It’s one part moon buggy, two parts sportscar and would not look out of place crossing the desert sands in the Paris Dakar… Volkswagen’s Concept C is one of Auto Africa’s mean machines.

It’s one part moon buggy, two parts sportscar and would not look out of place crossing the desert sands in the Paris Dakar… Volkswagen’s Concept C is one of Auto Africa’s mean machines.


The Wolfsburg-based company describes the Concept T as an off-road coupé “presenting an unlikely fusion between the off-roader and a sportscar”.


Until now, no dyed-in-the-wool sportscar has been flexible enough to allow for driving off paved road surfaces. That was, of course, before the concept T, which comes complete with wing doors for that sportscar edge.


The concept car is powered by a 177 kW V6 engine and is claimed to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6,9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 230 km/h. This power is fed to the wheels by 4MOTION all-wheel drive in conjunction with a Tiptronic gearbox.


From the front, the concept T is characterised by the prominent integrated grille and bumper, and its eye-like headlights. The fenders have wide cut-outs allowing the 19-inch wheels to be free standing.


At the rear, the exhaust system's stainless steel tailpipes are housed within the tail lights’ casing. The elevated position ensures that the tailpipes do not restrict the ramp exit angle when venturing off road.


The concept car has a sporting interior with ergonomic aluminium flex shell seats. A soft plastic material is used for the fittings, door trim and seats. This "outdoor trim" can be exchanged for a leather "downtown trim" using quick-release fastenings.


Inside, there is a Personal Mobility Gateway (PMG), a wireless communication unit resembling a palmtop computer, to control certain functions, such as telephone, MP3 player and navigation system and for internet access. Information crucial to the driver is projected onto a head-up display.


The two halves of the roof at the front of the concept T can be removed in only a few moments.

Original article from Car