The Beijing Motor Show reveal of Volkswagen’s latest design study, the Midsize Coupé Concept, hints at a sharper looking but better packaged sedan that could well cover the bases currently occupied by the firm’s Jetta and Passat offerings.
At 4 597 mm long 1 422 mm high and 1 838 mm wide, the Volkswagen Midsize Coupé Concept is marginally shorter, lower and wider than the current Passat. Volkswagen’s modular MQB platform, which also forms the bones of such models as the Golf 7 and Audi A3, underpins the concept and adopts much of the suspension componentry currently doing service in the former.
The styling comprises clean, creased surfaces interspersed with such production-viable addenda as the familial headlamp/grille treatment and straked LED brakelamps. The profile is typical coupé/sedan cross, with a steeply raked windscreen and narrowly bowed silhouette. Such features as the ‘Dragon Red’ paint job, deep front valance with built-in C-shaped LED daytime running lights, and 20-inch two-tone alloys serve to liven things up a bit as the cabin is no concept-flavoured flight of fancy, being largely based on that of the Golf 7.
Despite its compact packaging, Volkswagen claims that the car doesn’t succumb to the small rear seat syndrome that usually affects four-door coupés, instead offering up genuine seating for five adults and a cavernous 500 dm3 boot.
Volkswagen’s proviso of the car playing the dual role of sedan and sportscar means that the Volkswagen Midsize Coupé Concept plays host to the Golf 7 GTI’s 2,0-litre TSI turbopetrol engine. Developing 162 kW and coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, this unit will reportedly propel the Concept to speeds of up to 244 km/h while returning a fuel consumption of 6,4 litres/100 km.
Although Volkswagen has labelled the concept a styling study that hints at the versatility of the MQB platform, it’s also claimed to be a foreshadowing of the sort of midsize models on the horizon. Speculation could well suggest a Jetta/Passat replacement, possibly encompassing a booted Golf GTI that could potentially net customers put off by the limited practicality of the hatchback.
