be super aggressive. With the launch just around the corner, we are sitting on the edge of our seats.