One car, all drive types. The design of the Cross Coupé GTE is based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) developed by Volkswagen. This matrix is one of the most innovative technical platforms worldwide, since MQB enables Volkswagen not only to offer a model with conventional drive types (gasoline and diesel engines) but also to realize them as a plug-in hybrid, a natural gas version and as zero-emission vehicles (pure electric drive and hydrogen fuel cell). This means that the Cross Coupé GTE, too, can be realized with every conceivable drive type.
3.6 FSI and two electric motors. The SUV concept car is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors. The six-cylinder direct-injection engine (FSI) delivers power of 206 kW / 280 PS and maximum torque of 350 Nm. The two electric motors deliver 40 kW and 220 Nm (front) and 85 kW and 270 Nm (rear). They are powered by a compact lithium-ion battery housed in the center tunnel, with energy content of 14.1 kWh. The total output of the drive system adds up to 265 kW / 360 PS. With this full power, the Cross Coupé GTE, which has a top speed of 130 mph (209 km/h), accelerates to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 6.0 seconds.
Driving profiles. The following driving profiles are available for the Cross Coupé GTE: "Onroad" (with the sub-modes "Comfort" and "Eco"), "Offroad" (with "Rocks," "Sludge & Sand" and "Gravel"), "Sport" and "Snow". The driving profiles change the setup of the SUV.
Drive modes. The Cross Coupé GTE can be driven in five different modes, which are intuitive to use: "E-Mode," "Hybrid," "GTE," "Offroad" and "Battery Hold / Battery Charge".
"E-Mode". Thanks to the lithium-ion battery in the center tunnel, the Cross Coupé GTE can travel, as described, a distance of up to 20 miles (32 kilometers) powered purely by electricity. In E-Mode, which is activated when the driver presses a button, the 85 kW rear axle electric motor alone drives the vehicle. In all-electric mode, the V6 FSI is decoupled from the drivetrain by disengaging the clutch and shut down. As soon as the six-cylinder engine needs to be restarted due to the battery charge status or other parameters, it engages smoothly in the drivetrain again in a fraction of a second. A lithium-ion battery, with energy content of 14.1 kWh, supplies energy to the electric motors. Power electronics integrated in the front engine compartment manage the flow of high-voltage energy from and to the battery and to the electric motors. The 12 volt electrical system is supplied by a DC/DC converter. The battery is charged via external power sources or while driving.
"Hybrid". The concept car starts in "Hybrid Mode" by default. The Cross Coupé GTE is then a classic full hybrid that charges the battery via regenerative braking and automatically uses the FSI and/or the electric motor depending on the drive situation. In this mode, the battery state of charge is kept constant; the driver can also actively influence this with the battery hold function.
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"Coasting". As soon as the driver takes his or her foot off the accelerator and the battery is sufficiently charged, the engine and all motors are shut down and disengaged from the drivetrain. This is called "coasting" and does not produce any emissions either.
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"Recuperation Mode". If the driver removes his or her foot from the accelerator or brakes when the battery is not sufficiently charged, both electric motors work as generators and feed the energy generated during braking to the lithium-ion battery. In this case, too, the FSI is shut down and disengaged.
- Driving with the FSI. When the gasoline engine alone is powering the vehicle, the concept car is a purely front-wheel-drive vehicle. Thanks to the efficient technology of the six-cylinder direct injection engine, the Cross Coupé GTE continues to be very economical.
"GTE". The driver uses the GTE button to switch to GTE mode and activate the particularly agile side of the concept car. This makes the accelerator pedal, transmission and steering characteristics even sportier. In addition, the FSI and the electric motors work together in "GTE Mode" during "boosting" to deliver the full system output and the maximum system torque.
"Offroad". Needless to say, the "Offroad" drive mode is particularly important for an SUV. All four wheels are powered as soon as the driver activates this mode. In this case and when the battery state of charge is low, the front electric motor is employed exclusively as a generator that is driven by the V6 FSI in order to provide the power for its counterpart on the rear axle. As the power to drive the rear axle flows by wire and not mechanically, we speak of an "electric cardan shaft". Due to the fact that the FSI drives the rear electric motor via the front electric motor in off-road mode, all-wheel drive is available even when the battery has a low state of charge. This means that the Cross Coupé SUV features an off-road capable all-wheel drive even as a plug-in-hybrid version.
"Battery Charge / Battery Hold". The dual mode "Battery Hold" (energy content of the battery stays constant) and "Battery Charge" (battery is charged whilst driving) is activated via a sub-menu in the infotainment system. It serves to deliberately drive in all-electric mode ("E-Mode"), for example when reaching an urban destination, without producing any emissions.