Today we unveiled a new Passat Concept Performance at the North American International Auto Show. The current Passat model was designed with the U.S. driver in mind, a strategy that proved to be very successful. Our designers wondered what would happen if we applied that strategy to an SUV, so we did. The result of that experiment—the CrossBlue SUV Concept—will be unveiled at the NAIAS.
The CrossBlue is a spacious midsize SUV with an advanced powertrain: a highly innovative plug-in hybrid powertrain with two electric motorsthat mates a TDI Clean Diesel engine. In addition to a DSG dual-clutch transmission and electric all-wheel-drive, the CrossBlue offers impressive performance with 305 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque to take you from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.0 seconds. It also offers an estimated fuel economy rating of 89 mpge combined in electric mode and 35 mpg as a hybrid—not bad for an SUV with six seats and a spacious cargo area.
In addition to being fuel-efficient, the CrossBlue Concept is easy on the eyes, both inside and out. Volkswagen of America worked closely with design leads in Germany to ensure that the CrossBlue Concept would appeal to drivers in North America. The CrossBlue’s exterior, painted in—what else?—CrossBlue Glass Flake, combines clean, timeless Volkswagen design with the masculine characteristics found in SUVs popular in North America, like flared wheel arches and 21-inch alloy wheels. The sculpted LED taillights are trimmed in aluminum, a theme that repeats once you move inside the CrossBlue.
The round controls for lights, four-wheel drive system, and climate control are flush mounted, but as soon as you start the engine, they emerge from their resting positions. Aluminum surrounds the edges of these controls as well as those of the air vents, switches, and steering wheel spokes. The distinctive interior is finished in dark-stained banana tree wood accents and marble gray and light beige St. Tropez leather trim.
But there’s more to the CrossBlue’s interior than just good looks. It’s highly functional—and highly cool. For proof, look no further than the 10.2-inch touchscreen (aluminum-framed, of course) that controls all infotainment functions and displays the status of the hybrid system. But the driver isn’t the only one who gets to have fun. Passengers in the second and third rows of seat can fully enjoy audio, video, and online entertainment via the iPad® mini devices integrated as monitors in the front-row head restraints. And to top it off, a Fender Premium Audio System ensures concert hall-quality sound throughout the CrossBlue.
The CrossBlue also offers several different driving modes, all available at the touch of a button. Choose from its default mode as a classic hybrid or Eco, Sport, Off-Road, EV, or Charging modes. Speaking of charging, the CrossBlue’s battery can be charged by external power sources or by the TDI engine while the vehicle is in motion.
Best of all, the CrossBlue can run in zero-emissions mode at the press of a button or automatically. With a fully charged 9.8kWh lithium-ion battery, it can travel 14 miles in all-electric mode, and if the 18.5-gallon fuel tank is filled with ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, the overall driving range is 661 miles.
If we do decide to put the CrossBlue into production, it would complement our Volkswagen SUV lineup, alongside the Tiguan and the Touareg (side note: we also unveiled the R-line trims for these vehicles at NAIAS today.) But first, we want to know what you think of it. Stop by the Volkswagen booth at the NAIAS and see the CrossBlue for yourself, or leave your thoughts in the comments.