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Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept Makes its Debut

Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept Makes its Debut

Volkswagen unveiled the six- seater CrossBlue concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

We mentioned late last year that Volkswagen was looking to introduce two new SUV’s in their future model line-up. Last year saw Volkswagen unveiling the Taigun which will slot in below the Volkswagen Tiguan whilst the CrossBlue will slot in between the Tiguan and the larger Touareg.

Volkswagen states the CrossBlue has been specifically made to target the US and Canadian market.

The CrossBlue features a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a TDI engine with two electric motors, a DSG transmission, and an electric all-wheel-drive system dubbed ‘propshaft by wire’, and offers a claimed fuel consumption 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres.

The CrossBlue powertrain produces up to 200kW and 700 Nm: 0 to 97km/h is estimated to take 7.0 seconds, while the top speed is 201km/h, or 126km/h in electric mode. The CrossBlue runs in zero emissions mode at the press of a button or automatically. With a fully charged battery, the CrossBlue can travel up to 22.5km in electric mode in the US test cycle, or 33 km using the European driving cycle. It has a potential range of 1063km from a combination of the 70-litre fuel tank and battery power.

The CrossBlue is based on Volkswagen’s new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) components set. Its 190 PS TDI diesel engine is from the new EA288 family, matched to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 9.8 kWh lithium-ion battery lies in the vehicle’s centre tunnel, and powers 40 kW front and 85 kW rear electric motors.

The TDI engine produces 400 Nm (295 lbs ft) from just 1,750 rpm, while the electric motors produce their torque – 180 Nm (133 lbs ft) at the front and 270 Nm (199 lbs ft) at the rear – immediately. Combined, the system can produce up to 700 Nm.

In E-mode, only the rear electric motor propels the vehicle and the TDI engine is shut off and decoupled. At up to 75 mph, the engine is not engaged as long as the battery has sufficient charge. As soon as there is a need for TDI power, it is coupled to the drivetrain again, within fractions of a second. The battery can be charged by external power sources or by the engine while the vehicle is moving.

The CrossBlue concept is 4,987 mm long, 2,015 mm wide, and 1,733 mm high. A wide track of 1,686 mm (front) and 1,696 mm (rear) give it a confident stance on the road, as do
21-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/45 tyres, and flared wheel arches.

The CrossBlue has two ‘fuel doors’: one for the diesel tank on the passenger side, and one covering two electrical sockets on the driver’s side. The first socket is to charge the lithium ion battery and the second can be used to connect electrical devices.

While the CrossBlue concept car is equipped with six individual seats in three rows, in a production version, the second row would have the option of three seats to make it a full seven-seater. Headroom is excellent throughout the vehicle: 1,077 mm up front, 1,020 mm in the middle row, and 954 mm in the rear. Legroom is ample, too, with 947 mm in the middle row and 917 mm in the back. Convenient access to the rear seats is assured by sliding second-row seats that can be managed with a single hand movement.

Behind the third seating row is a cargo area of 335 litres (length 600 mm). With the third row folded, cargo capacity grows to 815 litres and load length to 1,387 mm, figures that increase to nearly 2,000 litres and 2,230 mm with the middle row stowed. A forward-folding front passenger seat makes for a maximum 3,110 mm load length.

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