New five-seater plug-in hybrid concept car, the Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show today.DETROIT — Aimed at revving up its sport utility vehicle sales, Volkswagen today took the wraps off a concept of a new 5-seat SUV that could be assembled in Chattanooga.
Dubbed the Cross Coupe GTE, the five-door vehicle would be a slightly smaller version of the 7-seat midsize CrossBlue which is slated for production at Chattanooga’s plant in late 2016.
“For us, it’s important to come up with a new design approach for America,” said Klaus Bischoff, chief designer for the VW brand, to a small group of journalists prior to the opening of the North American International Auto Show media preview on Monday.
He said that some of the elements of the concept, a light metallic blue exterior, would find their way into the 7-seater, but the Coupe would appeal to a somewhat different motorist.
“It’s a strong signal of what we’ll do,” Bischoff said.