news

Volkswagen CrossBlue : local division “very keen” on seven-seat SUV

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed it is "very keen" to offer local buyers the production version of the seven-seat Volkswagen CrossBlue SUV to fill a gap in its existing product range.


Speaking at the local launch of the all-new Golf wagon, Volkswagen Australia communications general manager Karl Gehling told CarAdvice a seven-seat production car based on the 5.0m-long six-seat Volkswagen CrossBlue concept would be “a nice fit for us in this market”.

“At the moment it’s been confirmed in left-hand-drive only so we don’t have any plans at this stage, but obviously we’ve made it clear that if there were further development of that program to include right-hand-drive markets we’d be very keen to offer it locally,” Gehling said.

“Clearly we don’t have a seven-seat SUV in the line-up and it’s one of the opportunities we’d like to be able to fill at some stage.

“I think it would do very well.”

Larger than the current 4.4m-long Tiguan and 4.8m Touareg, but expected to be priced somewhere between the two, the CrossBlue was confirmed for a 2016 North American launch in January though is not expected to reach European showrooms before 2019.

A potential rival for the Mazda CX-9, the all-wheel-drive CrossBlue concept – which debuted at the 2012 Detroit auto show – is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform and features a plug-in hybrid drivetrain comprising a diesel engine, two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Volkswagen has previously said that the model could support both hybrid and conventional petrol and diesel powertrains.

The CrossBlue concept was followed up by the Range Rover Evoque-rivalling five-seat plug-in Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept at last year's Shanghai auto show, later shown at the Los Angeles auto show in November with revised efficiency claims of 3.4L/100km and a pure electric range of 20.9km.

MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent