Tokyo motor show 2011 - Volkswagen Cross Coupe

Volkswagen has wowed the Tokyo show with the Cross Coupe concept, a Golf based four-seat Range Rover Evoque rival that could be built by 2014.

The concept is being billed as a design study and is based on the next-generation Golf and Audi A3 platform. However, VW research and development boss Ulrich Hackenberg gave strong hints to What Car? that it will be built and could even be joined by a three-door version.

'This concept is very different to a new Tiguan, it’s more sporty and appeals to different customers. The SUV segment is growing so there will be a diversification of SUVs,' he said. 'If customers like it, we will build it.’

Hackenburg also hinted that many of the Cross Coupe’s features could also make production. The concept is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine with a seven-speed DSG gearbox, assisted by two electric motors, one on the front axle, one on the rear – making it a hybrid four-wheel drive.

It can also be driven for 24 miles on electric power alone. This system doesn’t save weight over a conventional four-wheel-drive system but does hugely improve fuel economy and emissions. The show car can produce the equivalent of 104mpg and just 65g/km of CO2 emissions.

VW’ design boss, Klaus Bischoff, also indicated that the Cross Coupe’s styling cues will end up on all future VW SUVs, especially the grille and light treatment.

Hackenberg admitted that the interior of the Cross Coupe concept is less likely to make production and is more fanciful than the exterior. However, it does point to the way VW SUV interiors could go. The display has three modes: Sport, City and Offroad, selected by a rotary knob. In each of the three modes there is a customised screen layout and different colour.