Volkswagen has unveiled a new five-seater midsize SUV concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This is called the Cross Coup GTE and it is a plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive, and previews Volkswagens new design language. The new cars debut at the show, which runs from 12-25 January, comes ahead of the start of production at the end of 2016 of a new seven-seater midsize SUV at Volkswagen of Americas Chattanooga factory in Tennessee.
The Cross Coup GTE is the third concept car presented by Volkswagen in the run-up to the introduction of the production version. Together, all three concept cars the CrossBlue presented in Detroit in January 2013, the CrossBlue Coupe most recently shown in Los Angeles in November 2013 and the Cross Coupe GTE that is now being presented at the NAIAS represent just a part of the wide spectrum of SUV variants that can be realised through the modular transverse matrix (MQB), and were developed with the aim of offering an SUV in North America in the near future that is consistently tailored to the US market.
Although the design of all three SUVs was based on the Volkswagen design DNA and they have common stylistic features, the latest model breaks in many ways with previous concepts, and thus increases the momentum towards series production.Powering the Cross Coupe GTE is a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine in combination with two electric motors. The six-cylinder direct-injection engine (FSI) delivers 277bhp and maximum torque of 350Nm, while the two electric motors deliver 40kW and 220Nm (front) and 85kW and 270Nm (rear). They are powered by a compact lithium-ion battery housed in the centre tunnel, with energy content of 14.1kWh.
In e-Mode, activated at the press of a button, the Cross Coup GTE can travel in zero-emission mode for up to 32km*, and in this case the 85kW rear axle electric motor alone drives the vehicle, with the V6 FSI decoupled from the drivetrain by disengaging the clutch and shutting down. But as soon as the six-cylinder engine needs to be restarted due to the battery charge status or other parameters, it engages smoothly in the drivetrain again in a fraction of a second.
The design of the cockpit reflects the cars hi tech engine and drivetrain nature, featuring horizontal lines and clear digital controls with intuitive operation. The new infotainment system is controlled via a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while a 12.3-inch Active Info Display similar to that recently previewed on the new Passat allows extremely high-quality interactive graphic presentation of all details in the digital dashboard. The Cross Coupe GTE features sports seats at the front and a three-seat bench in the rear, which can be folded 1/3 or 2/3, creating a continuous flat cargo floor.
