Studies and concept vehicles pave the way to the future

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand offered a glimpse of a possible SUV series in the vehicle category below the Tiguan with the release of the T-Roc study at the Geneva Motor Show. This three-door vehicle based on the Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) features a progressive design, functional interior and innovative infotainment solutions. Thanks to two removable roof panels, which can be stowed in the boot with just a few movements, it also offers the summery lightness of a convertible.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars presented a combination of sporty coupé and comfortable saloon at the Auto China show with its New Midsize Coupé study. With a shallow, wide body shell and a low profile, the vehicle spans the gap between the compact and mid-range classes. Its long bonnet, powerful roof line and unmistakable C pillar with short boot form a dynamic silhouette. 20 inch chrome rims, LED headlights with 3D optics, and a striking radiator grill emphasize the model’s sportiness and elegance.

Audi presented potential additions to its TT series in 2014 with the TT offroad and TT Sportback concepts. The four-door TT offroad concept completely reinterprets the design language of the TT, combining the sporty character of a coupé with the features of a compact SUV. The TT Sportback concept retains the series’ design language, but has elongated sporty lines with more tension, similar to the A5 Sportback and A7 Sportback. Its high-performance 294 kW (400 PS) TFSI engine takes the car from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.

Bentley incorporated plug-in hybrid technology into one of its vehicles for the first time in 2014. The Bentley Hybrid Concept is based on the Mulsanne flagship and is up to 25% more powerful with 70% less CO₂ emissions. The brand’s aim is for its first series model with hybrid technology to be an SUV, available from 2017. The plan is then to roll out hybrid technology throughout its entire vehicle range.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offered a glimpse into the numerous passenger and goods transport solutions that will be offered by the new generation of the Multivan/Transporter at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show 2014 in Hanover with its TRISTAR study. The concept vehicle represents a successful combination of the best features found in the current T model series. Its off-road capability combined with flexible transport and storage solutions for work and leisure were well received.