The VW Taigun, a subcompact SUV developed and built in India, has undergone a radical transformation into a pickup truck, as part of a student car project. The quirky one-off merges the Taigun’s five-seater cabin with an unusually extended rear overhang to make room for the exposed cargo bed. It’s not the kind of mashup you see every day, and the result is as odd as it is questionable. Unlike most SUV-to-truck conversions that involve hacking away at the bodywork, this one keeps the original greenhouse and exterior panels intact. The rear hatch has been unceremoniously ditched, replaced by a custom bed that feels like an afterthought. The tail’s exaggerated length gives the pickup some truly strange proportions—making you question what happens to the balance when you toss a load in the back.
In a parts-bin raid, the taillights and
rear bumper were borrowed from the VW Virtus sedan, which rides on the same MQB
A0 IN platform as the Taigun. And while most of the project looks DIY,
3D-printed components and a snazzy livery help mask any rough edges from the
build process. To up the ante, the team slapped on some off-road bits, giving
the little pickup a more rugged vibe. We’re talking underbody protection, beefy
beadlock wheels with chunky tires, and oversized fender extensions. Throw in
roof-mounted LEDs, an antenna, a snorkel, and extra mounting points, and you’ve
got a ride that looks ready to tackle some serious terrain—even if it’s only
pretending.
There is no information about any
performance modifications, but the Taigun is only available in FWD forms. The
most powerful version of the SUV uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine
producing 148 hp, which sounds good enough for a small
pickup. The one-off truck was created by a group of Mechatronics students,
mentored by skilled professionals from Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. Based in
Pune, the company oversees VW Group brands in India, with a wealth of R&D
know-how.
The conversion took nine months and
included market analysis, research and development, procurement, packaging, and
final car testing. The goal was for the students to gain valuable skills and
experience as part of a government-backed program called the “Skill India
Initiative.” This isn’t the first time the program has produced something
offbeat. Last year, the same team whipped up a Skoda Rapid four-door
convertible. Apparently, they have a taste for the unconventional.
