VW Plug-in Hybrid Mid-Size SUV Seen At Detroit Auto Show
The 2015 Detroit Auto Show was the site of a preview for a new VW plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV. Called the Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Concept, it is a blend of the CrossBlue and CrossBlue Coupe concepts. If all this talk about concept cars means nothing to you, the Cross Coupe is going to be a five-passenger SUV.
Production of this vehicle will begin at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory in 2016. The Cross Coupe is actually not a two-door vehicle. It only resembles a couple in its body shape. It is a lower-profile mid-size SUV, which means it bears a resemblance to a coupe. The design is less bulky and boxy than some SUV designs. For example, the Land Rover is taller and has sharper angles where there are corners.
The Cross Coupe is lower and has more rounded corners. The windshield has a more swept look with a gentle slope and the roof line tapers to the back of the vehicle. Curves are also emphasized with large wheel wells. The overall effect is that of a modern, even slightly futuristic vehicle.
In fact, the modern styling is well aligned with the vehicle’s technology, which is quite current. A V6 gas engine is combined with two electric motors and a 14.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The gas engine and an electric motor power the front wheels, and one motor is for the rear wheels. Yes, this SUV is all-wheel drive and powerful.
The 0–60 time is just 6 seconds, and the top speed is 130 miles per hour.
The electric-only range is expected to be 20 miles. Many driving trips are for short distances, so this range might be sufficient in order to reduce gasoline consumption.
A Mitsubishi plug-in hybrid SUV reportedly will have about 30 miles of range when driving on electricity. Volvo is expected to produce a plug-in hybrid SUV for the North American market too, as is a BMW.
Image Credit: VW
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Most short trips are under 40 miles, but then again, anything better than the Prius’ 10 mile EV range is better. So how much is the estimated price of this contraption?
20 miles all electric is just stupid
time has come to fase out Hybrids in the line of EV cars
all electric is EV
the rest is gas car.
“The electric-only range is expected to be 20 miles. Many driving trips are for short distances, so this range might be sufficient in order to reduce gasoline consumption.”
“just stupid,” LOL, 20 miles of range used each day is 7300 miles per year. A pretty sizable chunk of real estate actually. Though with 30 or 35 miles of range you would cut gas use by 50 – 60% vs a gas only version.
Boring. Looks American.
Why not a plugin Sharan and Touran with 50km electric range…
The 2016 Volvo XC90 t8 will be a 7 seater with 40km electric range…400PS.
The Volt’s electric range is up to 50 miles with the 2016 model, and other plug in hybrid competitors can’t get to half that. Kudos to GM.
20 miles all electric range is 32 kilometers. Not too bad given that here in Australia most cars are only driven an average of about 40 kilometers a day, so many people here could basically do all their town driving on electricity. Also, here it would only take a few hours to completely charge the battery pack from an ordinary power point, so even an hour long commute could mostly be done on electricity if one can charge at work. (40 kilometers an hour is fairly typical average town driving speed here.) Sure, a lot of people are going to want longer all electric range, but for many it’s not too bad.
UGLY.
I like the looks, not sure what the visibility is like with that low roof though.
32km all electric is kinda lame, I would rather it have a smaller 4cyl. engine and more batteries, sacrificing the hp and acceleration for a greener driving experience.
Sounds nice, and like some of the other BYD offerings I wish that they were available in the US. It has been disappointing that the Chinese are getting access to longer range reasonably priced EV’s before we can.
Have heard some stories that China and Canada have set up a trade agreement that includes electric vehicles going to Canada, maybe I can sneak one back down over the border next year instead of having to wait until ’17 on the other manufacturers.
Go to China. Buy a BYD and drive it around for a while. Import it as a used car.
You’ll have to make sure it will pass US safety standards but you probably would’t want to put your family into one if it didn’t.
http://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car
That is one possibility, but the trip, stay and shipping fees would pretty much negate any financial advantage.
I can’t confirm if this is true or not, but BYD’s advertising in China claims safety standards as good or better than foreign imports especially on the better quality models done with Daimler.
For the emissions and pollution requirements, an EV should have no problems passing them.
I was just kind of daydreaming Bob, the Model X is going to meet our requirements for a work and travel vehicle, but I would also like to find a commuter vehicle for the wife to get us all electric. That means something that can go 120 miles at mostly highway speeds in the morning, recharge during the day and make it back that night, two days a week. I know it seems like a crazy commute, and it does make for a long day, but she gets paid such a ridiculous amount for doing so that it is preferred to working up here for five days a week to make the same money.
120 miles at highway speed. That’s the X. Or the 3. The X should get her there and back on a single charge.
A used Leaf for the ‘stay at homes’ to go to the Post Office.
It is only through a rare blessing of the gods that we will be able to afford one Model X and I will need its cargo, towing and all wheel drive to take care of what needs doing up here, and thankfully it will have space for kids, dogs, luggage for the long trips several times a year.
So to go all electric we will need another that can do the long range too, so the 3,Bolt, or possibly longer range Leafs or Golf’s are eagerly anticipated.
I know that these types of requirements are unusual, but that is our circumstances for wanting to live where we do. Twenty-five years of mandatory city/urban life for work was my limit though, for whatever time I have left, and to raise the boys in the sunshine and fresh air, we are staying up here in the mountains
I’m going to go all devil’s advocate on you ….
Let your wife make her very long commutes in the safety and luxury of an X or 3.
Get a limited range EV for the 90% of your local driving. You don’t want to beat up a really nice car with ordinary trips to grocery.
And use a 4wd pickup for what hauling and towing you need to do around the place. I’ve got a 10 year old Toyota that gets driven about 2,000 miles a year. It should last longer than I do. Extended cab and you can pile in the whole crew.
The X/3 will only be gone two days a week. If not everyone fits in a used Leaf then make your whole family trips on one of the other five days. The X/3 will be available for the long family trips since your wife won’t be working anyway.