Volkswagen Finalising Subcompact SUV Plan For India

It's a segment Volkswagen says it know it cannot ignore. In fact it goes a step further and says it recognises that success in not just India but most global markets will need it to offer an SUV type bodystyle in pretty much every car segment.

So expect subcompacts, compacts and midsize SUVs to complement the meagre range it currently offers worldwide. That said, the bit that you and I care about - the Taigun. Yes it was shown at the Delhi Auto Expo and met with a great reception.

So what's the problem? VW can't seem to decide which way to go on the final platform it wants to use for such a vehicle. There are two clear options. The first is the Up! small care platform (on which the Delhi Expo concept was indeed built). And the second is the MQB - the modular platform that already spawns everything from the European Golf to the new Passat - and in India the Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia.

The question isn't just one of price. Since MQB would be more expensive but would eventually offer way more flexibility and economies of scale. The Up! would definitely be the cheaper platform but would need investment towards re-engineering and adapting it to the SUV requirements.

The decision will also take into account product plans for the other VW group brands in India - Audi and Skoda. After all localising MQB for instance will help both tremendously with future products - and Skoda would no doubt want a competitively priced subcompact SUV in its portfolio anyway.

VW's board member in charge of product - Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser tells us that decision is imminent. And once it's taken the car will be brought to market in quicker time than the usual development timelines we see at VW - meaning under two years. That India will get the Taigun (or whatever the final product may be called) is therefore now inevitable.

The period of "we shall see" is over for Volkswagen and soon the Chakan plant outside Pune would begin work to welcome the production of this new vehicle. A market debut is expected at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo. A market launch will follow that, with competitive price positioning, and the recently localised 1.5 litre Diesel engine powering the car.