Sport Coupe concept reveals VW’s design plans

Welcome to the Volkswagen Sport Coupe Concept, which previews not only a replacement for the current CC four-door ‘coupe', but also the new styling direction VW will take over the next few years.

That's right, this is VW's new look. What were you expecting, Lambo-style extravagance? Not very Volkswagen. Instead we get Audi-style crisp, clean-cut lines, with ever-wider grilles that now blend straight into the headlight clusters, BMW-style. It's supposed to make the cars looks less friendly, and more aggressive and sporty.

More importantly, the proud-sitting ‘cattlegrid' grille and more angular bumpers will adorn the facelifted Mk7 Golf next year, and is sure to make an appearance on everything from the next Polo to the Touareg's replacement. So if you don't like it, er, tough. That face will be everywhere.

The Sport Coupe concept is effectively the replacement for the outgoing CC, but it's longer, wider and lower - a whole class above the existing model. Think Audi A7 rather than Audi A5 Sportback, size-wise: VW's own spokesman referenced the Mercedes CLS as a potential rival.

Why the growth spurt? Quietly, VW admits part of the problem is the new Passat itself, which offers much more cabin space than before thanks to its wheelbase-stretching MQB platform.

With the regular Passat already up to 5-Series levels of accommodation, the CC needs to grow accordingly to justify its premium.

The win-win for VW is that the CC has been a smash hit in America and is on the money for premium-seeking Chinese buyers too: markets which prefer a longer, larger silhouette for their ‘sedans'.

Those markets also appreciate hybrid drivetrains, so VW's showing the Sport Coupe concept with a ‘GTE' plug-in hybrid system that combines a petrol V6 with twin electric motors, delivering a total of 375bhp and a 155mph top speed.

Given it's sitting on the faithful MQB foundations, you can bet your bratwurst the resulting showroom model will offer a more mundane selection of four-cylinder petrol and diesel turbo engines in Europe.

A fresh face and designs on stealing Mercedes CLS sales. Reckon VW is onto a winner? Cast your verdict below...