LA Live - VW CrossBlue Coupe Concept

22/11/2013 - 09:06 VW CrossBlue, Volkswagen, 2013 LA Auto Show Anjan Ravi

VW has decided to show the CrossBlue Coupe Concept at the 2013 LA Auto Show. This is the second time this year we're seeing the CrossBlue Coupe, after its world premiere in April at the Auto Shanghai. VW doesn't give a reason for showing this concept twice, though we know exactly what they're up to: The CrossBlue SUV could enter production in the US, and VW is probably showing the coupe to get feedback.

The CrossBlue Coupe is the five-seater, four-door, coupe version of the full-sized CrossBlue SUV that world premiered in January this year at the Detroit Motor Show. Like the CrossBlue, it uses VW's modern MQB platform.

We notice that VW has downgraded the specifications of the CrossBlue Coupe, and once again a reason is not given for this. The engine, a turbocharged direct-injection (TSI) V6 petrol combined with two electric motors producing 415 hp, is the same. Even the 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds and top-speed of 147 mph (235 km/h) is the same.

The electric-only range has reduced from 20.5 miles (33 km) to 13 miles (20.9 km) while the overall range has gone down from 739 miles (1,190 km) to 570 miles (917 km). This maybe partly because the lithium-ion battery is now a 9.8 kWh unit, as against the 9.9 kWh unit that was seen on the Shanghai show car.