By 
If you take a look at the 2015 Volkswagen lineup, you’ll find sedans, hatchbacks, sporty coupes, and even premium sporty SUVs. There’s a gap in that lineup when it comes to midsize SUVs. In the US, where SUVs are so popular, that’s not just a gap, it’s a chasm. Volkswagen is about to close that gap.
Volkswagen announced that it will introduce a midsize sport utility vehicle based on the CrossBlue Concept that was a huge hit at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The design of the midsize SUV will be aimed at pleasing customers in the US As a testament to its commitment, VW plans to build the vehicle at its factory located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, across the United States. Let’s look at some of the features of the prototype on which the new midsize SUV will be based.
Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept
The Detroit auto show is always a good measure of what the American public wants from their cars. Automakers use that show to introduce new designs in the form of concept cars. If the American public gobbles them up, the automaker will most likely create a car based on that design. Wider and longer than the German automaker’s Touareg (79.3 inches wide and 196.3 inches long), the CrossBlue is shorter at 68.2 inches. That makes it six inches shorter than the Touareg, which should allow the vehicle to hold up better on the road with its wider, shorter stance.
Here are some other features of the CrossBlue:
Lots of ponies under the hood: A diesel hybrid, the CrossBlue makes 300 hp and 517 pound-feet of torque. Although the new vehicle will come with several powertrain options, the plug-in diesel will certainly be one of the options.
Automatic transmission: The CrossBlue featured a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Sips, not gulps of fuel: With 33 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, this midsize SUV will keep buyers from breaking the bank at the gas station.
Acceleration from zero to 60: Fast, going to highway speed from a standstill in just seven seconds.
Median price: At $31,500, this vehicle will be within the budget of most prospective SUV buyers.
Inside the car, the dashboard provides a clean, professional appearance. A center console with a touchscreen navigation panel separates the passenger seat from the driver’s seat. Cargo capacity with all seats occupied is 12 cubic feet. Fold down the third row of seats and it expands to 28 cubic feet. With more interior space than the Touareg or Tiguan, VW’s new SUV should be a popular choice with families.
With the CrossBlue, Volkswagen will be well prepared to compete head-to-head with midsize SUVs from other automakers in the US market. However, if you’re a Touareg or Tiguan fan, rest easy. The CrossBlue will not replace your favorite vehicle. It only adds to the options Volkswagen can offer the American public.
Find out more about Volkswagen’s planned midsize SUV at your local Volkswagen dealer. If you’re like most SUV fans at the Detroit auto show, you’ll be counting down the days until the vehicle arrives in a showroom near you.