Volkswagen C Coupe GTE concept revealed at Auto Shanghai 2015

Volkswagen has staged the world premiere of the C Coupe GTE concept at Auto Shanghai 2015 in China.

More than five meters long and riding on 22-inch wheels, the latest concept from Volkswagen was developed with the Chinese market in mind and serves as a sneak preview for an upcoming design language set to be used on high-end sedans using the VW badge. The concept is 1930mm wide and has a generous 3001mm wheelbase and according to Volkswagen a production version based on this would take the shape of a new sedan slotted between the Passat and Phaeton.

The interior cabin doesn’t stray away too much from the latest Passat, but it does have a more functional and less cluttered layout thanks to a fully digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen display. Rear passengers have their own center console from where they can access many of the car’s functions and also get to enjoy a rear-seat entertainment system with dual displays mounted in the backrest of the front seats.

The concept has been envisioned with a plug-in hybrid setup encompassing a four-cylinder TSI turbocharged gasoline engine teamed up with an eight-speed automatic transmission incorporating an electric motor. The conventional engine puts out 210 PS (155 kW) while the electric motor generates 124 PS (91 kW) to give the C Coupe GTE concept a combined output of 245 PS (180 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque.

It also comes with a lithium-ion battery granting an electric range of up to 50 km (31 miles) while in hybrid mode it should be able to cover more than 800 km (497 miles). Volkswagen says the concept consumes just 2.3 liters / 100 km (102.2 mpg US or 122.8 mpg UK), with corresponding CO2 emissions of 55 g/km while the hardware setup enables a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run in 8.6 seconds and a 144 mph (232 km/h) top speed or 81 mph (130 km/h) in electric mode.