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This is the Volkswagen Taigun. It is a new concept SUV that first made its debut late in 2012 in Brazil, here presented in India for the first time. And it's got a new spare wheel design. And new boot lid. See? New.
We jest, of course. The Taigun is a small SUV - based on the handy Volkswagen Up - that sports funky lines and Ford Ecosport-ish dimensions too. It weighs 998kg, features a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-pot engine with 107bhp, a six-speed manual gearbox, can do 0-62mph in 9.2s and tops out at 115mph.
And you know what? It looks good. That new rear section was so designed following an overwhelmingly positive reception for the car in Brazil, we're told; consumers wanted easier access to the spare wheel without having to dig out the boot's payload, and so whacked it on the outside. Boot space sits at 996 litres in total (280 litres with the seats up), which is plenty for the ‘urban environment' it's planned for (that's the city).
Volkswagen will take on board any feedback of the car from its Indian debut and accommodate this into the final production model. No word on this date, but seeing as this version is near production-ready, perhaps the start of next year. Though we're unlikely to get that spare wheel bolted onto the back for the UK.
In the ‘emerging markets' of Brazil and India though, these diddy SUVs will be all the rage, so they have to get this one right. Of course, you'll be able to spec another colour, if you so wish.
Written By:- Vijay Pattni
More of this article on the Top gear website
