Lightweight Sport 'Ute to Incorporate Light-Duty Off-Road Capability
Riding on the coat tails of success from the popular Touareg midsize luxury sport utility vehicle, Volkswagen is making a
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Volkswagen is making a second pass at the SUV market with plans for a compact SUV, based loosely off of the all-new fifth-generation Volkswagen Golf. (Photo: Volkswagen of America) |
All around the world, compact SUVs are proving to be a profitable market to be in. They combine the desired traits of traction, ground clearance, extra space and better visibility without the big engines, heavy weight, poor fuel consumption and clumsy on-road dynamics of larger, mid- and full-size utes.
The idea of a Golf-based SUV isn't new; the concept has been tossed about for several years now. Aside from the Touareg, VW has often toyed around with vehicles capable of
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All around the world, compact SUVs are proving to be a profitable market to be in. (Photo: Artist's Rendering) |
The idea off a Golf-based crossover resurfaced in 2003, when VW registered the rugged name, "Marrakech", however, the idea never made it past corporate bean counters that sacked it in favor of more sensible propositions.