(March 5, 2012) Volkswagen will debut a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid update to its existing gasoline-electric hybrid Volkswagen Cross Coupe Concept SUV at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The gas version of the plug-in hybrid was unveiled at December’s Tokyo’s Motor Show. The original Cross Coupe featured two electric motors and a turbocharged direct-injection (TSI) gasoline engine. Unlike the Tokyo version, the redesigned Cross Coupe contains two electric motors and a turbocharged direct-injection (TDI) diesel engine.



By replacing the gasoline-electric hybrid with the diesel-electric plug-in hybrid its fuel efficiency is enhanced.

The Cross Coupe’s 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine offers 295 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 rpm. The vehicle’s two electric motors generate 133 pound-feet of torque up front and 199 pound-feet at the rear instantaneously. All told, the Cross Coupe possesses roughly 516 pound-feet of torque.

As for battery power, the concept contains an eight-module lithium-ion unit with a 9.8 kWh energy capacity. This is the same battery that was featured in Japan.

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe diesel is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 6.5 seconds, while driving a 800 miles on a full tank of diesel, when its dual electric motors are fully charged. Volkswagen says the concept can travel 28 miles at speeds of up to 75 mph in its pure-electric mode.