The Tokyo Motor Show was the chosen venue for Volkswagen to showcase its concept SUV of the future – the Cross Coupé. This was a big clue as to the future direction for Volkswagen’s SUV styling and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid engine may indicate Volkswagen’s future direction to produce more and more fuel efficient vehicles. 

It also defines a new stage in Volkswagen engineering design, being the first model based on the company’s new ‘modular transverse matrix’ – or MQB – to be shown publicly.

At 4,345 mm, the concept car being shown in Tokyo is longer than a Golf and shorter than a Tiguan. The width of 1,868 mm and height of 1,523 mm also come exactly in between these two bestsellers, meaning that the Cross Coupé’s dimensions place it at the heart of the globally in-demand A segment.

The design of the car – penned by a team led by Volkswagen Group Chief Designer Walter de Silva and Brand Design Chief, Klaus Bischoff – features the characteristic horizontal lines of the Volkswagen ‘face’ at the front while linking to the future with a completely new light and grille treatment. The rear is dominated by steeply sloping angles and new distinctive light clusters which are combined with SUV-like chunky bumpers and twin tailpipes.

If this first concept is a nod to the future of Volkswagen’s engineering design then we cannot wait to see it translated in to a UK production car.