Volkswagen unveils today during a press
conference at the North American International Auto Show the concept T,
a crossover vehicle blending a high-capability off-roader and an equally
uncompromising sports car. With this automobile, Europe's most
successful auto manufacturer is showing how the off-road and sports car
worlds can be combined in future to produce a new and fascinating facet
of the automotive experience - the off-road coupe.
Volkswagen enjoys a long tradition of world premieres for innovative and
surprising concept cars in Detroit: In this arena, the concept 1
(concept for the New Beetle), the AAC (concept for Touareg) and the
avant-garde Microbus among others made their debut. Until now, no sports
car has been flexible enough in terms of drive properties to allow for
driving off paved road surfaces. The concept T fills this gap. The
off-road coupe is equipped with wing doors and harmonizes the
fascination of a thoroughbred sports car with the variability of a true
off-roader, thereby bringing completely new lifestyle and leisure values
within reach.
The concept car is propelled by a 177 kW / 241 h.p. V6 engine. This
power is fed to the wheels by 4MOTION all-wheel drive in conjunction
with an automatic gearbox (Tiptronic). The concept T accelerates to 100
km/h (62.5 mph) in 6.9 seconds and its top speed is electronically
limited to 230 km/h (144 mph).
The wing doors are a highlight of the body both in terms of styling and
technology. When opening, they simultaneously swing outwards slightly
and move upwards steeply. The advantage: getting in and out is made
especially comfortable, while the doors require comparatively little
space out to the side when opened. The two halves of the roof at the
front (T-bar roof) of the concept T can be removed in only a few
motions. The rear roof module is constructed as a hardtop with
integrated trunk lid, but can be removed as well to reveal even more of
the sky.
Seen from the front, the concept T is characterized by its V-shaped
radiator grille integrated in the bumper, as well as by the eye-like
headlights. The headlights "float” between the bumper and the fenders in
order to emphasize the off-road character of the car. The fenders
themselves have wide cut-outs. The overall effect is that the 19 inch
wheels are free-standing.
The body overhang at the rear is even shorter than at the front. Here
too, the tail light assemblies "float” and are integrated in the bumper
and wings. The striking stainless steel tailpipes of the exhaust system
are located inboard to the tail lights. This high position offers the
advantage that the tailpipes do not restrict the ramp exit angle for
off-road driving.
Viewed from the side, the design of the rear fenders is that of a
classically curved hip. In the rear area, the extremely wide fenders
form muscular haunches; towards the front, their flank line blends
seamlessly into the outer door panel. This line is stretched like a bow
string over two thirds of the off-road coupe and ends in the middle in
front of the front wheel arch. Taken together with the end point of the
front door, this creates an arrow-shaped design which emphasizes the
dynamic properties of the car.
The interior of the off-road coupe is also progressive with its
ergonomic aluminum flex shell seats. The concept car has a sporting,
purist interior, in which a soft plastic material with a satiny surface
structure is used for the fittings, door trim and seats. This "outdoor
trim” can be exchanged for a leather "downtown trim” using quick-release
fastenings. In addition, the interior offers the highest degree of
variability: There is plenty of storage space under the station
wagon-like rear section either for the outwardly visible spare wheel and
luggage, only for luggage or for a second row of seats plus luggage.
The information in the cockpit is projected onto a head-up display.
Another new feature is the type of data communication and the individual
settings in the concept T: The Personal Mobility Gateway (PMG) is a
wireless communication unit. It resembles a palmtop computer (PDA) in
terms of form and function. The driver and passenger can use the PMG to
control functions such as the air-conditioning. In addition, they can
take the PMG with them out of the concept T and use it as a PDA for
controlling the telephone, high-speed Internet and e-mail access as well
as the MP3 player and the navigation system.
