Volkswagen, at the recent Detroit Auto Show, showcased a mid-sized SUV hybrid concept known as the CrossBlue.
The company now has taken this greener SUV design idea one step further, revealing at the ongoing Shanghai Auto Show theCrossBlue Coupe idea as another glimpse into the German automaker’s “new era of SUV design.”
The CrossBlue Coupe plug-in hybrid, while sporting the name coupe, is actually much more akin to a five-seater crossover idea. It has some impressive chops under the hood, offering up a turbocharged direct-injection V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors to produce as much as 415 horsepower. It is capable of a 0 to 62 mph time of just 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 147 mph, and in electric mode only can drive up to 21 miles at a maximum speed of 75 mph.
CrossBlue Coupe (image via VW)
In addition, noted VW, the vehicle has a combined fuel consumption of 79 mpg in the new European driving cycle and, with the gas engine only, comes in at 34.1 mpg. With a 21.2 gallon gas tank, this gives a theoretical range of around 720 miles. The CrossBlue Coupe is envisioned as being a hybrid which could be fitted with conventional four- and six-cylinder engines running on a variety of fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and natural gas.
As for the batteries which power this plug-in hybrid idea, it consists of an eight-module 9.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that is housed in the center tunnel and can be charged either by external power sources or while driving via regenerative braking.
A wide range of technology is built into this CrossBlue, which seems to b a very typical type of overkill one sees usually in concepts. This time touches include two-color configurable ambient lighting matched to the vehicle drive mode; a central 10.1-inch touchscreen with proximity sensors that is used to control all the infotainment and entertainment functions, as well as access the status of the hybrid system; an instrument cluster that is designed with analog gauges but underpinned by user programmable software, meaning the information displayed changes depending upon what drive mode is engaged and a mini iPad integrated in each of the head restraints of the first seating row, “so that passengers in the rear seats can also fully enjoy the audio, video and online programs.”
And now the standard concept disclaimer – you won’t likely see the CrossBlueCoupe as is something ever actually in a VW showroom. Rather, according to them, it “undoubtedly [will] have an influence on future SUV models.”
* Nino Marchetti, EarthTechling
