Volkswagen tips its hand for a sport coupe position above the CC in its lineup, plus an all-new design language, with its Sport Coupe Concept GTE making its public debut at the Geneva Auto Show this week.
The automaker says the concept slots in the C-segment above the Passat and CC models and would be aimed at buyers looking for the functionality of a large hatchback with the interior space of a sedan.
“The Sport Coupe Concept GTE is another milestone of expressive design,” Klaus Bischoff, head of VW-brand design, says in a statement. “With this concept car, Volkswagen is not only showing a new model’s design, but also initial glimpses of a new design era.”
The 4-door hatchback features a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of 3.0L TSI V-6 and two electric motors, combining for 374 hp. The powertrain is connected to the front wheels via a 6-speed DCT, but power can be directed through the rear wheels as well via the rear-mounted electric motor that generates 114 hp.
The model is said to have a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h), combined fuel economy of 118 mpg (0.5 L/100 km) and electric-only range of 32 miles (51 km).
Based on VW’s MQB architecture that underpins the Golf and several other models, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE measures 191.7 ins. (4,869 mm) overall and sits on a 118.9-in. (3,020-mm) wheelbase that maximizes interior room.
A unique front end and badging create a new design DNA for the Volkswagen brand, with the headlamps turned upward to resemble winglets of a modern jet airplane and framed in aluminum as one with the grille.
Inside, futuristic instrumentation includes what VW calls Active-Info Display that includes a 12.3-in. (31.2-cm) diagonal screen that “blends into the real border of the instrument cluster.” The graphics and display change according to the whether the car is being driven in electric or GTE mode. The system also can connect to a smartwatch worn by the driver to read biometric data and suggest routes – an exciting road or more-gentle byways – that best match his mood.
