Volkswagen New Midsize Coupe concept revealed

Volkswagen provided one of the highlights of the Beijing Motor Show when it took the wraps off its striking new Midsize Coupe Concept.

Penned by lead designer Klaus Bischoff and his team, the sporty four-door, which sits on VW’s modular MQB platform, previews a model that’s destined to make production in China.

But the brand’s intentions for the car globally are less clear. Although VW said the model showed what customers “all over the world” could expect in the next few years, and it looks a plausible rival to the Mercedes CLA that could sit under VW’s CC, bosses here say there are no current plans to bring it to Europe.

With dimensions of 1,422mm (height), 1,838mm (width) and 4,597mm (length), the Midsize Coupe Concept is wider and shorter than both a Passat and a Jetta. Suggestions that it could showcase a new Jetta seem wide of the mark, too, as a revised Jetta was displayed at last week’s New York show.

The Concept achieves what VW calls a “low visual centre of gravity” thanks to the wide central air intake at the front, short overhangs and the long bonnet with a pronounced arch. Newly designed LED headlights also feature. At the back, the C-pillars flow into a short bootlid, combined with wide hips and beefed up wheelarches to emphasise the low profile. The curved roofline and frameless doors mirror the VW CC. Huge 20-inch alloys add some presence, and sit on 245/40 tyres.

Inside, the steering wheel and infotainment system are borrowed from the Golf and the cabin is stripped back, with an uncluttered look. Leather seats are fitted, and contrasting ‘Silk’ and ‘Ebony Black’ colours to good effect. Alcantara trim is also used heavily in the rooflining and roof pillars, and Dragon Red detailing adds to the feel of sportiness. The steering wheel and infotainment system are borrowed from the Golf.

Space is generous, with room for five people and a 500-litre luggage capacity, too. Power for the concept comes from a 217bhp four-cylinder TSI engine and performance promises to be decent, with 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 152mph. Fuel economy is a claimed 44.1mpg.