Volkswagen Teases its Midsize Crossover With Production Test Body

Volkswagen has announced that its plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., has built the very first test body for its upcoming midsize CUV. Scheduled to begin production later this year, the production version of the CrossBlue concept will go on sale in 2017. Volkswagen’s large three-row crossover will slot above the upcoming Tiguan, which will be larger than the vehicle it replaces and also offer up to three rows of seating.

The completion of the first metal test body for its upcoming midsize crossover indicates that Volkswagen’s upcoming competitor to the likes of the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot is almost here. Starting production before showing the vehicle publicly is pretty unorthodox, especially considering the last time we saw the CrossBlue concept was three years ago. Volkswagen says that the building of the first test body was done to check the calibration of body shop equipment and processes. The body is then passed on so that it can undergo further testing and development. Having all of that tooling already in place means the design has been finalized, and we’re looking at the vehicle that will go on sale next year.

Last month, we spied a mule of Volkswagen’s upcoming three-row crossover testing in Southern California. The prototype itself looked similar to the CrossBlue concept that debuted at the 2013 Detroit auto show and hinted at a conservative, yet boxy exterior design. Like the smaller Tiguan and the Golf family, Volkswagen’s large three-row CUV will ride on the MQB platform, which underpins many of the group’s vehicles.

Source: Volkswagen

 

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