Volkswagen Concept T

[SiR]

VW Concept T

sicer pa tole:

Avant-garde of the future

With the concept T, Volkswagen is unifying the worlds of the SUV and the sports car

Avant-garde 241 h.p. concept car with four-wheel drive, wing doors and a T-bar roof

Wolfsburg / Detroit- Volkswagen is opening yet another door to the future of the automobile at the North American International Autoshow in Detroit: The concept T, a crossover vehicle blending a high-capability off-roader and an uncompromising sports car. With this automobile, Europe's most successful auto manufacturer is showing how the off-road and sports car worlds can be combined in future to produce an especially exciting and fascinating facet of the automotive experience - the off-road coupe.

The concept car is propelled by a 177 kW / 241 h.p. V6 front-mounted transverse engine. In both on-road and off-road driving, this power is fed to the wheels by 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive in conjunction with an automatic gearbox with a manual shift option (Tiptronic). The full-fledged concept T off-roader accelerates to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 6.9 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h (144 mph).

Highlights - Volkswagen concept cars: With the concept T, Volkswagen is continuing its range of innovative design studies in 2004 as well. During the past decade alone, the company has premiered a large number of the most spectacular concept cars to grace the international automotive scene. They have provided important reference points for future generations of vehicles; indeed, many of them have been transferred directly into series production development. In 1994 and in Detroit as well, for example, the world's attention was captured by the concept 1 - later to become the New Beetle and the New Beetle Convertible (which debuted as a concept car at the Geneva Auto Salon). World premieres in Detroit have a tradition going back at least as far as the concept 1: Volkswagen chose Michigan to show the AAC, a off-road pickup, for the first time. This car with an enclosed roof is now turning heads as the high class Touareg off-roader. Meanwhile, the Microbus - an avant-garde, sensationally received study for the van of tomorrow, is currently being prepared for series production. Concept cars such as theconcept D, a highly developed foretaste of the current top classPhaeton sedan, were given their world premieres in Europe. The same applies to the very current concept R, a fascinating roadster. The concept T continues this pedigree. After all, nothing is more exciting than the design and technology of the future.

Idea

The idea of the concept T: Off-road coupe combines new lifestyle and leisure values

The concept T closes a gap: In the USA in particular, the market for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) is chiefly dominated by large off-roaders. One of the currently most advanced models in this segment is the Touareg from Volkswagen. To a level of perfection unparalleled in the past, it combines the world of the true off-roader with the comfort features of a luxury sedan and the supreme handling of a sports car. Highly capable off-roaders which also offer outstanding sports characteristics in on-road driving are the exception rather than the rule in the segment below the large SUVs. In addition, no current sports car has been flexible enough in terms of drive properties to allow for driving off paved road surfaces. Theconcept T fills this gap.

The red two-door car is a harmonious combination of a thoroughbred sports car and the flexibility of an out-and-out off-roader. Its progressive design and the clever variability of its body also bring completely new lifestyle and leisure values within reach. As you would expect from an agile sports car, the concept T is characterized by its exciting body dimensions (4079 mm / 13 ft 4 in long, 1963 mm / 6 ft 5 in wide and 1450 mm / 4 ft 9 in high). The powerful exterior also incorporates short body overhangs (front 826 mm /2 ft 8 in, rear 686 mm / 2 ft 3 in) for off-road driving as well as a large number of high-tech features.

Exterior

The exterior concept: Fascination with high-tech and form

Wing doors: The wing doors of the concept T represent a stylistically as well as technically especially independent and fascinating body detail. They are mounted in the upper section of the A-pillars. When opened, they simultaneously swing slightly outwards and steeply upwards. The advantage: an especially comfortable entry and exit as well as comparatively little space required to the side. Further avant-garde design features: The rear part of the door creates the B-pillar trim above the door handle and door opener, an extremely robust solution but still sporty and elegant. To provide optimal view even when the doors are open, the exterior mirrors are located high on the A-pillars.

T-bar roof and rear soft top: The two front parts of the T-bar roof of the concept T can likewise be swung upwards for easy removal. Even more sky is available over the off-road coupe when the rear roof module, designed as a hard top with integrated trunk lid, is removed. If the side windows, which are very low in the front, are lowered, the concept T is transformed completely into a convertible with a secure roll bar.

Front design: Viewed from the front, the concept T consciously displays stylistic parallels to the roadster study concept R introduced in September 2003 and the Golf GTI study, which had its world premiere at the IAA, also in September 2003. The shared feature: The V-shaped radiator grille integrated into the bumper unit which, in similar variations, will distinguish the fronts of all new Volkswagens.

The headlights, with lens-shaped main elements lying far apart and inner elements tapering sharply inwards, almost as parallelograms to the hood and grille, demonstrate additional design parallels between the roadster concept R and the new off-road coupe concept T. In contrast to the concept R element, however, the main headlight of the concept T project into the bumper.

Floating headlights and free-standing wheels: To underscore the off-road character of the concept T, the headlights appear to "float” in the bumper and the extremely wide, upward arching fenders. The sides of the latter are cut away extensively. The overall effect gives the impression that large 19-inch wheels (tire size 285/45 R 19) stand free in the style of the legendary dune buggy based on the VW, which advanced in the mid-60s to an icon of freedom on four wheels. Of course, today this stylistic element is more than just show. Rather, the selected wheel and tire combination provides a further basis for the sovereign on- and off-road handling characteristics of the concept T.

