Intriguing news from Volkswagen in Detroit with the long-awaited new seven-seat SUV – the CrossBlue concept – debuting…as a six seater. We’re fairly confident the production version will be a seven-seater and first glimpse of the newcomer shows a good-looking full-size SUV.
In fact the CrossBlue is about the same size as the current Touareg and, based on the much-hyped MQB platform, does show some styling cues from the off-roader.
Interesting technology underneath with the Volkswagen CrossBlue powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel hybrid drivetrain – a configuration favoured by former Volkswagen chief Bernd Pichetsrieder. The turbo-diesel delivers 140kW of power and an electric motor chimes-in with 40kW. Another 85kW electric motor is mounted aft and drives the rear wheels.
Volkswagen says the CrossBlue can cover more than 22kms on pure electric power (batteries are 9.8kWk lithium-ion).
The CrossBlue is slated for production at Volkswagen’s plant in Tennessee with North American sales commencing in 2015.
No word on right-hand-drive production.
