Klaus Bischoff, Executive Director of Volkswagen Design, has confirmed that the Volkswagen Cross Coupé concept shown at the Tokyo motor show shows off design themes of all future SUVs friom the company.
"It is the future face of all VW SUVs," he said.
The Cross Coupé also previews the bold new look of its second-generation Tiguan. Sitting on the German car maker’s versatile new MQB platform, the new four-seater, four-wheel drive petrol-electric hybrid is officially described as a cross between a four-door coupé and compact SUV, which has led many to speculate that Volkswagen is considering a second compact off-roader model in the mould of the Range Rover Evoque.
However, Volkswagen sources close to design boss Walter de Silva have confirmed to Autocar that the Cross Coupé has a broader brief in previewing a new design lineage that will be adopted by all of the company’s upcoming SUV models, including the next Tiguan due out in 2014.
“We won’t rule out the possibility of adding a sportier SUV to the Volkswagen line-up at some time. But the main message with the Cross Coupé is its styling, which stands for the future of SUV design at Volkswagen,” Autocar was told.
The Cross Coupé combines front-end styling elements first seen on Volkswagen-owned Giugiaro penned Tex and Go concepts wheeled out at the Geneva motor show earlier this year with heavily sculptured surfaces throughout. It has a highly defined shoulder – or tornado line as de Silva refers to it – higher waistline, shallow side glass, heavily angled tailgate, distinctive wheel arch design and 20-inch alloy wheels shod with substantial 265/45 profile tyres.
The five-door Cross Coupé is both considerably bolder than the existing Tiguan, whose design dates back to 2005 and a former Volkswagen design team headed by Murat Gunak.
Inside, Volkswagen has provided its latest concept with a classy Audi-esque cabin with a sweeping dashboard whose various horizontal design elements mirror those of the exterior, a hi-tech instrument display combining traditional analogue and the latest in computer enhanced graphics. It also has grab handles incorporated into the centre pod and four heavily contoured seats separated by a high set centre tunnel which is used to store a battery that powers the concept’s electric motors.
At 4345mm in length, 1868mm in width and 1523mm in height, the Cross Coupé is 125mm shorter, 58mm wider and a significant 177mm lower than today’s first generation Tiguan. It also rides on a wheelbase that is 26mm longer at 2630mm – allied to tracks that up by 15mm at the front and by 43mm at the rear at 1585mm and 1613mm respectively. Nominal boot space underneath the rear windows is put at 380 litres – or 90 litres less than the Tiguan, rising to 1230 litres when the rear seats are folded away.
Thanks to: Autocar
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