Geneva, Switzerland - March 12, 2015 - The Sport Coupe Concept GTE was one of four debuts on Volkswagen's stand in Geneva, alongside the new Touran, Passat Alltrack and the Sharan. But the sheer presence of the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid concept car is a clear indication that something's going on at Volkswagen Design. And it's not just because it was painted in an eye-catching gold hue. Said to preview a vehicle positioned above the current Volkswagen CC, a sleek four-door coupe that undercuts the Mercedes CLS - the car that pioneered this segment when it was first introduced in 2004 - in price, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE heralds a new, sharper and more progressive design language yet preserves VW's design DNA. The Sport Coupé Concept GTE is an impressive piece of work, demonstrating how Volkswagen's MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform can be used to showcase varied proportions and package dimensions.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Geneva, Switzerland - March 12, 2015
The Sport Coupe Concept GTE was one of four debuts on Volkswagen’s stand in Geneva, alongside the new Touran, Passat Alltrack and the Sharan.
But the sheer presence of the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid concept car is a clear indication that something’s going on at Volkswagen Design.
And it’s not just because it was painted in an eye-catching gold hue.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Said to preview a vehicle positioned above the current Volkswagen CC, a sleek four-door coupe that undercuts the Mercedes CLS – the car that pioneered this segment when it was first introduced in 2004 – in price, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE heralds a new, sharper and more progressive design language yet preserves VW’s design DNA.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The Sport Coupé Concept GTE is an impressive piece of work, demonstrating how Volkswagen’s MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform can be used to showcase varied proportions and package dimensions.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Standing 1407mm tall and 1865mm wide, the most important of these dimensions are the concept’s 4870mm length and long 2841mm wheelbase, which enables the cabin to stretch 1871mm front to rear.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The more emotional form language is something Volkswagen head of design Klaus Bischoff told us to expect, but we couldn’t have anticipated the voluptuous bodyside forms depicted on the GTE.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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From the rear three-quarter view, the form tapers in from the A-pillar to a section just before the rear door, emerging ever so slightly to accentuate the rear haunch and widening shoulder.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The front end is also impressive.
A very wide grille that’s integrated into the lamps informs its bold, assertive look.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Though the trend to incorporate the headlamps and grille has become typical amongst carmakers looking to visually widen the front end of a vehicle to accentuate its width and presence, the approach taken on the GTE Sport Coupe is far more dramatic than what we’ve seen before.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The progressive overall impression of the high-tech concept car is rounded off by aerodynamically optimized 21-inch wheels and integrated air exhaust openings in the front fenders, doors and hood.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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At the rear, the tapering shoulder accentuating the haunch comes around the car, joining with a pronounced undercut at the rear.
This creates an integrated spoiler to aid aerodynamics, but it is also very visually appealing.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The treatment of the grille and headlamps, the precision lines along the bodyside and the undercut in the rear are all extremely successful, working together to create a sporty but luxurious product.
But the designers certainly didn’t overlook the details either.
It’s all very well done.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Taking a page from the Audi A7, the four-door coupe has a hatchback for the first time, which provides 480 liters of luggage capacity, combined with a low loading height for added convenience and a cover that integrates into the headrests in the rear seatbacks.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept - interior
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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Inside, the Sport Coupé Concept GTE has a very well conceived four-passenger interior, with a clear, ergonomically optimized design and new interactive HMIs in the front and rear.
The open-pore ‘linea walnut’ wood inserts in the steering wheel, beneath the floating center console and on the door panels give the cabin a premium, sophisticated feel, highlighted by the material quality and the technology embedded within.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept - interior
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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The carbon fiber inserts set within full-width airvents, the light application of piano black and the pixelated door panels are punctuated by aluminum, while ‘Zermatt gray’ and white leather trimmed (and carbon backed) seats further the technical yet opulent feel of the interior.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept - interior
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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And despite its low roof, front and rear headroom don’t appear to be compromised either.
There is a feeling of space, obviously enhanced by the panoramic sliding sunroof above.
It’s clear that – besides working on a more modern and emotional exterior design language and with more premium level design elements in the interior – technology plays a large role.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept - interior
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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In total the interior has four separate displays:
- A 10.1-inch central infotainment system touchscreen, which is flanked by sliders for the climate control;
- a 12.3-inch touchscreen module (also with sliders for the four-zone climate control) integrated between the individual rear seats; and
- two 10.1-inch screens embedded in the backrests of the front seats.
The 12.3-inch module can be used to operate the media library, telephone and navigation as well as the two rear screens.
In this day and age the only true differentiator is design.
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Volkswagen Sport Coupé GTE Concept - interior
Geneva International Motor Show, 5 - 15 March 2015
Photo courtesy of the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 |
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With MQB becoming pervasive amongst the Volkswagen Group it’s nice to see designers harnessing the power of design to communicate an individual brand identity in the products.
The Sport Coupe concept GTE showcases one of the many design possibilities, and it’s just the beginning of a new age of design for Volkswagen.
Source: Geneva International Motor Show 2015
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