The production version of the T-Cross Breeze shown in Geneva two years ago, the T-Cross becomes the latest model after its Seat Arona twin, the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza to make use of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB based A0 platform, with dimensions of 1 568mm in height, a wheelbase of 2 651mm and overall length of 4 199mm.
According to Volkswagen, this translates to “a spacious interior with enough room for five people” and a boot that ranges from 385 to 455-litres, up to a maximum of 1 281-litres with the split folding rear seat down.
Resembling the bigger T-Roc and with an interior lifted directly from the Polo, the T-Cross, depending on the trim level, will offer items such as four USB ports, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Active Info Display digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charger and a number of customised interior trim pieces.
On the safety front, it will sport tech such as Lane Keeping Assistant, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking, Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Alert and Park Assist.
As previously speculated, power for the T-Cross will come mainly from the Volkswagen Group’s 1.0 TSI petrol in two states of tune; 70kW/160Nm or 85kW/200Nm with the bigger 110kW/250Nm 1.5 TSI Evo joining at a later stage.
In some markets, the T-Cross will also come with a 1.6 TDI that makes 70kW/250Nm, while outside Europe, motivation will be derived from the older 110kW 1.4 TSI, an 81kW normally aspirated 1.6 and a 1.0 TSI tuned to deliver 95kW. No word on the rumoured T-Cross GTI was however made.
Transmission options will consist out of a five-speed manual, six-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG, with drive, in order to save costs, being routed to the front wheels only.
Set to be built at Volkswagen’s Navarra Plant in Spain for Europe and in Brazil and China where it will be adapted for local market conditions, the T-Cross will go on sale next year with sales in South Africa commencing likely towards the middle of 2019.
