Volkswagen to Showcase New Premium SUV Concept in Beijing

The Chinese motor shows are always important to Volkswagen, and the upcoming one at Beijing is set to show a new showcar in the shape of a full-sized SUV featuring plug-in hybrid propulsion and a highly-digitalized interior.

Whilst Volkswagen’s brief press release contained only ten key facts, a reasonable assumption to make is that the new vehicle, currently referred to as just the Beijing Showcar, potentially previews the next generation Touareg, which is due for a full model change and transition to the VW Group’s modular MLB platform.

Preliminary specifications disclosed in the brief reveals a plug-in hybrid drive with net system outputs of 375hp and 700Nm. The vehicle has a pure electric driving range of up to 50km, enabling it to dip below 3.0 litres/100km in the NEDC tests.

On a straight line, the Beijing Showcar is claimed to have a top speed of 224 km/h and is able to complete the sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds.

Besides previewing the new plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Beijing Showcar is also slated to showcase a new highly digitalized display and control layout. Notably, there is mention of a Curved Interaction Area, which merges the vehicle’s instruments and infotainment displays into one sheet of transparent glass.