Giugiaro TEX shows possible future Scirocco generation

Ready for Volkswagen’s next generation Scirocco?  If it happens, it might look something like the hybrid powered Italdesign Giugiaro Tex.  As part of Volkswagen Group’s plan for global automotive domination its recently acquired asset (2010) Italdesign presented the Tex concept in Geneva.

Like most concepts, the TEX is more design exercise than pre-production model. However, its taut skin, oversized wheels and glass intensive green house point toward future design elements. As does it’s very GTI-like red accent stripe.

The interior is a mix of luxury, sport and technology.  It features a flat-bottomed, multi-function steering wheel and a whole array of what looks like “smart device” connectivity, including a very Audi SatNav system.  The milk chocolate colored leather sports seats with red deviated stitching are especially handsome.

The Tex's is powered by a Twin Drive plug-in hybrid system. It pairs a 114-horsepower electric motor & a 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine. Combined output is currently rated at 237 horsepower and 295 (400 Nm) pound-feet of torque.  Power is sent to the front wheels through the VW family paddle-shifted seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox.

How’s the performance? 0-100 km/h times are estimated at just about six seconds with a top speed of approximately 225 km/h. Keep your foot out of it and the system gives commuters a range of around 21 miles (35 kilometers) on electricity alone. 

Should the TEX see production it would be several years down the road (2016?). However many of the design cues and hybrid technology could find there way into VW models much sooner.