Volkswagen's new "Compact Coupe": handsome, but anonymous

[Year's_End]

Volkswagen Compact Coupe "concept" blends sport and hybrid

The Volkswagen Touareg hybrid is now just a few months away from production, but the crew in Wolfsburg are staying busy by cranking out small concept vehicles with hybrid powertrains. The latest that debuts here at the Detroit Auto Show this morning is called the New Compact Coupe (NCC), a handsome hybrid coupe that looks remarkably production-ready. Designed to slot globally between the not-for-North-America Scirocco and the rakish CC, we could see a serial version of the NCC competing well here in the States with coupes like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

In showcar guise, the NCC features Volkswagen's 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with 148 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system uses the same basic architecture (if not dimensions) as the recent L1 and Up-Lite concepts from Frankfurt and Los Angeles. In this case, a 20-kilowatt electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and the seven-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox. A 1.1 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery in the back of the car provides electrical energy storage for electric drive, electric boost and regenerative braking. The system also allows for the complete decoupling of the transmission for enhanced coasting even at highway speeds, although it isn't immediately clear from the press release if the electric motor will push the NCC along for extended periods as it does with Volkswagen Audi Group's Porsche Cayenne Hybrid system. Either way, VW is estimating the NCC's mileage at 45 miles per gallon based on EPA test procedures with the EU numbers coming in at 56 mpg (U.S.) and 98 g/km of CO2. Acceleration to 60 mph is ballparked at 8.1 seconds and top speed is pegged at 141 mph.

The car itself is virtually the same size as the current Jetta except for wheelbase length and overall height (the concept has three more inches between the axles and the roof is two inches lower), and it may well be a preview of what to expect from the next-generation Jetta. Recently there have been rumors circulating that VW plans to revive the Jetta coupe, a model that hasn't been in the lineup since the late '80s. A production version of this poor-man's Audi A5 could well be that car, although VW officials aren't talking. Similarly, the forthcoming Tennessee-built New Medium Sedan is expected with both diesel and hybrid powertrains and the same could be the case for the next Jetta.

It might be cold consolation to those of us desperate for a Scirocco in the States, but the Volkswagen Compact Coupe Concept has the potential to fill that particular hatch-shaped hole in our hearts – with a bit of green cred to boot.

With a sharper, more sculpted front fascia than its Golf and Jetta siblings, a deep swage line running the length of the sides and a rather anonymous (exhaust-less) rump, the Compact Coupe – as we mentioned earlier – comes across as the poor man's Audi A5. And the interior is something to behold.

Not only does it put the segment stalwarts to shame in both style and space, VW took pains to make the rear seats actually habitable. There's ample leg room and a trick center console with independent climate controls for both passengers, a quad-zone setup we hope makes the transition to production.

Although VW claims the Coupe is only a concept at this stage, the level of detail and V-Dub's lack of a credible coupe offering indicates that a production version should be on the way. And if VW's smart, they'll ditch the slow-selling Eos and offer a retractable soft-top version a few years after the Coupe hits the market.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/d...ncept-w-video/

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/v...rt-and-hybrid/

[Year's_End]

If this comes to the states as the new Jetta it's gonna sell like goddamn hotcakes, and rightfully so.

Talk about a badass interior. Exterior styling is blandtacular, but I don't expect exciting design from VW. The good thing is that I'm unable to really fault the design. Aside from being bland, it's sharp as fuck.

[BMW269]

No money for Lamborghini Gallardo? Get an Audi R8!
VW Polo is too cheap? Get an Andi A1!
No money for Audi A5? Get a VW Coupé!!!!!
It does look good, but the rear is this of Audi.

[Donbona]

Originally Posted by Levi

No money for Lamborghini Gallardo? Get an Audi R8!
VW Polo is too cheap? Get an Andi A1!
No money for Audi A5? Get a VW Coupé!!!!!
It does look good, but the rear is this of Audi.

+1

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Levi

No money for Lamborghini Gallardo? Get an Audi R8!
VW Polo is too cheap? Get an Andi A1!
No money for Audi A5? Get a VW Coupé!!!!!
It does look good, but the rear is this of Audi.

No doubt it screams Audi, but is this really a bad thing?

[hks786]

Originally Posted by Nikkahtropolis

No doubt it screams Audi, but is this really a bad thing?

Well, in this case it is kinda. I dont think VWs actually resemble Audi's that much at all. The A5 for me is a very unique coupe, I would def take it over most coupes out there. I cant stand the fact the rear of this car especially looks so much like the A5.

That's really my only complaint, because the front end is different enough.

[ptack]

If anonymous = boring you're right. Could they have been more conservative?

[LI E90]

a $25,000 A5 look a like..........going to sell like condoms at a Tiger Woods Party

[Ender514]

its not bad

[Garduna]

Not a fan of it. Just bring over the damn scirroco!

[Mark M]

Wow......there are quite a few parallels there to the 1 series. That thing looks very similar.

However, it has better headlight shape and did a good job eliminating the 1er saggy belly. Heck, it even has the trademark BMW Hoffemeister kink rear C pillar design.

[JIM E92]

Very boring and conservative....even more so than a Honda. I'm sure it will sell like hotcakes though.

And, it's just wrong to steal the Hofmeister-Knick--bastards!

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by JIM E92

Very boring and conservative....even more so than a Honda. I'm sure it will sell like hotcakes though.

And, it's just wrong to steal the Hofmeister-Knick--bastards!

There's no doubt the lifted the kink from bmw, but let's be honest... how many different ways can you shape a c-pillar? I can think of two.

[piezo]

interesting they chose NAIAS to debut this, if it were to be produced elsewhere you could count on the US-spec being decontented big time...

[Year's_End]

Bamp.

[boymonkey]

I like it. Competition for the Toyota/Subaru coupe.

[footie]

The rear almost looks like a carbon copy of the rear of an A5, the lights are so Audi like it's unreal. Apart from that it's a fine looking machine and looks remarkably showroom ready, not much concept about it at all.

In other words, in a showroom near you now.

[Schumacher]

New Polo + A5/2 = Good looks come Standard.

They are doing quite well.

[mtla4]

What do people expect it looks way better then a corolla,camry,accord etc. For the money it's perfect in fact several cars that are more expensive look terrible. The new 5 series, 7 series, etc are all anonymous. The only bad side of this car will probably be the base version sporting hubcaps and that stupid antenna on the roof.

[ChrisV]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Wow......there are quite a few parallels there to the 1 series. That thing looks very similar.

However, it has better headlight shape and did a good job eliminating the 1er saggy belly. Heck, it even has the trademark BMW Hoffemeister kink rear C pillar design.

I was thinking similar. In fact, give this a BMW grille and badges, and it would have looked really good as a 1 series under the 3 series coupe.

Compare it to the vaguely Corolla-ish Jetta that is in showrooms now and it's VERY good looking:



BTW, this was built by taking the upcoming Jetta sedan and lengthening the front doors, removing the rear doors, and filling in the hole that's left. The roofline IS the upcoming Jetta sedan's (yes, other than the number of doors, this IS the next jetta. Hopefully the coupe will indeed be delivered as well)



People have already been ps-ing it. I woudln't go quite so low, but it even looks good in a metallic brown:

[mtla4]

All they need is an R version with AWD an R36 would be sweet

[ChrisV]

Originally Posted by footie

The rear almost looks like a carbon copy of the rear of an A5, the lights are so Audi like it's unreal. .

Similar, but no.

No more than the original Jetta lights looked like similar year Audis:





Hmmm. Why are we complaining about this again? VW and Audi are the same company...