Earlier, the sketches of the Volkswagen T-Cross has been teased by the company. This all-new compact SUV is now one of the sources of wide-ranging discussion in India. One launched in India, it will become a direct competitor of the Hyundai Creta. Considering Indian auto buyers’ excitement and expectations about this new compact SUV, we have collected several things that you may not know about it. Read on to discover.
The inexpensive MQB AO IN platform will be developed for the Indian car market by the German automaker. A series of new VW and Skoda vehicles will be underpinned by this platform, including the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross.
Do you remember that the Up! Platform supporting the sub-compact SUV concept – Taigun had been showcased by Volkswagen at the Delhi Auto Expo 2014. Nevertheless, the production of this SUV has been cancelled due to the high development cost. Now, to compete in the emerging but teeming Indian SUV segment, Volkswagen has decided to produce its smallest SUV, the T-Cross and some other SUVs based on the low-priced MQB AO IN platform.
Based on the low-cost MQB AO IN platform, the T-Cross will be the smallest SUV of Volkswagen
The Volkswagen T-Cross will be the first SUV product in the Indian auto market by Volkswagen group. The new SUV has been spotted testing many times so it is expected to be globally launched soon, maybe in late 2018 or early 2019. The launch of the car in India may occur in 2020. The production model of the T-Cross SUV will be debuted at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo.
First released at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the production model of the T-Cross has similar features with the T-ROC SUV but turns out to be a smaller version. Featuring an SUV-ish and sporty stance, the India-spec T-Cross SUV will come with the typical grille of VW which is also present on the T-ROC and Tigan. The vehicle will look aggressive in the front with wider polishing headlamps and a large Volkswagen logo in the centre, a thin chrome line under the grille which blends well with the LED DRLs.
The Volkswagen T-Cross front will look aggressive
The side profile is equipped with wide roof rails, a bold body cladding which extends across its body sides, outstanding wheel arches and large 17-inch alloy wheels,
The side profile of the Volkswagen T-Cross will be packed with prominent wheel arches, wide 17-inch alloy wheels, etc.
Coming to the rear, the aggressiveness will be further reinforced with dual pain schemes, a faux silver finished skid plate, LED C-shaped tail-lamps and a lightbar which horizontally runs across the tailgate.
The Volkswagen T-Cross rear will contribute to its aggressiveness
The Volkswagen T-Cross is 4,133mm long; 1,789mm wide; and 1,536mm high with a 2,565mm wheelbase and a 180mm ground clearance. The estimated kerb weight of the vehicle is about 1250kgs. The SUV comes with a standard 385-litre boot space, which can be expanded to as much as 1,281 litres by totally folding down the rear seats. The flexibility of the vehicle is further increased, thanks to the optional foldable front passenger seats.
Volkswagen T-Cross | Dimensions |
---|---|
Length | 4,133mm |
Width | 1,789mm |
Height | 1,536mm |
wheelbase | 2,565mm |
Ground clearance | 180mm |
Kerb weight | 1250kgs |
Boot space | 385 litres to 1,281 litres |
Despite the smaller size, the new Volkswagen T-Cross has a premium cabin with top-notch features across all variants. The common features across all T-Cross variants consist of lane departure alert, an anti-collision system with pedestrian detection.
The expected interior feature list of the base T-Cross variants includes
Simple music system
Height adjustable driving seat
Power windows
Over the base variants, the mid variants of the T-Cross lineup are packed with
Multi-functional driving wheel
Parking sensors in the front and rear
Air conditioning system
The top-of-the-line variant of the T-Cross is expected to come with the most cutting-edge features including
Leather-covered steering wheel
Sporty front seats
Ambient lighting
Customers can also add more optional features to the car, which include
Electronic instrument cluster
8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Autonomous cruise control
Keyless entry
Beat sound system
High-beam assist
Multiple-driving-mode system
Panoramic sunroof
Autonomous park assist
The Volkswagen T-Cross compact SUV comes with a premium and top-notch cabin
Braking duties of the T-Cross SUV would be undertaken by disc brakes in the front drum brakes in the rear. The safety features of the vehicle are expected to be comprised of
Twin front airbags
ABS with EBD
Rear parking sensors
Rear view camera
Engine immobilizer
Rear defogger
This impressive list of the features in the T-Cross SUV can ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable travelling experience for the passengers.
In the European auto markets, the T-Cross SUV will be offered with two motor options: 1.0L turbocharged petrol unit with 3 cylinders and 1.6L diesel unit with 4 cylinders. The petrol motor is good for two tune states: 94bhp and 113bhp. In the coming time, the SUV will also be powered by a gas-fueled 1.5L turbocharged engine with four cylinders which can deliver a max power of up to 148bhp. Transmission duties will be undertaken by a 5-speed MT, a 6-speed MT and a 7-speed dual-clutch unit. All variants of the Volkswagen T-Cross SUV are front-wheel drive.
For emerging markets including India, The T-Cross will receive power from a 1.0L TSI petrol motor which can generate a max power of 128bhp, a peak torque of 196Nm and a mileage of 16-18kmpl. The Polo and the Virtus in the international market are also powered by the same engine. Higher variants will also be available with the 1.4L petrol motor which can churn out a max power of 150bhp and a peak torque of 250Nm. Currently, there has been no revelation about the transmission duties of the India-bound Volkswagen T-Cross but we expect that they will be implemented by the same units as the European models.
Volkswagen T-Cross Engine Types | Max Power | Peak Torque | Transmission | Fuel efficiency |
---|---|---|---|---|
1.0L TSI petrol (base variants) | 128bhp |
196Nm |
N/A |
16-18kmpl |
1.4L petrol (higher variants) |
178bhp | 230Nm | N/A | N/A |
The T-Cross SUV will be underpinned by the MQB AO IN platform which also supports a wide range of Skoda and Volkswagen automobiles in India. The heavily-localized platform with multiple components and engine which can be produced right in India will help the German carmaker aggressively price the T-Cross SUV. The SUV, once launched in India, is expected to be priced from Rs 12 lakh for the base variant to Rs 16 lakh for the top variant.
At these price ranges, while in the international market the T-Cross SUV will rival Honda H- and Nissan Juke, in India, it can effectively take on the likes of Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster. Some forthcoming SUVs like the Jeep Renegade, Skoda Vision X-based SUV and Nissan Kicks will also be fierce rivals of Volkswagen’s smallest SUV.
The Volkswagen T-Cross will help the German automaker put the first step in the teeming Indian SUV segment
What do you think about this new compact SUV and its prospects in India? Let us know in the comment section below.
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