VW New Compact Coupe hybrid concept

Full of hybrid-ness

At the Detroit Motor Show, Volkswagen unveiled its New Compact Coupe hybrid concept car. The car will get 4.2L/100km/h by combining a 110kW 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 20kW electric motor that sits between a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Catching up

When the petrol engine isn't needed, it shuts off and is disengaged from the transmission to cut down on drag, including at highway speeds. The braking system can recover energy by storing it in the car's Lithium-ion battery pack.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

What's in a name?

Given the company's rich history with car names, we expected the New Compact Coupe to be given a more creative title — it's expected to be dubbed Jetta in final form. For instance, there are the wind cars, like the Golf, Passat, Scirocco, Jetta and Bora. And then there's VW's four-wheel drives, the Touareg (taken from the Tuareg tribe of North Africa) and the Tiguan (a fusion of tiger and iguana), as well as the company's recently unveiled ute the Amarok (Inuit for wolf).

(Credit: Volkswagen)

Where to?

The concept car's 8-inch touchscreen can control the radio and navigation systems. Climate controls are separate, located immediately below the screen.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

Pun-tastic

The interior of the New Compact Coupe is appointed in what VW calls "Berry White" leather.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Chill room

VW claims that the back seat of the New Compact Coupe is roomy — something we'll take with a pinch of salt, but it does feature back-seat climate controls.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

Quickish too

On top of its excellent fuel economy and emissions rating, 4.2L/100km and 98g of CO2 per kilometre, respectively, the coupe will sprint from zero to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

Mob wars

Press photographers mob the VW hybrid concept car at its debut.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

Via CNET US