Volkswagen unveils Cross Coupé GTE at NAIAS 2015

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the Cross Coupé GTE concept at the Detroit motor show 2015. It follows suit of the CrossBlue that was showcased at the Detroit show in 2013 and the CrossBlue Coupé that made an appearance at the Shanghai show later that year. It also carries on the eco-friendly credentials, and is touted to eventually be a seven-seater SUV.

The petrol-electric hybrid draws power from a transversely-mounted 3.6-litre V6 unit and two electric motors, one up front and one at the rear. The combined output stands at 355bhp and 51kgm of torque. It gives the Cross Coupé GTE a claimed 0-100kph sprint time of 6 seconds, and a top speed of 210kph. The electric motors are powered by a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery housed within the central tunnel. All the power is channelled through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It has the ability to be either a front-, rear- or four-wheel drive car, with five different driving modes namely – E-mode, Hybrid, GTE, Off-road and Battery Hold/Battery Charge.

The Volkswagen Cross Coupé GTE is 4847mm in length, 2030mm in width and 1736mm in height. It rides on a modified MQB platform that is used in a variety of cars under the VW Group. Styling is more classy than aggressive, but the entire silhouette is similar to the CrossBlue's.

Cosmetically, the face is dominated by the wide, dual-slat grille. It runs all the way into the small LED headlamp clusters. There are lots of creases on the car that give it a sharper look. At the rear, there’s a large tailgate with a steeply-raked window and large spoiler. Inside the cabin, the shades used are rather light. The dashboard is minimal and uncluttered, while the entire theme is restrained yet elegant.

The Cross Coupé GTE is expected to go into production by the end of 2016 and will be targeted at international markets when it's launched later.