This type of camouflage is a first in the history of approval test drives at Volkswagen. So far, prototypes have been disguised in a black and white pattern, so no one could make out details of new vehicles. In the industry, this is known as a covered drive. The T-Cross will be different. The small SUV is aimed at young customers and getting them excited about the brand – a goal that becomes evident even now, during the testing phase. “Black Uni”, “Energetic Orange” and “Makena Turquoise” are the names of the paint colors used for this car. The resulting camouflage turns the covered drive into a colored drive.

The T-Cross is meant to attract attention
“It was very important to us to create a car that stands out in traffic,” says Klaus Bischoff, chief designer of the Volkswagen brand. “When you design an SUV, you have to make it look as if it could conquer any road on the planet. Independent, masculine, powerful. And these are all attributes the T-Cross has.”

Outside of Munich, the T-Cross demonstrates its ability to conquer any road, when it reveals itself to a small group of people for the first time. Through gravel pits and the foothills of the Alps, along gravel roads and across fields toward Lake Starnberg. The T-Cross lets off steam, and that’s exactly what the smallest member of Volkswagen’s SUV family is for: small and big adventures in the cities and their outskirts.

The T-Cross as an Entry Model
“The T-Cross extends the SUV family into Volkswagen’s compact segment,” says Andreas Krüger, head of the small model range. “The T-Cross is important to the small model range because it functions as an entry model into the SUV segment for the younger demographic.”

The T-Cross wants to be cool and practical. Its motto: “I am more.” Using this claim, it will celebrate its world premiere this fall. It won’t cost more than other vehicles in its class, but it will offer more. The T-Cross is digital and networked. Numerous assistance systems make it one of the safest cars in its class.

I am cool
The aspect of coolness is an obvious feature of this car. The dominant radiator grille, the prominent wheels with 18-inch rims. Driving the T-Cross is equally cool. Front-wheel-drive and a length of 4.10 meters make for a very agile performance. The raised seating position allows for improved visibility. That’s what makes sport utility vehicles so successful. Says Andreas Krüger, “The higher seating position makes the car feel a lot more spacious inside.”

Two years after it was introduced as a concept, the T-Cross is now on its way to its world premiere. On its test drive, the experts don’t reveal all of the car’s details. They just give a few hints. As an option, the T-Cross will be available with a digital cockpit, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, the active info display, four USB connections, and wireless charging for smartphones. Also available in the car’s five trim levels is a 300 watt Beats sound system with subwoofer.

I am practical
The practicality of the T-Cross will quickly become obvious to passengers in the back. The rear seat row is adjustable by up to 15 centimeters. “The T-Cross is extremely flexible, thanks to the modular transverse toolkit. When you go on vacation with kids and lots of luggage, you can slide the rear seats forward to create the maximum amount of storage in the trunk,” explains Andreas Krüger. “And when you take your grown-up friends out for a ride around town, you just slide the seats back for added comfort.”

Folding down the backseats extends the trunk space from 455 liters to 1,281 liters. If you need even more space, you can fold down the front passenger seat as well.

Five SUV-Models in Europe
In Europe, the T-Cross will become the fifth SUV of the Volkswagen brand, next to the T-Roc, the Tiguan, the Tiguan Allspace and the Touareg. It will also be sold in China and South America.  “There is a clear genetic thread that connects all SUVs of the Volkswagen brand,” says chief designer Klaus Bischoff. “The T-Cross has a little bit of Touareg genetics in it, as can be seen in the front and the construction itself. Not too much. Just enough to recognize the Volkswagen DNA. And that’s very important.

The T-Cross will be offered in twelve different paint colors and, just like its big brother, the T-Roc, will be available in a bi-color theme. The T-Cross is more practical and cooler than the T-Roc, while the T-Roc is more compact.

“Now that we are adding the T-Cross to the SUV-family, we will have the right SUV for every customer,” says Klaus Bischoff. “Its target group are young people with comparatively small incomes.” For them, the T-Cross will bring color and lifestyle to the Urban Jungle.