Volkswagen will debut its Sport Coupe Concept GTE at the Geneva International Motor Show, heralding a new and progressive Volkswagen design language.

"Evolution and revolution come together in the Sport Coupe Concept GTE. This concept is based on Volkswagen design DNA, which has been visibly sharpened even more. It shows how the highest-volume brand of our Group is shaping the immediate future," says Walter de Silva, Head of Design of Volkswagen AG.

Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Development, elaborates: "This breathtakingly dynamic Coupe is unlike any other to appear in this class. The design of the Sport Coupe Concept GTE is an impressive alternative to the classic sedans of the B and C segments—it has the style of a sport Coupe that is enriched by the functionality of a large hatchback and the interior space of a sedan."

Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design of the Volkswagen Brand, adds: "The Sport Coupe Concept GTE is another milestone of expressive design. With this concept car, Volkswagen is not only showing a new model's design, but also initial glimpses of a new design era."

The interior of the Sport Coupe Concept GTE is as innovative as its exterior. It features extremely clean design, matchless ergonomics and new interactive interfaces between human and machine—including the use of the driver's biometric data and a new Active Info Display that has a 3D appearance. The upshot is an avant-garde interior ambience that is in complete harmony with its expressive exterior design.

Under the skin, the car is also very innovative. The GTE designation promises a plug-in hybrid drive system and that's what this concept delivers. Volkswagen's regular GTE models can be driven approximately 32 miles in all-electric mode and yet they can cover very long distances with confidence. GTE versions are conceivable in all vehicle classes, as demonstrated with the Cross Coupe GTE SUV concept vehicle that was shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Sport Coupe Concept GTE adds a new facet to its GTE philosophy. The 374-horsepower GTE fastback delivers the long-distance properties of a Gran Turismo while simultaneously enabling zero-emission driving, thanks to its two electric motors and externally chargeable battery. The concept car has a top speed of 155mph and has an impressive EC average combined fuel consumption of 118 mpg.

Volkswagen differentiates between the B, C and D segments in the mid-size and premium classes. The latest Passat, for example, is setting standards in the high-volume section of the B segment; the Volkswagen CC is positioned in the upper B segment; and the Phaeton, as a premium sedan, is in the D segment. The Sport Coupe Concept is breaking out of its current segment and into the C segment. Klaus Bischoff: "Internally, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE is a car that we position above today's Volkswagen CC. We are enriching this segment with a premium design which is as exclusive as it is dynamic, and which casts the term avant-garde in a new light."

The concept car is underpinned again by Volkswagen's modular transverse matrix (MQB), which allows for great packaging and proportions. The most important dimension for the design of a car is the ratio of the exterior length to the wheelbase. The concept car is 191.7 inches long with an incredibly long wheelbase of 118.9 inches, creating an interior that is 73.7 inches long, as well as short body overhangs: 35.8 inches at the front and 44.1 inches at the back. Its low height (55.4 inches), impressive width (73.4 inches) and large 21-inch wheels give the car a spectacular stance. Yet, because of the MQB packaging, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE also offers excellent front and rear headroom and a 17.0 cubic foot trunk.