Metro Weekly

Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE: VW continues to tease its latest crossover

cross_coupe_gte_4508

We kind of wish Volkswagen would stop teasing its next-gen crossover and just build the damn thing already. Volkswagen first showed elements of this design in 2013, with the CrossBlue concept, then followed it with last year’s CrossBlue Coupe at the Shanghai Motor Show. Now, we’ve got the Cross Coupe GTE, and perhaps the closest look at what VW’s midsize SUV will look like when it eventually reaches dealers in the next two years.

cross_coupe_gte_4515

For now, the GTE offers a lot to like. Its power comes from a VR6 engine, which teams its 276 horsepower with two electric motors, one mounted to each axle. The front motor outputs 54 horsepower, while the rear offers a punchier 114 horses, giving the Cross Coupe a total output of 355 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque (no, the math doesn’t add up for us, either) when the three motors are working together, good enough for a 0-60 mph time of six seconds. It operates in a fuel-saving EV-only mode for up to 20 miles, can reach up to 70 MPGe, and offers a variety of modes for on- and off-road driving.

cross_coupe_gte_4519

That’s great and all, Volkswagen, but why do we have to wait until the end of 2016 for your Tennessee plant to start building it?

Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism

These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!