BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: VW Golf coupe

Volkswagen has used the biggest motor show in Asia this year to unveil a new coupe concept based on the Golf’s modular MQB platform.

Dubbed the New Midsize Coupe (NMC) concept, the sleek two-door follows the 2010 Detroit show appearance of Volkswagen's New Compact Coupe concept, which previewed the current Jetta sedan.

Now, the low-slung coupe -- featuring a flowing roofline, frameless windows, long C-pillars, chrome-trimmed tail lights and a short notchback bootlid -- is expected to herald an all-new small coupe positioned beneath the Passat-based CC.

Measuring 4597mm long, 1838mm wide and 1422mm tall, the style-oriented NMC – which may be called be called the Jetta CC when it hits showrooms – is around 50mm shorter, 60mm wider and 60mm lower than the current Jetta.

The four-seat NMC concept, which packs a huge 500-litre boot and rides on 20-inch wheels, is powered by the same 162kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine as the Golf GTI.

The NMC is likely to be built in both China and Mexico. Given both those plants produce only left-hand drive vehicles (and VW’s Wolfsburg factory, where Australia’s gold is made, is the only source of RHD Golfs), the NMC may never grace Australian showrooms.