Volkswagen C Coupe GTE: New Phaeton, new VW model or just a concept?

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Volkswagen has revealed the C Coupe GTE at the Shanghai Motor Show, a large four-door coupe concept previewing the future of VW’s sporty saloons.

The Chinese market is a big deal for VW, so you’e expect them to deliver something significant and interesting at the Shanghai Motor Show, which they have with the C Coupe GTE Concept. But what is it?

On the face of it, this big, four-door coupe could well preview the replacement for the brilliant, but slow-selling, Phaeton. It’s certainly big enough – longer and wider than the current regular Phaeton – and is more appealing to look at – inside and out.

There’s nothing much of the Phaeton about the Coupe GTE’s engine though, with a hybrid powerplant delivering a maximum of 242bhp and 369lb/ft of torque, 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds and an all-out speed of just 144mph, it’s a long way short of the sort of power the Phaeton launched with, or that which is expected from a flagship model. Although it can do the electric-only trick for a few miles in town.

But could the GTE Coupe still turn in to the next Phaeton after a few tweaks and a more appealing powertrain?

On balance, it seems unlikely; what seems more likely is that this previews a new VW model to sit between the Passat and Phaeton – think Audi A6/A7 – and be a model destined just for China.

Which would be a shame; it looks a lot more appealing (as long as it gets a bit more power) than either the current Passat or Phaeton.