Looks like: The new face of Volkswagen SUVs, probably
Defining characteristics: Plug-in hybrid drivetrain, chiseled exterior styling, Bauhaus-inspired interior
Ridiculous features: Multimedia system's gesture controls, joystick-like shifter
Chance of being mass-produced: The production SUV arriving by the end of 2016 should look a lot like this
If you want to know what Volkswagen's upcoming seven-seat SUV will look like then take a look at this. It's the five-seat Cross Coupe GTE concept, and Volkswagen says its front-end styling foreshadows the new SUV. That model is slated to be built at VW's plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., by the end of next year.
Related: More 2015 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
The Cross Coupe GTE is the third concept SUV Volkswagen has shown in recent years, but it looks a lot like the second one: the CrossBlue Coupe concept . The Cross Coupe GTE has more muscular wheel arches and more traditional taillights, but the overall shape and size of the two concepts are similar.
The similarities are more than sheet-metal deep; like the CrossBlue Coupe, the Cross Coupe GTE has a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Rated at 355 horsepower total, the system features a 3.6-liter V-6 gas engine and two electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery. It has all-wheel drive, too, and VW says the concept SUV provides 20 miles of electric-only range.
Even though the Cross Coupe GTE has a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the concept's platform is built to handle many different kinds of powertrains, from traditional gas engines to fuel cells.
The interior has a clean, uncluttered design with very few buttons or knobs; most of the controls in the middle of the dashboard are in the 10.1-inch touch-screen. The touch-screen also supports gesture control, which lets passengers control menus with a motion of their hand. The digital instrument panel uses a 12.3-inch screen. For a concept car interior, the design is relatively familiar and seems nearly production-ready.
SUVs and crossovers are popular right now and VW desperately needs a high-volume midsize SUV in its lineup to bolster its sales, which were down 10 percent last year in an overall market that was up about 6 percent. A production SUV that has the Cross Coupe GTE's style could fit the bill if it's priced right, but two years is a long time to wait for it.
Manufacturer images
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