That the world of cars is not what it used to be is a reality. Everything has changed, body formats have left reference models behind. In Volkswagen, the Passat has been the last to fall, but there is another model that has the rope around its neck for an SUV.
Minivans fell, some of the saloons in the compact segment, convertibles and even sportier versions of utility vehicles. SUVs have invaded the market to the point that manufacturers have printed some of the formats previously mentioned in this type of bodywork, daring with convertibles or very sporty and with very high performance, speaking of more conventional and popular segments such as compact or utility.
A few months ago one of the heads of Volkswagen assured the continuity of five models, four European and one Chinese, the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Tayron and T-Roc. But the truth is that these declarations have not been fulfilled. The manufacturer the Passat has been loaded in Europe and in the United States, which means that not all of them are assured of their continuity. So, we already told you that the situation of the pole was complicated, because Ralf Brandstätter did not consider this model, which is a benchmark for all competitors in the segment, as one of the untouchables. And the truth is that it is not. Thanks to our confidants, we can tell you that today there is no glimpse of a new generation of this model which would be the seventh in its history.
The factors that Volkswagen manages to replace the Polo with the Taigo
Volkswagen has already announced its commercial results for the past year 2021, pointing out a very significant fact: 40% of total sales correspond to SUV models of its product range. Nothing less than almost half. A report in which he has also highlighted that segment B customers prefer an SUV over a conventional utility. White, and bottled, milk. The survival of the Polo has been complicated by the new Volkswagen Taigo.
Some may also wonder about the T-Cross, an SUV alternative to the utility vehicle but, despite the fact that this model is still in the first part of its commercial life, it is not another untouchable either. Our internal sources suggest that he will follow the normal procedure with a mid-life facelift, but his future has not been guaranteed. It’s more, the focus has been specifically on the newcomer, the Taigo.
And not precisely because it is the last to arrive and its sales have to be boosted, but because the German manufacturer has set itself the goal of concentrating all its efforts on this model. The Taigo is a very attractive crossover, with a sporty air and with engines similar to those of the Polo, in addition to having the ingredient that people like so much: the greatest height to the ground. A very important factor is also its development cost, greatly reduced as it is a twin of the Nivus developed for South America, compared to what a new Polo would mean, taking into account that an electric car, the Volkswagen ID.1, will be launched in three years. More savings and time that the Taigo can more than cover.