The long-awaited
Volkswagen T-Cross could premiere as soon as the Paris Auto Show this fall.
Based on these spy shots of the crossover, we think a launch could indeed be
just a few months away.
Snapped testing high in some European mountains,
this T-Cross prototype has shed a significant amount of camouflage and bears
some similarities to the concept. However, the exterior design appears far more
restrained than the show car, making the vehicle look largely like a small
version of the Tiguan.
At the front, headlights similar in shape to those
from the Tiguan are featured alongside a grille with three horizontal slats.
Elsewhere, the short front and rear overhangs are particularly pronounced while
black and white camouflage shields important elements on the rear fascia from
view.
If you’re confused by Volkswagen’s recent SUV naming
scheme, you’re not alone. The German marque unveiled its eye-catching T-Roc
crossover towards the end of next year as a larger alternative to the T-Cross.
It’s unclear what powertrains the T-Cross will be
offered with but we wouldn’t be surprised to find some of the T-Roc’s engines
feature. For example, these could include a 187 hp 2.0-liter TSI, a 147 hp
2.0-liter TDI, 147 hp 1.5-liter TSI, 113 hp 1.6 TDI, and a 187 hp 2.0 TDI. A
dual-clutch transmission and a six-speed manual are both expected to be
available. The front-wheel
drive is set to be the only configuration. Underpinning the T-Cross will be the
same MQB platform as the Polo.
In April, Volkswagen revealed that it will build the
T-Cross SUV in south Brazil at its Sao Jose dos Pinhais plant. When it
launches, the VW T-Cross will rival the likes of the Nissan Juke and Peugeot
2008.
