Taos & Nivus:
Volkswagen takes off in South America

The design of the Nivus combines SUV elements and sports coupe lines. One of the design highlights is the fast and flowing slope of the C-pillar. This results in the special coupe profile of the Nivus. “Its proportions define an athletic and modern character,” emphasizes José Carlos Pavone, head of Volkswagen’s design department for Latin America.

Pavone drew the first sketches of the new model about four years ago. The front end of the Nivus bears the typical Volkswagen design. “The headlights are joined by a very dominant grille and the distinctive lines of the hood, which define the car’s rugged character.”

Built on the Modular Transverse Toolkit, the Nivus offers an interior that is comfortable even for five occupants. The trunk can be opened using one of the virtual buttons from VW Play, the brand-new infotainment system. Speaking of the trunk: With a capacity of 415 liters, the Nivus offers plenty of space.

The multimedia unit, developed in Brazil, has an intuitive user interface. With an extremely high-resolution 10-inch screen, touch-sensitive, scratch-resistant and virtual buttons, it not only offers modern connectivity, but also enables a range of other services and streaming. The 10-inch screen and the digital 10,25-inch Active Info Display on the driver’s side act as a large digital island in the dashboard of the Nivus. Practical yet safe: The digital cockpit can be operated via the steering wheel.

A special feature on the Brazilian market are the flexible-fuel engines, which run with gasoline, ethanol or the mixture of both fuels in any proportion. The Nivus is equipped with a flex-fuel 1,0L three-cylinder 200 TSI that offers 128 PS (94 kW) of power. The badge “200” is a reference to the high torque, 200 Nm, when running on ethanol. In conjunction with the six-speed automatic transmission, this ensures relatively low fuel consumption.

The design of the Volkswagen Taos can be described in one word: uncompromising. The square wheel arches stand out on the sides, conveying a sense of strength. The silhouette is typical of an SUV, while at the same time the precise lines give it an elegant appearance.

Its large interior makes the Taos an ideal vehicle for the family. As in the Nivus, there are two large screens in the cockpit for the VW Play multimedia platform. The system offers a wide range of information, entertainment and connectivity. Together with the 10-color ambient lighting, occupants can look forward to an interior atmosphere that is unique. The ‘soft touch’ materials and leather inserts on dashboard and door panels complement the premise of sophistication. A storage compartment for inductive smartphone charging is also on board.