Designing the interior of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos

• Interior designers chose an upscale approach for the brand's entry SUV

•'Two-layer' interior treatment gives the cockpit a wide, dynamic look

•Standard two-tone seats lend a modern feel

Herndon, VA — To help the 2022 Taos succeed in the booming compact SUV market, Volkswagen's design team strategically developed the interior to appeal to the youthful intended buyer base with modern shapes and colors and an upscale feel.

'The interior design of Taos reflects the simple yet modern shape of the sculpted exterior,' says Dmitry Panov, Interior Designer for the Taos. 'There's a clean and recognizable theme, which harkens to other models in the Volkswagen SUV family.'

Based on the MQB platform, the five-passenger Taos compact SUV slots into the Volkswagen lineup underneath the strong-selling Tiguan, offering a mix of performance and utility for younger buyers who want the substance of a larger SUV in a smaller package.

The designers gave the Taos a distinct style by creating two separate levels on the dashboard. The top level has a glossy décor element that surrounds functional elements like the air vents, the standard Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, and the MIB infotainment touchscreen, which is angled towards the driver for ease of operation and ergonomics. The lower level provides a soft-touch surface, which runs the width of the interior and continues through the door panels on each side surrounding the front passengers.

Distinctive two-tone seats are standard on the entry S level, and are available across the lineup. Seating materials range from cloth to a combination cloth and leatherette, as well as leather seating surfaces. The design team wanted to create a visual connection across all interior elements, so they used the same materials for seat covers and other soft décor parts.

'You can choose between a cool color scheme with neutral grey and black, or a warm color scheme where black is paired with a French roast,' says Clara Schober, Color & Trim Designer for the Taos. 'Across the trim lines, we added contrast stitching for an additional visual pop.'

Available features give owners more ways to customize the Taos. A panoramic sunroof is available on SE and SEL trims, adding an airy feeling to the interior. On top-of-the-line SEL trims, 10-color ambient lighting is standard, as is the fully customizable Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with a 10.25-inch display.

Taos is expected to begin arriving in Volkswagen dealers in June.

Photo credit: Volkswagen
posted on conceptcarz.com