VW Cross Coupe GTE Concept Hints at New Mid-Size Crossover for U.S.

VW is previewing its plans for the North American market with a new mid-size crossover concept named Cross Coupe GTE at the Detroit Motor Show.
It’s the third crossover concept from VW in two years after the seven-seater CrossBlue from the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and the very similar CrossBlue Coupe from the 2014 Shanghai Auto Show.

In the German carmaker's own words, the study "shows the future design language for Volkswagen's North American SUVs". VW said that at the end of 2016, it will produce a seven-seater mid-size SUV at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, adding that the new concept serves as a preview to this vehicle.

If you're confused, you're not alone, as the 7-seater model should be closer to the 2013 CrossBlue concept, while the Cross Coupe GTE looks like a refined version of the 2014 CrossBlue Coupe for a BMW X6-style mid-size crossover from VW.

Like the other two studies, the concept car presented in Detroit is based on VW's MQB architecture and it measures 190.8 inches (4,846mm) long, 79.9 inches (2,029mm) wide and 68.3 inches (1,735mm) tall.

It can seat up to five passengers and features a hybrid powertrain that combines a 3.6-liter VR6 gasoline engine delivering 276hp and 258 pound-feet of torque with two electric motors producing 54hp and 162 lb-ft (front) and 114hp and 199 lb- ft (rear). The electric motors are powered by a compact lithium-ion battery housed in the center tunnel, which is rated at 14.1 kWh.

The total system output adds up to 355hp and 280 lb-ft, pushing the Cross Coupe GTE onto a top speed of 130 mph (209km/h) and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96km/h) in 6.0 seconds. The driver can select an E-Mode in which the 114-hp rear electric motor drives the vehicle shutting down the VR6 engine for up to 20 miles (32 kilometers).

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After GTI, Consumer Reports Tries out Regular VW Golf Too

The Consumer Reports first drive of (a Euro-spec) Volkswagen Golf leaves nothing to question, just like the car itself. It makes it clear that you can’t really fault it on the mundane stuff (space, practicality, economy or drive), and that American buyers should give it more of a shot than they previously, as this seventh incarnation coming in early 2014 is bigger inside and out, yet lighter than before and very efficient.

The Golf, like most other US-bound VWs, ditches the 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated petrol engine as the range base, replacing it with a new 1.8-liter turbo unit that offers the same power as before (170 hp), yet a bit more torque, most of which is served low in the rev range.

As usual, whenever a car reviewer climbs aboard a modern VW, he or she raves on about how everything is nice to the touch and feels well screwed together – the new Golf is no exception, though I do feel that it’s a step down in perceived solidity from the brick-like Mark V model.

To me it just felt a bit flimsier than before, and the seat no longer goes down as low as it did in the older models thanks to the MQB platform (SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia both have the same issue).

However, Golfs destined for the American market are not going to be imported from Europe, being built instead at the group’s Puebla plant, in Mexico.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Ever Had One of Those Days When Everything Goes Wrong?

We certainly all know about having "a case of the Mondays", the "Monday blues" or as Prince wrote and The Bangles [sic…] vocalized, a "Manic Monday", but for this poor Swedish driver of an older Volkswagen Passat estate, Tuesday was just not his day.

Filmed here from a security camera at a gas station in the Swedish city of Falun, the man had connected the fuel pump to his car, and while he was waiting, he decides to check the fluid levels under the hood and use the water gun to fill up the washer.

From there on, it all goes…down the hill. Check out what happened in the video that follows the break.

VIDEO

VW Surprised by the Popularity of its Diesel Models in the U.S.

Volkswagen of America CEO Jonathan Browning said he’s surprised by the rate Americans are adopting diesel-powered models. Volkswagen is the market leader in the light-duty diesel vehicle segment in the U.S., holding a 72 percent market share - the equivalent of about 90,000 cars per year.

In the first ten months of this year, diesel vehicles made up 22 percent of Volkswagen of America’s total sales, far exceeding the company’s expectations. As the first diesel model in the U.S. mid-size sedan market, the VW Passat TDI had a key contribution to this result.

VW worried that customers may not only be reluctant to diesel, but to the brand as well, as it had to conquest a lot of customers from competitors. “We thought the step to convert them to the Volkswagen brand was going to be a fairly substantial step in itself, and then it would be an even bigger step to convert to diesel,” Jonathan Browning was quoted as saying by Autocar.

Browning added that diesel models suit American driving habits and the fuel economy they deliver is just incredible for consumers.

“In fact, because it is such a compelling offer – almost 800 miles range, and with the typical US driving profile, it is possible to get even better-than-published fuel economy with the diesel because there’s a lot of highway driving – customers are just raving about it,” the executive added.

VW originally expected 17 percent of Passat sales to be diesels, but the Passat TDI’s share is getting closer to 30 percent.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

EuroNCAP Awards Only 4 Stars to BMW i3, Ford EcoSport, Nissan Note, Mercedes Citan and VW T5 [w/Videos]

EuroNCAP has released a fresh batch of crash-test results for new vehicles, and not everyone will be happy after seeing the outcome. The recently launched BMW i3 EV, Ford EcoSport and Nissan Note only received four stars out of a maximum of five, with the VW T5 van also awarded with four stars. The Mercedes-Benz Citan was reassessed and obtained a four star rating, after only receiving three stars in its first crash test.

While the BMW i3 did well in terms of adult occupant protection (86 percent) and child occupant protection (81 percent), it was penalized for a rather low score on pedestrian protection (57 percent) and for the lack of safety assist systems like a speed assistance system - although BMW offers an optional sign recognition speed limit system, EuroNCAP said it doesn’t reach its minimum fitment rate to be assessed. The score of 55 percent for safety assist (shared with the Ford EcoSport) is the lowest from this latest crash test session.

Speaking of the Ford EcoSport, the small SUV got a good rating for adult occupant protection (93 percent), managed 77 percent for child occupant protection and only 58 percent for pedestrian protection.

The Nissan Note scored 86 percent on adult occupant protection, 82 percent on child occupant protection, but only 58 percent for pedestrian protection. However, it got the highest rating for safety assist (70 percent) of the 4-star rated cars, together with the Mercedes-Benz Citan, thanks to the availability of a speed assistance system.

The Mercedes-Benz Citan returned for a reassessment after only getting 3 stars in May this year. It did better this time, getting a 4-star overall rating with a score of 79 percent for adult occupant protection, 81 percent for child occupant protection, 56 percent for pedestrian protection and 70 percent for safety assist.

Finally, the facelifted VW T5 accepted 4 stars, although it was the worst in terms of pedestrian protection, with a low rating of 32 percent. Adult occupant protection and child occupant protection were reasonable at 79 percent and 74 percent, respectively, while safety assist was rated at 57 percent.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

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