2004 Volkswagen Concept T
Something Old, Something New
The fine white line that defines the vehicles we see on the road today and the sometimes outrageous concepts designed to unleash our automotive inhibitions regarding our four-wheel future has been smudged once more by Volkswagen. Sure, weve seen crossover SUVs, wagons and hatchbacks mixed with off-roading themes, and even sports pickups, but none as radical or as out there as the Concept T.
Designed by VWs California studios, a reincarnated dune buggy recently landed in Detroit for its world-premiere. Like magic it managed to deliver the heart and soul of California to a land in dead cold winter. This vividly bright red crossover convertible sports car is just a hint of what the future of Volkswagen might include, proving that its a brand in motion.
From an overall standpoint, the Concept T is perhaps the most radical Volkswagen concept car to be shown in recent years; and that includes the Microbus, now scheduled for production, and 2003s Concept R roadster. Perhaps its New Beetle based Dune concept came closest conceptually, but at least it had a roof.
But while radical, only Volkswagen has the history to redo the dune buggy and still be taken seriously. The plastic bodied kit cars became icons of the free-loving West Coast lifestyle in the 60s and 70s, enough so that even VW dug deep into its WWII past to recreate the Kubelwagen Type 82, renamed the Thing.
While the Concept T probably has as much of a chance reemerging on the showroom floor as a born again Thing, its an experiment in design that also celebrates VWs regular attendance in the grueling Paris-Dakar rally. While this years entry was based on the Touareg SUV, last years (also named Touareg) was more of a dune buggy.
But the Concept T is much more stylish. While a display of future possibilities, the multi-functional car features several design cues that reflect current shapes. At just over 13 feet in length, the Concept T is smaller than the Mk V Golf, and roughly the same size as the New Beetle. Strangely, this one is a strict two-seater as opposed to a 2+2 - evidently threes a crowd. Technical highlights on the body include wing doors, which are hinged in such a manner to allow the door to move outwards upwards as they open on an angle. They reportedly dont require much space for an easy entry and exit.
At this point, you might be asking yourself what kind of design cues the Concept T will be offering VWs mainstream lineup. First up are the headlights, which are comprised of high-power LEDs, encased in a rather technical and intricate design pattern. A central pod (the main beam) is surrounded by an orange turn signal indicator, all of which is outlined in black. This lighting theme was first seen on the Concept R roadster that debuted last fall in Frankfurt, having been carried almost directly over.
A second element of style that has also been borrowed from the Concept R as well as the GTI concept is the thinly outlined grille. The separate trapezoidal shaped bezel on the front end is a detail that you can expect to see in upcoming Volkswagens, a future trademark of their family face. But the Concept T is full of other unique styling bits, such as flat-cut wheel arches, slash shaped fenders, and a window line that juts down far below the normal levels. Add this to blistered fenders and a pair of high-mount wing mirrors and it could very well be transportation from the second half of the 21st century.
The design philosophy of the Concept T is to provide a maximum of layout configurations in one body form. Based on driver preference, the Concept T can take on three different styles, including a hard-top, a slick-looking speedster, or a truly open T-top beach buggy. Much like any other vehicle equipped with a T-top, Volkswagens can be removed quickly and efficiently; just unlatch a few snaps its off and ready to be stowed away.
The bar that runs from the windscreen to the rear rollover bar adds chassis strength and extra crash protection. A second compartment, a small bulkhead behind the drivers compartment, can also be removed. Acting and appearing almost as if its a rear bed cap on a pickup truck, the glass-backed unit can be taken off, revealing a full-size spare tire and extra ventilation to the cockpit. Whichever layout you choose, the Concept T takes on a unique appearance few cars in Volkswagens range or any other manufacturers selection can come close to.
So what powers this otherworldly vehicle? Possibly a state-of-the-art gas-electric hybrid? How about a fuel cell? Or perhaps a high-output, low-displacement turbodiesel? No, rather than using the T for an environmental showcase, a more conventional engine was chosen. Nothing less than another tuned version of Volkswagens narrow-engine VR6 displaces 3.2 liters fitted tuned to Golf R32 specifications. It provides the Concept T with a thoroughly useful 241 horsepower, powering all four wheels via VWs Tiptronic automatic transmission with a manual mode.
Despite added weight and drive friction of all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, the Concept T is rather quick taking just 6.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. Oddly Volkswagen has chosen to electronically regulate the top speed of their dune basher to 143 mph (230 km/h), even though its a concept vehicle that may never set foot off the auto-show turntable.
On top of offering an exterior design thats likely to send auto enthusiasts into deep thought, Volkswagen has given the Concept T something else thats equally dreamy. Driver and passenger receive unique leather seats formed like large bowls, backed in aluminum with progressive bolstering. This theme is echoed in the steering wheel that sports a deep-dish appearance.
Being an all-weather, all-purpose vehicle, the materials chosen appear rugged. Still, plastics are soft-touch, covering the door panels, dashboard and many other surfaces. The driver is faced with a pod featuring two sci-fi inspired instruments, each displaying primary gauges. All other information is projected onto the windscreen in a head-up display (HUD). When bounding over dunes, its much more convenient to have the information in front of your face, than having to fumble around for switches on the center console.
Such minimalist ideals caused VW to delete complicated TFT displays as well as ridding the car of a cluttered and complicated center stack. To compensate the German brand has made the information systems of the Concept T compatible with PDA handheld devices. Connections through high-speed internet, on-board navigation, telephone, and MP3 player can all be established with these devices.
The Concept T shows the wild side of Volkswagen. After its somber-looking Golf, the latest in a long line of finely-built but overly-dull vehicles, the T goes far in giving the nameplate a much needed lift to attract new customers. While it may be lauded for its tough looks, including visible silver-colored suspension pieces and large 19-inch alloy wheels, others will adore it for its tribute to dune buggies and flower power. Many more will drool unabashedly at its off-road potential. No matter, its a fun vehicle. Although its unlikely to be produced, its good to see that VW is exploring new and interesting designs.