MADRID – Volkswagen introduces its T-Cross, a small CUV that initially will be built exclusively in Spain.
Assembly of all versions of the T-Cross begins in November at VW’s plant at Landaben near Pamplona. The plant for many years has produced VW Polo models, and it was chosen to build the T-Cross because the new SUV shares many components with the Polo.
The automaker expected to build 350,000 units divided evenly between the T-Cross and Polo at Landaben in 2019. The plant will assemble 250,000 Polos this year. VW will compensate for next year’s 75,000-unit cut by transferring some Polo production to its South Africa plant, where it will build right-hand-drive models.
The first T-Cross units are scheduled to be delivered to customers in second-quarter 2019, although VW may face a shortage of gasoline engines because the automaker’s engine plants have been slow to respond to declining consumer demand for diesel engines. Landaben plant management is confident that problems with gasoline-engine production will be solved soon.
VW is developing versions of the T-Cross for the Chinese and South American markets, where the new model also will be assembled and sold.
The T-Cross offers a choice of four turbocharged engines. Two 1.0L TSI 3-cyl. gasoline models generate 95 or 115 hp. The top gasoline version is the 1.5L TSI 4-cyl. making 150 hp. Completing the range is a 1.6L 4-cyl. diesel producing 95 hp. All meet the latest European emission standards.
As with the Polo, the T-Cross is based on VW’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) architecture, which allows the driven front axle to be located very far forward. At 162 ins. (4,115 mm) in length, the 101-ins. (2,560 mm) wheelbase allows room for five people, the automaker says.
The sliding rear seat can be adjusted by 5.5 ins. (140 mm), allowing more passenger legroom or more cargo space. Trunk capacity ranges from 136-161 cu.-ft. (385-455 L) thanks to a rear seat back that folds down fully or partially.
Standard driver-assistance features on the new T-Cross include front-assist-area monitoring with pedestrian monitoring and city emergency braking system, lane-keeping assistant, hill start assist and a blindspot detection system with integrated rear traffic alert. A driver alert system, automatic adaptive cruise control and park assist are optional.
The new T-Cross also provides a high level of networking and connectivity with wireless inductive smartphone charging and up to four USB ports.
