Auto Shanghai Live 2013 - VW Crossblue Coupe Concept takes the stage

The wraps came off the Volkswagen Crossblue Coupe Concept at the Auto Shanghai 2013.

The brand new concept follows the 7 seat Crossblue Concept which debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this January. The Crossblue Coupe Concept seems like a precursor to the next generation Touareg.

Measuring 4,899mm in length, 2,015mm in width, 1,679mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,980mm, the Concept is a full sized SUV with a curvy roofline to justify its name. Just like the Crossblue Concept, the Coupe Concept is also underpinned by VW's versatile MQB platform.

The front fascia of the car features a narrow polished aluminium front grill whose lines extend to give rise to an equally narrow angular headlamps. The front bumper is full of edgy detailing with elements like trapezoid secondary airdam and multi-sided air intakes on either side. You also get a scuff plate under the bumper like most of the contemporary SUVs.

The tight fitting roof contains a longitudinal depression, something to do with aerodynamics and something which may not be seen in the production version. The small rear windscreen is steeply raked and ends up in a voluminous rear fascia. Sharp edges seems to the theme here too as portrayed by the 3-D taillights and a complementing rhomboidal dual exhaust tips which sit inside a silver accented housing.

The Crossblue Coupe Concept is powered by a combination of a V6 turbocharged direct injection petrol engine and a pair of electric motors - 53.6 bhp up front and 114 bhp at the rear. The net power output stands at a massive 415 bhp and the torque on offer is a colossal 700 Nm. The motors derive energy from a 9.8 KWh Lithium-ion battery.

The car hits triple digit speeds from a standstill in an impressive 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 235 kmph but still delivers a very respectable fuel consumption of 3 litre/100km (33.3 kmpl). In hybrid mode with depleted battery, the car can deliver 6.9 litre/100km (14.49 kmpl). The hybrid vehicle can travel as long as 33km on pure electricity alone.

Features of the VW Crossblue Coupe Concept

• As with the Crossblue Concept, the fuel filler is located on the right side of the vehicle while the charging port is situated on the left. The Concept Coupe can work as a generator too
• Boot space of 537 litres, can be extendable upto 1,101 litres with the rear seats folded
• The plug-in hybrid drive has five modes - Coasting, Battery regeneration, Boosting, Off roading (propshaft by wire) and TSI only
• 6-speed DSG automatic transmission
• Unladen weight of the concept stands at 2,220 kgs

VW says it has no current production plans for the Crossblue Coupe Concept.

Press Release