Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, introduces the Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Concept at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015.Paul Sancya/The Associated Press
VW Cross Coupé GTE
What is it?
A concept five-seat upscale SUV using a plug-in hybrid system with the manufacturer's fuel economy rating of 70 mpg. It precedes the seven-seat mid-size SUV slated for production toward the end of 2016 at the company's plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Signature feature
The new front-end design targets the North American market. Painted in a colour dubbed by VW as Grand Pacific Glacier Blue, the long hood is characterized by precise lines. A pair of aluminum bars (polished at the front, brushed on top) frame the radiator grille.
What else is new
Interactive gesture control was the hot new thing at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and this car would offer the feature. Both driver and front-seat passenger would be able to manage all infotainment functions with the 10.1-inch touchscreen, using proximity sensors and gesture control to swipe over playlists.
Under the hood
A V-6 plug-in hybrid drivetrain, with 276-horsepower 3, two electric motors (54 and 114 hp) powering all-wheel drive. In e-mode, it would travel about 25 km.
When can we buy it, and for how much
The seven-seater, expected to be produced in Mexico, would be available in 2017. Production isn't scheduled for the GTE concept.
Cool quotient
3 stars (out of 5)
Another compact SUV in an increasingly crowded market, albeit with hybrid efficiency.