Motor shows wouldn't be motor shows without concept cars and VW's effort for Geneva ticks all the boxes of on-trend crossover ability, weight-saving carbon components and allusions to a 'lifestyle' involving lots of leisure time and poncing about on beaches. Dream on, etc...
Press conference will mention 'sporty', 'lifestyle', etc...
Called the T-ROC, VW somewhat tortuously explains that "the ... name is derived from 'T' as a reference to the names of current and future Volkswagen SUVs such as the Taigun, Tiguan and Touareg, and 'ROC' meaning the all-wheel-drive car is as at home on 'rocky' trails as on tarmac." Snappier, if a little less realistic in ambition, than T-SCHOOLRUN, T-PARENTANDCHILDPARKING, T-SPEEDBUMP or T-GOODFORAWFULPOTHOLEDROADS at least. And proving why we don't work in marketing.
Based on the ubiquitous MQB platform, the T-ROC ticks the lifestyle boxes with its targa style roof (targa in the old sense of removable roof panels rather than the more elaborate 911 Targa also at Geneva) and Street, Offroad and Snow modes selectable via the shifter for the seven-speed DSG gearbox. Power comes from the Golf GTD's 2.0-litre diesel with 184hp.
Hang on, this is looking familiar already
Styling references include, apparently, a nod to the Karmann Ghia Type 34 in the headlights but the T-ROC's real role is to preview forthcoming tech and design. Look inside and there's a 12.3-inch TFT screen in front of the driver that, yes, is a derivation of that coming in the
new TT
Lamborghini Huracan
. And, by the looks of it, everything in between within the VW group.
Feeding into a tablet display in the centre console integrated cameras apparently display images while driving off-road to let you "see potholes or large stones that could damage the car." Hang on, isn't it meant to be as at home on rocky trails as is on tarmac? T-ROC (just not big, nasty ones) would seem to be the more honest description then. Assuming it gets built.