The Tokyo Motor Show has kicked off and despite it being a shadow of its former self, Volkswagen has decided to use it as the venue to show off its new Cross Coupe concept, the first vehicle that rides on the marque's new modular transverse matrix architecture, which will form the basis of a number of future products within the wider VW group.
The Cross Coupe also gives us some hints of what to expect from the next generation of VW SUVs from a design perspective. Though it looks quite large, the Cross Coupe is actually smaller than the current Tiguan.
The concept is powered by a unique all-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain that features two electric motors (one on each axle) and a direct-injection, turbocharged petrol engine. The combined output from the system is just under 200 kW. In normal driving the engine and the front electric motor will share powering duties, but when road conditions demand all-wheel drive, the rear electric motor will kick in.
Volkswagen managed to fit the Cross Coupe's lithium-ion battery pack into the transmission tunnel where you would normally find a driveshaft. The benefits are obvious – increased passenger space and a lower center of gravity. The company claims that the Cross Coupe can drive for 40 km on electricity alone and that it can sprint to 97 km/h in around seven seconds.
