New coupe from VW

Star of this year's North American International Auto Show was undoubtedly a new "environmentally conscious" coupe, in the form of a concept car from Volkswagen.

Destined to sit between the sexy Scirocco and popular Passat CC, the NCC -- for 'New Coupe Concept' -- uses VW's 1.4-litre four-cylinder TSI engine combined with a 20kW electric motor and the brand's seven-speed DSG.

Direct injection and turbocharging for the 1.4-litre unit produces 110kW and 240Nm, while the electric motor adds further torque and the option for "pure electric driving"... though VW doesn't specify range on battery power alone. The motor is supported by a 1.1kWh lithium-ion battery; able to store energy under braking.

Representing a preview of what could evolve into a Jetta or Golf coupe model, the New Concept Coupe's design is relatively conservative -- at least in concept car terms. The headlights look production ready, the wheels aren't show-car oversized and even the interior looks to adhere to current VW design conventions.

Measuring 4.54 metres long and 1.78 metres wide, it's similar in size to the brand's small sedan models. Chief Designer for the Volkswagen Brand, Klaus Bischoff, says the vehicle is a "symbiosis of efficient technologies."

But it was Audi artiste Walter de Silva -- of A5 (among others) fame -- who most influenced the VW coupe's styling, and the treatment of the concept's rear resembles a small A4 especially in terms of auto design 'graphics' like the taillights.

Explaining why VW presented a two-door, de Silva said: "We were able to make a nice combination between the interior comfort and space of a sedan -- in a compact size -- and last but not least, in an elegant and sporty coupe look."

VW's coupe concept is a 'true' four-seater with decent room for rear passengers and cargo, but it's not all about utility.

"The coupe [body style] appeals to both the head and heart," said project chief, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg at Detroit.

"If you consider the current coupe offerings, they are mainly in the luxury segment. We want to make a volume market coupe," he told the Carsales Network.

Hackenberg also confirmed the small coupe would be offered for sale in Australia if and when production commences, which may assuage local desire for the hot Scirocco.

"Australia is one of our important markets," he said. "We want to grow in Australia, even though we don't have production facilities. I think we have good products coming such as the new Amarok, which will be a good car for Australia."

The right-hand drive version of the Amarok is expected sometime this year. On other VW products, the highly anticipated new Touareg didn't appear at Detroit however Hackenberg said the company would "make a special presentation" for the SUV around February this year. He denied the company had been forced to delay the release of the production introduction but admitted there had been "some issues".

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