The Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept has debuted at the Shanghai auto show, revealing the German brand's vision for a sporty compact SUV.
Revealed in a series of leaked images late last week, the CrossBlue Coupe concept is a wide, low-slung crossover distinguished by its integrated chrome grille and LED headlights, aggressive front air intakes and rear diffuser, hard-edged tail-lights and tight panel lines.
The Evoque-esque concept shares its MQB platform with the larger seven-seat Volkswagen CrossBlue concept that debuted earlier this year in Detroit.
Unique to the CrossBlue Coupe concept is its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which teams a 220kW/500Nm turbocharged 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine with a lithium-ion battery and two electric motors: a 40kW/180Nm unit at the front and an 85kW/270Nm unit at the rear.
A combined system output of 305kW and 700Nm helps the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 236km/h.
Operating in hybrid mode, Volkswagen estimates combined cycle fuel consumption of just 3.0 litres per 100km, while the CrossBlue Coupe can also be driven for 33km in pure electric mode, with the rear motor exclusively powering the concept to speeds up to 120km/h.
At 4889mm long, 2015mm wide and 1679mm tall, the Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept is more than half a metre longer than the Range Rover Evoque, as well as slightly wider and taller. Boot capacity expands from 537 litres to as much as 1029L with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats pushed forwards.
Volkswagen says cabin highlights include a programmable 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 10.1-inch central information display, and iPad mini tablets for rear-passenger entertainment in the front headrests.
Volkswagen design boss Klaus Bischoff said elements from the CrossBlue Coupe concept would find their way into future production vehicles from the German manufacturer.
"The disproportionately high growth in the SUV segment gives us designers the opportunity to implement an even stronger diversification of models," Bischoff said.
"In the CrossBlue Coupe we are showing the potential of our Volkswagen design DNA. This concept vehicle will undoubtedly have an influence on future SUV models."
