What's the news?
Ahead of its early-2019 launch, Volkswagen has given us another glimpse of its small, Polo-based SUV. The T-Cross will complete Volkswagen's SUV range, alongside the Touareg, the phenomenally popular Tiguan and the funky-looking Golf-based T-Roc and should provide the company with useful alternative to the likes of the Hyundai Kona, SEAT Arona and Citroen C3 Aircross.
The teaser sketches released by Volkswagen give us a good idea what the front and rear ends are going to look like, with headlights integrated into a wide radiator grille and, in what is definitely an auto-design trend right now, a horizontal light strip across the rear. The latest video from Volkswagen (watch below) tells us little about the T-Cross's look, but features the slogan "I Am Cool" accompanied by a raft of happy, trendy designer-types examining various non-car-related objects, presumably for aesthetic inspiration.
According to the company, the interior designers used augmented reality headsets to get a better feel for the overall space, shape and look of the cabin. Whether the car actually is "cool" remains to be seen, though VW tells us that in addition to being available next year in 12 different colours, there will be an option of a two-tone paintjob.
Despite its diminutive size, the T-Cross promises to be a practical proposition with a 455-litre boot (bigger than the Polo's) and a rear bench seat that can slide and fold down offering a great deal more space than rivals like the Arona and Nissan Juke.
According to Volkswagen, there will be a wide range of petrol and diesel engines and even, possibly, a plug-in hybrid option. The most popular engine is expected to be the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit with power outputs ranging from 76- to around 117hp through five- or six-speed manual gearboxes with the possibility of an automatic transmission on higher-spec models a little down the line.
Anything else?
Though the T-Cross purports to be an SUV, it is unlikely that it will receive Volkswagen's 4Motion four-wheel-drive system, as, not only would it drive prices up, muddying the car's position in VW's line-up, but also there's little appetite for four-wheel drive in this sector of the market, making an all-wheel-drive T-Cross a pointless proposition for Volkswagen.
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