The T-Prime Concept GTE, officially unveiled at Auto
China 2016 in Beijing on Monday, is a premium off-roader with a hybrid
powertrain and, according to Volkswagen, a car that not only gives a first
clear idea of the company's next flagship, but of the direction in which the
entire industry is moving.
Demand for SUVs and crossovers has never been
greater and this demand is something that consumers in all markets around the
world have in common. The crossover has usurped the compact hatchback as
Europe's favorite car, SUVs are outperforming everything except for pickups in
the US, and, according to VW's stats, the appetite for full-size
comfort-focused SUVs is expected to grow some 18% over the next six years in
China.
Unlike a number of recent VW SUV concepts, this one
looks almost production ready and a worthy visual successor to the Touareg,
right down to its impressive plug-in hybrid powertrain.
It's capable of outputting a combined 375hp, of
running for 50km on battery power alone and of hitting 100km/h in 6 seconds.
However, it also offers a potential NEDC cycle fuel economy of 87mpg.
The interior is also a very digital affair, with
touch screens, voice commands and gestures; "this type of human-machine
interface could become the norm in the top segment. Progress is immediately
apparent here, because the real automobile is melding with the virtual world
that is so real today," said Dr. Frank Welsch, VW's head of Technical
Development.
Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the
founder and publisher of Trendy Africa Magazine and has reported on Motoring
with trademark columns (Roadrunner, Carliners). He is also the founder of
Flowtran global.
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