Volkswagen has added its third Cross Coupe Concept to the range before the car has even rolled out of the factory. The Cross Coupe GTE Concept is an American specific model that showcases slightly different styling and an interior said to accommodate the American lifestyle – whatever that is.

Cross Coupe GTE Details

The Cross Coupe GTE is painted in a specific Grand Pacific Glacier blue. Most of the differences with the GTE variant are in the front end with a more aggressively designed face, accented with aluminium, LED headlights and gloss black. The GTE also maintains the coupe styled sloping roofline whilst sitting on 22-inch alloy wheels.

The new American design language continues at the rear with the design of the rear lights. The horizontal look of the tailgate and an aluminium panel extending right across the bumper follow this language. A skidplate with an integrated diffuser forms the final major design element at the back of the SUV.

Interior

Volkswagen says the interior has taken on completely new architecture so that the infotainment and instrument panel appear to be a single unit, but from the images we don’t really see it. All functions are controlled via touchscreen. The digital displays can be modified by the driver so that they have only what they want to see on the instrument cluster.

The driver and front passenger can manage all infotainment functions and the basic vehicle configuration via the 10.1-inch touchscreen, using proximity sensors and gesture control. Gesture control is a completely new feature, and allows occupants to swipe over a playlist from some distance away to browse and play tunes.

Two Electric Motors

The Cross Coupe GTE is powered by a 3.6-litre VR6 petrol engine, aided by two electric motors. The petrol engine pumps out 205 kW and 350 Nm on its own. The front electric motor helps out with an extra 40 kW and 220 Nm whilst the more powerful rear electric motor puts out 85 kW and 270 Nm. That makes the Cross Coupe an AWD vehicle with combined power capabilities of 265 kW and 380 Nm. VW claims it will hit 100kph in six seconds and top out at 210kph. The Cross Coupe GTE has the ability to run for up to 32km in pure electric mode.

The Cross Coupe GTE is slated for production at the end of 2016.