Volkswagen Latest SUVs Have Names Straight Out of Game of Thrones

Volkswagen appears to be preparing names for two new SUVs. HARJA recently uncovered EU trademark filings that reveal the upcoming models, both of which start with the letter “T.” For Volkswagen, “T” typically signifies a truck, as seen with the Tiguan and Taos. Interestingly, one of the names translates to “task” in Spanish, suggesting that at least one of these vehicles could be designed with commercial or work-focused use in mind.

Is Volkswagen’s SUV Lineup Expanding Again?

Volkswagen latest trademark filings suggest two new additions: the Tairos and the Tareon. The name Tareon appears to be derived from the Spanish word tarea, meaning “task,” hinting at a vehicle built to tackle work-related duties. This aligns with Volkswagen’s history of task-oriented vehicles, such as the commercial Transporter van and the smaller Caddy.

The meaning behind Tairos is less obvious. Another German company—specializing in prefab bathrooms—already uses the name, which it says comes from the Greek word kairos, meaning “the right or critical moment.” Still, the name carries a certain sense of capability, almost like it could suit a delivery vehicle. And who knows—there’s always a chance Volkswagen could enter a “Game of Thrones”-style battle with dragon-slaying SUVs in the future. Probably not, though.

Volkswagen has recently secured trademarks for both names, covering four classifications. The filings include vehicles, toys, business management services, and construction field services. While the latter two aren’t necessarily a sign that VW plans to branch into new industries, they could indicate that the automaker intends to use these names for business-focused connected services, similar to Ford Pro. Volkswagen already offers its own fleet connectivity solution, though under the less flashy name “Fleet Interface Data.”

Volkswagen has used “T” names for its SUVs for years, not just in the U.S. and Europe, but worldwide. American buyers are familiar with models like the Touareg, Tiguan, and Taos, but there are many more abroad: T-Cross, T-Roc, Tera, Taigo, Talagon, Tavendor, and Tayron, to name a few. Even the SUV sold as the Atlas in the U.S. goes by Teramont in other markets.

VW Answers “What’s in a Name?”

Some Volkswagen names carry a clear meaning. The Touareg is named after a nomadic group in the Sahara, while Tiguan blends “tiger” and “iguana.” Others are less meaningful—Tavendor, for example, doesn’t appear to have any particular significance.

“The ‘T’ strategy naturally evolved after the success of the Touareg and Tiguan,” a Volkswagen spokesperson told HARJA in 2021. “These two strong names were well received by customers, so using a ‘T’ as the first letter for future models helps create recognition value.” The hyphen in some names, like T-Roc, was added to make pronunciation clear—after all, T-Roc and Troc don’t exactly sound the same.

Volkswagen already holds trademarks for several other “T” names, including T-Sport, T-Go, and T-Coupe. While these new filings could simply be a way to protect names the company doesn’t intend to use, they might also hint at upcoming models or new generations that don’t fit the current lineup. Only time will tell.