CrossBlue Concept SUV Stars at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Six seats. Three rows. Bold American SUV styling. A diesel-electric, plug-in hybrid powertrain that delivers an estimated 89 mpg in electric mode and 35 mpg combined.

Now that’s the power of German engineering.

Volkswagen conjured some Motown magic at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the unveiling of a sensational new CrossBlue mid-size SUV concept.

While the CrossBlue is currently only a head-turning auto-show concept, Volkswagen says that if it did go into production it would be positioned in the Volkswagen line-up ever-so-neatly between the compact VW Tiguan and premium VW Touareg.

Powering the CrossBlue is a highly-innovative, plug-in hybrid powertrain: a combination of a TDI® Clean Diesel engine, two electric motors, a DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission and an electric AWD system.

With a combined 306 horsepower and a staggering 516 pound-feet of torque, the CrossBlue can go from standstill to 60 mph in just 7 seconds.

“The mid-size SUV market is the fastest-growing segment right now,” said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “This CrossBlue concept is exactly the right type of vehicle for the U.S. market.”

Volkswagen also took advantage of the Detroit show to reveal a sporty version of its Chattanooga-built Passat sedan: the Passat Performance Concept.

On the feature list for the Passat concept: lowered suspension, 19-inch “Luxor” alloy wheels, dual exhausts, LED taillights and carbon-fiber-style door mirror caps.

But the biggest news is what’s under the Passat hood. The Passat Performance Concept features a new 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI® four-cylinder—part of Volkswagen’s innovative EA888 family of petrol engines—which cranks out an impressive 250 horsepower.

Continuing the sporty theme, Volkswagen also showcased two more performance-inspired R-Line models for North America.

Joining the Volkswagen CC R-Line and the recently introduced Beetle R-Line coupe, the Tiguan R-Line and Touareg R-Line will be added to the Volkswagen line-up this fall as 2014 models.

These new R-Line SUVs feature a bold, aggressive appearance package, sporty interior treatments and lots of cool new equipment.