2017 Volkswagen CC

If you had to come up with a study for a next-gen VW CC right now, what a better place to start than the German brand's recent Sport Coupe concept?

The Geneva Motor Show concept might be a little bit too futuristic for a direct replacement, but photoshop-erRemco Meulendijk took care of that with his render that re-details the Sport Coupe to bring it closer to a production CC.

Volkswagen being…Volkswagen when it comes to designs and production reality, this speculative render could actually be very close to what the Germans are preparing for the second generation CC that will share its MQB architecture and powerplants with the roomier but less fancy looking (European) Passat. 

VW had previously said that it will release the next CC sometime in 2016. 

Renderings courtesy of Design.RM

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VW Golf R400 Could Have 420PS

It’s no secret VW wants to build the Golf R400, but new details have now surfaced about the upcoming extra-hot Golf. VW group powertrain chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser has given the first official confirmation that the Golf R400 will be produced and that it will have more than 400 hp.

“We have the Golf more sporty than ever before, since we soon will have the Golf R400 - we will do this car. We are in fact in development of it right now,” Neusser told CAR. 

The VW Golf R400 will be the first production model to debut the high-output 2.0-liter turbo engine seen in theAudi TT Quattro Sport Concept. 

In the study, the engine produced 420PS (414hp), and the Golf R400 may get it as such or slightly detuned. Add the four-wheel drive system in the equation and the Golf R400 (or R420) should become the world’s fastest production hot-hatch.

In terms of design, the Golf R400 will adopt the understated look of the GTI and R, but will feature a revised aerodynamic package with splitters and a new spoiler. It will also feature upgraded brakes to cope with the extra power, but the track will stay the same, allowing it to be assembled on a regular VW production line. 

That’s because the Golf R400 will not be a limited edition model but rather a regular fixture in the Golf lineup. The car is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, with first deliveries scheduled for late 2015 or early 2016. As for pricing, the R400 will reportedly cost under €50,000 (about $54,400) in Germany.

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VW Sport Coupe Concept GTE

The Sport Coupe GTE from VW isn't just another flight of fantasy, but a car believed to preview the firm's next four-door coupe model in the mid-size category.

From the more snazzy styling to the grander exterior dimensions and the advanced tech, it looks like VW wants to push it above the current CC and closer to other premium sports saloons like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 Sportback – albeit not too close in pricing. 

VW itself said that it portrays a styling exercise for a new model to bridge the gap between the Euro Passat and the Phaeton. 

At 4,869mm (191.7 inches) long 1,407mm (55.4 inches) tall and 1,864mm (73.4 inches) wide, the Sport Coupe is longer and wider than the current Passat, while riding on a 50mm longer wheelbase at 2,841 mm (111.9 inches) for improved rear legroom - Note: VW's US press arm mistakenly noted that the wheelbase was 118.9 inches or 3,020mm, something we repeated in our original article on the study.

For power, VW chose a 295hp 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged gasoline engine that operates in combination with two electric motors, one in the gearbox housing and the other at the rear, delivering a system output of 274hp (380PS), good enough for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.0 seconds and a 250km/h (155mph) top speed. 

The GTE can run on battery power for 50km (31 miles) and has an overall range of around 1,000km or about 620 miles, returning a combined efficiency of 2l/100km (117.6 mpg US or 141.2 mpg UK).

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