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 second pass at the SUV market with plans for a compact SUV, based loosely off of the all-new fifth-generation Volkswagen Golf.

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 isnt new; the concept

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. (Photo: Artists 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.

Volkswagen appears to be back on course

In the early 90s, Volkswagen offered the comical Golf Country outside of North America.

The compact SUV, reportedly christened Beduin, is akin to the Touareg, as it is named after a Saharan, African tribe. (Photo: Rendered Spy Photo)

The Beduin, as well as two other vehicles will be built off a new platform, a hybrid between the Mk. V Golf/Jetta PQ35 and the larger Passats PQ46 platform. While its true that the PQ46 is essentially a stretched and modified version of the PQ35, the Beduin will use the Golfs compact 101.6 inch wheelbase, combined with the 60.6 inch front and 59.8 inch rear track widths of the larger Passat.

Like the cars which the new platform draws its DNA from, the Beduin will utilize an electro-mechanical power

The Beduin is said to take its image from the recently released Golf Plus, a slightly taller and more upright version of the Golf hatchback. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)

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