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Volkswagen will dramatically expand its SUV and crossover model ranges over the next three years, and it's all kicking off with this, the T-Cross Breeze. Well, not quite - this is a concept after all, but there will be a square-rigged SUV based on this concept, and the next-generation Volkswagen Polo underpinnings beneath it, which will sit beneath a slightly larger Golf-based crossover in the range. Those are in addition to the three-pronged (standard, coupe and seven-seater) Tiguan range already announced.
The convertible concept gets a 110hp 1.0-litre TST turbocharged petrol three-cylinder engine, and Volkswagen claims that, driving through a seven-speed DSG transmission, it emits just 115/gkm of Co2. Physically, the T-Cross is slightly longer than a Polo, and its tall body means the seats are set much higher up.
While there's unlikely to be a convertible version of the final production car, that squared-off front end, and the two-level character line (where the bottom line rises up to run over the rear wheelarch) should be pretty close to the look of the showroom car.
Inside though is where the real innovation lies. Volkswagen claims that it's next-generation of cabin layouts will virtually do away with physical buttons and switches, and the T-Cross' cabin is closely related to that of the recent BUDD-e minivan concept shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Volkswagen says that aside from column stalks and electric window switches, all of the T-Cross' controls are either touch-sensitive screens or linked to gesture controls.
There are actually two displays on the inside - one for the instruments and one for the infotainment, but they blend into basically one big screen. The main instruments can be grouped and moved around by the driver according to their wishes (a bit like how you organise your apps on a smartphone screen), while there's a fixed 'honeycomb' background meant to be reminiscent of the radiator grille.
All of that is tied into a Predictive Driving Profile function, which not only monitors how you're driving and what the engine, steering and ESC are all up to, but also uses the sat-nav and a forward facing camera to identify what kind of terrain you're on, switching the functions of the car as needed to best suit the conditions.
In the centre screen, the entire setup can be customised just the way you like it, and there is full smartphone integration for SMS messaging and social media. Proximity sensors in the screen also known when you're reaching for stuff like air conditioning or heated seat settings and automatically open the correct 'menu page' in the system.
Oh, and you can have banging 'choons as well - thanks to a Beats Audio stereo system with 300W, 8-channel amplifier.
"This open-top Volkswagen enhances the world of compact cars with a completely new attitude to automotive life", says Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen "Our T-Cross Breeze is the first open-top SUV in its class and, at the same time, an affordable, cheeky cabriolet with a raised seating position that gives you a perfect view."