Volkswagen teases 2019 T-Cross SUV
Baby SUV to sit below T-Roc in the range, to do battle with Nissan's JUKEVolkswagen has given us a first glimpse of a new baby T-Cross SUV that has been developed to go head-to-head with the Nissan JUKE and the forthcoming Citroen C3 Aircross.
Set to make its official debut in September, the initial design sketches released by the German car maker overnight suggest that the T-Cross will get its own distinct design.
Featuring a full-width LED light bar that stretches across the rear boot lid, the renderings suggest surprisingly muscular proportions for a small SUV with wide bulbous arches, large wheels and short, squat proportions.
Measuring in at 4107mm long, it's thought the actual production car will not look anywhere near as imposing but will be easily distinguished from the bigger T-Roc, Tiguan and flagship Touareg in VW's SUV range.
Beneath its stylish body, the T-Cross is based on the same MQB A0 platform as the Polo supermini and share its range of small capacity petrol and diesels.
Kicking off the engine range, at least in Europe, will be a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol that produces 48kW, 55kW, 70kW or 85kW of power.
Engines for the Australian market are unknown, but our guess is the line-up will focus on the bigger 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol that produces 110kW and is combined with the car maker's seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
In some markets a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel will also be offered and there's even plans for a sporty GTI version that will come with a 147kW turbocharged 2.0-litre from the Polo GTI.
Unlike it's bigger T-Roc or Tiguan siblings, all-wheel drive will be off the menu, with Volkswagen thought to have ruled out introducing its 4Motion hardware over cost grounds.
Claimed to be one of the safest in its class when it launches in Europe in the final quarter of 2018, the T-Cross is set to come with driver aids lifted from the class above, including Lane Assist that self-steers to keep you within your lane when the system detects inattention.
It's thought the T-Cross will follow its delayed T-Roc brother to the Australian market some time in 2019.
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