India-bound VW T-Cross (Hyundai Creta beater) on track for year-end unveil

29/06/2018 - 09:58 VW T-Cross, Volkswagen Dhruv Saxena

The VW T-Cross will be unveiled before the close of 2018. Test mules of the crossover with scantily camouflaged production bodies have been spotted testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany signalling that Volkswagen is almost ready with the T-Cross SUV.

VW T-Cross SUV on track for end 2018 unveil — Volkswagen has based the entry-level T-Cross on the MQB A0 platform.

The T-Cross is the production version of the VW T-Cross Breeze concept, albeit with a 5-door hardtop body style. It is based on the MQB A0 platform that underpins the VW Polo and the Seat Ibiza. Positioned below the VW T-Roc, the T-Cross will become Volkswagen's smallest crossover when it goes on sale next year rivaling SUVs with around 4m length.

Test units have been spotted sporting conventional halogen headlamps, upper grille with three horizontal louvers, and superelliptical fog lamp enclosures. It rides on 5-split spoke rims. Spy pictures also reveal black cladding towards the lower side edges of the body, roof rails, roof spoiler, and LED tail lamp signature. Higher-spec grades of the VW T-Cross may get LED headlamp units.

As reported in April, the VW T-Cross will enter production by mid-December. First markets will receive the crossover in January 2019.

The T-Cross may borrow the 1.0 L TSI, 1.0 L TGI, 1.5 L TSI Evo and 1.6 L TDI engines from the Polo. 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, and 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission are options likely to be offered to customers. The availability of a 4MOTION AWD system is unconfirmed.

VW T-Cross Breeze concept headlamp, grille, fog lamp at the Geneva Motor Show Live — The T-Cross is the 5-door hardtop version of the T-Cross Breeze Concept from the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

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Its India launch prospects have been given a boost with the recent announcement by Volkswagen India revealing that Skoda will proceed with the development and localisation of the MQB A0 platform. The cost-effective version of this platform christened 'MQB A0 IN' will spawn a crossover based on the Skoda Vision X concept. VW may concurrently leverage this platform for the T-Cross for the Indian market. If launched, it will turn a direct rival to the Hyundai Creta, Renault Captur and the forthcoming Nissan Kicks.