Volkswagen is reportedly unveiling a five-passenger crossover at the Detroit Auto Show in January, which will be based on the CrossBlue concept.
The larger CrossBlue concept that made its debut at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show is set to enter production at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant by the end of 2015. The name of the vehicle has not yet been confirmed.
There is also a smaller CrossBlue Coupe that was unveiled at the 2013 China Auto Show in Shanghai, so a version of that concept may be what arrives at the Detroit Auto Show next month. Volkswagen indicated that the Coupe could also enter production in 2015, but no official timeline has been confirmed.
The smaller five-seat CrossBlue Coupe is similar in size to the Audi Q3, but gets it styling cues from the larger CrossBlue concept. At the time of the reveal in 2013, the Coupe was powered by a hybrid configuration of a V6 TSI engine that makes 295 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a lithium-ion battery powering two electric motors for extra 54 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque.
The new crossover will fill the large price and size gap between Volkswagen’s current crossovers the Tiguan and Touareg. The base Tiguan model has an MSRP of $24,990, while the base Touareg model starts at $49,675.
The Detroit Auto Show – also known as the North American International Auto Show – will open its doors to the public on January 12, 2015. Other debuts this year will include the revamped Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Tacoma.
