New Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

Volkswagen is expanding its model range at high speed. New cars with the VW emblem on the radiator grille are making their débuts in each and every market around the world - cars that will go on sale immediately and cars that will enhance the range in the near future. Volkswagen is currently presenting examples of tomorrow's vehicles - initially as concept vehicles - at important trade fairs around the globe. In January the company presented a mid-size SUV in Detroit that is specially designed for the US market: the Cross Coupé GTE - a large Sport Utility Vehicle in the five-metre class. 

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

In March 2015 the Sport Coupé Concept GTE debuted in Geneva - a four-door sports car for markets on all continents, positioned between the B- and C-segment. Now the large C Coupé GTE is following - as a world premiere in Shanghai. The sports saloon with a length of around five metres sprints right into the middle of the C-segment. If it were to go into production it would find its place between the Passat and the Phaeton. Explaining the design concept of the concept car, Walter de Silva, Head of Design of the Volkswagen Group, says: "Saloons have changed hugely in recent years. The new design of the rear that is oriented to the classic two-door "coupé" has given them more personality. The Volkswagen designers have integrated this stylistic element into the very dynamic design of the C Coupé GTE saloon; they have developed a striking front end and given the vehicle its own authentic character. They have created a model that appeals to Chinese customers, who always follow the trends of European car design with great interest."

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

System power 245 PS, fuel consumption 2.3 litres per 100 km

The C Coupé GTE presented at Auto Shanghai (20 to 29 April 2015) has one of the world's most modern plug-in hybrid systems on board. It consists of a turbocharged direct injection petrol engine (TSI) with four cylinders, an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the electric motor integrated in the gearbox module and a lithium-ion battery. The TSI has a power output of 155 kW / 210 PS and the electric motor 91 kW / 124 PS. The battery integrated at the rear has energy content of 14.1 kWh. The hybrid drive develops 180 kW / 245 PS of system power and impressive system torque of 500 Nm. 

Thanks to the battery that can be charged both externally and whilst driving, the concept car can travel up to 50 kilometres powered purely by electricity i.e. without any local emissions. (Maximum speed in "E-Mode": 130 km/h). It has combined fuel consumption (NEDC for plug-in hybrid vehicles) of 2.3 l/100 km; this corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 55 g/km. The vehicle has a total range of more than 1,100 kilometres. Despite being so efficient, the C Coupé GTE is an agile premium class model: the Volkswagen accelerates to 100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 232 km/h. The driver can choose between the operating modes "Hybrid", "E-Mode", "GTE" and "Battery Charge/Battery Hold".

Hybrid

The concept car starts by default in Hybrid mode. The C Coupé GTE is a full hybrid, which charges its battery via regenerative braking and automatically utilises the right combination of TSI and/or electric motor according to the specific driving situation. As soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, and the battery is sufficiently charged, all drive sources are shut off and decoupled from the drivetrain. This is a special form of "coasting". Zero emissions are produced in this mode. If the driver decelerates the vehicle and the battery is insufficiently charged, the electric motor operates as a generator and feeds the energy recovered from braking into the lithium-ion battery. In this case, the TSI is also shut off and decoupled.