Rear design: The rear overhang is shorter than the overhang in the front. The narrow light units "float" in the bumper and fenders here as well. The stainless steel tail pipes of the exhaust system are prominently positioned inboard of the tail lights on both sides. The high position has the advantage that the tail pipes will not scrape the ground when off road.

The lower body parts (flanks as well as front and rear skirt elements) were rigorously designed for off-road capability; they are made of extremely sturdy synthetic material to resist damage during off-road use. In addition, the synthetic panels as well as the complete light units can be removed and replaced very fast.

Side design: Viewed from the side, the design of the rear fender displays a classic forward swing: In the rear section, the very wide fenders form muscular haunches; moving forward, the flanks make a seamless transition to the outer door panel. The end point of this line, spanning two-thirds of the off-road coupe like a bowstring, is centered in front of the arches of the front wheels. Together with the front door edge, this creates a more dynamic, arrow-like design.

Interior

The interior concept: the driver decides on the materials and the division of the space

2-seater or 2+2: The interior of the off-road coupe concept T also demonstrates progressive directions, because here too, the worlds of the sports car and the SUV fuse to create a facet of stylistics and functionality never before realized in this manner. The concept T, conceived as both a 2-seater as well as a 2+2, possesses a consciously sports purist interior design. For example, a soft synthetic material with a satiny surface structure is used for the fixtures, door trims and seats throughout the entire interior of the concept car shown in Detroit. It is optically and tactilely very appealing and can be cleaned damp after a weekend trip on beach or off-road trails with the T-roof open. Beyond that, the interior offers a maximum of variability. Because the rear of the concept T conceals copious storage space: either for luggage and the spare wheel which is visible from outside, just for luggage or for the rear seats including passengers and luggage.

As you like it - leather instead of synthetics: This "outdoor trim" can be exchanged at any time without great trouble for the all-leather "downtown trim”.

Shell seats and 5-point belts: Secured with 5-point belts, the driver and front passenger take their places in ergonomically formed aluminum flex shell seats. The seats are mounted centered on an aluminum cross member. The side bolsters of the seat, extended far forward and open in the middle, guarantee excellent lateral support. The side bolsters are anchored to the backrest by aluminum hinges. Like all controls in the concept T, aluminum components are also used in the area of the buttons for electric seat adjustment.

Multifunction steering wheel: The multifunction steering wheel, no longer perfectly round but flattened towards the top, offers the best possible ergonomics. The shift buttons (+/-) for optional manual control of the automatic gearbox are integrated into the steering wheel.

Head-up display: Key information in the cockpit is projected from behind the steering wheel onto a head-up display. Data such as vehicle speed, engine temperature and information from the audio system are fed to the left half-oval of this display. The right half-oval displays, among other things, the engine speed and the fuel level as well as map and text information from the navigation system. The speedometer and tachometer stand out clearly as separate displays from the other information.

Four optimally visible and accessible steering column levers are located behind the display, each with round controls and rocker switches reaching towards the driver, easy to activate with a light press of the finger. All cockpit elements are mounted in a base module of aluminum. The steering wheel hub with the integrated VW emblem is also manufactured from this sporty and aesthetically very appealing light metal. The steering wheel itself can be adjusted vertically and horizontally with the central operating and control unit.

Personal Mobility Gateway: The form of data communication and the individual settings in the concept T are a complete new development. Personal Mobility Gateway (PMG) is the name for a mobile communication unit with wireless remote control, similar to a PDA in form and function. Via PMG, the driver and front passenger can, on one hand, control functions like air conditioning or adjustment of the seat (alternative to using seat switches), steering wheel and exterior mirrors. On the other hand, PMG takes over the entire personal data communication. This includes telephone, high speed internet and email access and control of the MP3 player and the navigation system. The PMG can be removed from the car to serve as a multifunction PDA.

[.T.]

Po obliki je avto zelo podoben tistemu, s katerim je lani Juta vozila na Dakarju.

Tadej

[4nY]

men se zdi d je direkt za u Afriko za po pescenih puscavah nort ... :OK:

Full mi je usec !!! :OK:

[Jerry_exc]

leeeeeppp :o

sam tole je še ze prihodnost <_<

[<=YaMaHa=>]

Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :kva2: :kva2: :kva2: ...lepo,lepo :OK:

Cena :hmm: :? <_<

[Jacque]

Men pa tole ni ušeč...Nasplošno se mi zdijo teli avtomobili prihodnosti grdi...!!

To je avto: Basic look & classical profile!

[Tomozuki]

Ej...... Volkswaggen me je pošteno presenetu. Nikol si nisem mislo, da bojo kaj takega naredli. Žalostno je edino to, ker bo vse ostalo pri konceptu - prototipu. Tele futuristične oblike me vedno bolj impresionirajo ;)

[Tomozuki]

To je avto: Basic look & classical profile!

Tole je dolgčas izpred 10-tih let ;)