It was a coupe? Dune buggy? Cabrio? Crossover? All of the above.
This crossover is not your average crossover. It has two wing doors and a removable hardtop. There are only two seats. It was actually an “offroad coupe”, as VW called it 13 years ago, when the concept first appeared in Detroit. It had very short overhangs, and an easily detached rear section that allowed access to the spare tire. Its off-road capability was enhanced by its 4Motion setup.
The Concept T featured a unique body with a flat roofline and side mirrors that were mounted high on the Apillars. Its off-road ability was further demonstrated by the lack of traditional wheel arches. A good portion of the suspension parts and bobs can be seen. The headlights as well as the taillights are high-tech, even by modern standards. If you look closely, you will see that the circular exhaust tips have been integrated into the rear lights.
VW The 2004 Concept T was designed with a powerful V6 engine producing 241 horsepower (177kilowatts). It is channeled to both wheels via a Tiptronic automated gearbox. This hardware arrangement allowed the vehicle to run from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6.9 seconds. It then reached a top speed at 144 mph (253 km/h), which was electronically controlled.
Wolfsburg’s folks believed that the Concept T would open the door to a new segment. However, it was never made into a production vehicle. Italdesign, VW’s luxury brand, revived the idea of a sleek crossover with off-road capabilities. The Parcour is a Gallardo-powered concept that stands on its own.
The 550-hp showcar, which was ridden on 22-inch alloy wheels, did not become a road-going vehicle. The concept was also crashed during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the same year.