VW's CrossBlue concept made its original debut in Shanghai. The maker suggests it will be updated for its American unveiling.

Volkswagen aims to electrify L.A. Auto Show-goers when it rolls out two battery-based models next week, including both the new e-Golf – its first battery-electric vehicle for the U.S. market – and an updated version of the CrossBlue Coupe Concept first unveiled earlier this year in Shanghai.

We offered TheDetroitBureau.com readers a first look at the e-Golf this week, and now turn to the CrossBlue, a 5-seat plug-in hybrid that we almost certainly will see again, suggests Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand.

“The disproportionate growth in the SUV segment gives designers the opportunity to implement an even greater diversification of models,” explains Bischoff, adding that, “The CrossBlue Coupé shows the potential of our Volkswagen design DNA and will undoubtedly have an influence on future SUV models.”

The CrossBlue Coupe opts for a 2-row, 5-seat layout.

Don’t confuse the Coupe Concept with the earlier, three-row CrossBlue ute that made its first appearance at the Detroit Auto Show last January.  That is expected to strongly influence a 7-seater VW officials have confirmed will go into production in the near-term, very likely at their plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

But U.S. chief Jonathan Browning has hinted he’d like more than one additional crossover to flesh out the current, limited line-up of Tiguan and Touareg.  The smaller, more sporty CrossBlue Concept seems to be precisely what VW is after.

(Click Here to check out the new VW e-Golf battery car.)

The Coupe uses the compact MQB “architecture” that will be the foundation for more than half of all Volkswagen Group vehicles to come in the future, whether Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen or Audi.  It features a long and broad hood – with short overhangs and a long, sweeping roofline.

Despite its compact size, this is no econobox. The interior is finished in decidedly upscale materials, including Nappa leather, Alcantara trim, “Asphalto,” and a mix of wood, chrome and aluminum trim pieces.  A 12.3-inch reconfigurable display is the first thing the driver will see, while a 10.1-inch LCD serves infotainment duties. It has proximity sensors to judge when a hand is reaching out, allowing the screen to automatically present more information.

(VW’s global sales are on a roll. Click Herefor the full story.)

In show car trim, the concept relies on a plug-in hybrid system pairing a turbocharged V-6 with twin electric motors. For those who equate electric propulsion with stone-pony performance, think again. The package produces a combined 415-hp, no small number considering the CrossBlue Coupe Concept’s relatively modest size.  That is apparently good enough to launch the 2-door from 0 to 60 in just 5.8 seconds, with a top speed of 147 mph.

Other than the switch from metric to U.S. ratings, those are the same numbers we first heard in Shanghai, but it’s another matter when it comes to the CrossBlue Coupe Concept’s battery-only range of 13 miles, and fuel economy rating of 70 MPGe, or Miles Per Gallon-equivalent. At its Chinese launch, VW quoted 20 miles in electric-only mode and 79 MPGe.

That said, the latest range figure may rile skeptics who disdain so-called “compliance cars,” developed to comply with the strict new California Zero-Emission Vehicle, or ZEV, mandate rather than to actually meet consumer needs.  At 13 miles, the Coupe Concept’s 9.8 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery would deliver barely a third the range of the Chevrolet Volt.

Of course, it’s possible VW will skip the batteries entirely if and when the CrossBlue Concept comes to market – we’ve seen that happen with a lot of recent show cars.

(Honda will unveil a new hydrogen fuel-cell car in LA. Click Here for a first look at the new Honda FCEV.)