Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept Revealed At Detroit

MERE HOURS AFTER a leaked illustration hinted at its coming, Volkswagen has unveiled the Volkswagen New Compact Coupe (NCC) concept at the Detroit Auto Show.

Previewing the upcoming Jetta sedan, the four-seater NCC is powered by a 1.4 litre TSI four-cylinder petrol engine developing 112kW and 150Nm of torque. Combined with a 20kW electric motor, the NCC becomes a 132kW hybrid with 240Nm of torque.

As a parallel hybrid, the NCC can be driven on electric power alone for a certain distance, although Volkswagen has not offered specific numbers.

Acceleration to 96km/h (60mph), with the full hybrid system in play, is estimated to take around 8.1 seconds. Top speed is listed as 225km/h.

Paired with the carmaker's seven-speed DSG transmission, Volkswagen estimates that, in hybrid form, the NCC will achieve fuel consumption figures of between 5.2 to 4.2 l/100km. CO2 emissions are expected to be around 98g/km.

Around the same overall size as the current Jetta sedan, the NCC measures around 75mm longer through the wheelbase and 50mm shorter top to bottom than its outgoing four-door sibling.

While officially a concept, the production-ready styling inside and out would suggest that a market launch is on the cards for the New Compact Coupe. At this stage, however, the official line is that there are no plans to offer the NCC in any market.

Should Volks change its mind (it will be watching visitor reaction at Detroit), the NCC would likely slot into the Volkswagen line-up between the Scirocco and the Passat CC.