VW rolls into Shanghai with the CrossBlue Coupe Concept, a plug-in hybrid with 20 miles battery range.

We got an unofficial sneak peek at the Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe Concept earlier this week when a handful of renderings leaked out on the Web. Now, the maker is giving us an official preview prior to the weekend unveiling at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.

Like the 3-row CrossBlue crossover concept that was first seen at the Detroit Auto Show last January, 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, Audi — or Volkswagen, which based the new Golf on the MQB.

The plug-in hybrid prototype also suggests that VW is getting into the coupe/crossover segment that has caught on with so many of its German rivals.

The CrossBlue Concept features a long and broad hood – with short overhangs and a long, sweeping roofline.  The goal was to create a more sporty stance than that of the more traditional CrossBlue CUV unveiled in Detroit.

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

Two distinct character lines, one starting at the door handles and sweeping rearward, the other stretching from front fenders to rear lights, enhance the low, almost squat appearance. The 22-inch polished aluminum alloy wheels further enhance the sportiness of the CrossBlue Coupe, which is finished in “CrossOrange Metallic” paint. The Coupe notably gets skid plates that suggest at least some modest off-road capabilities.

Where the Detroit show car was a 3-row 7-seater, the CrossBlue Coupe Concept opts for a 2-row, 5-passenger layout.

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.

Notes VW’s release, “The instrument cluster is designed with analog gauges but is underpinned by user programmable software. The type of information changes between the “Eco” and “Sport” modes. In “Eco” mode, the “Powermeter” and battery status are two of the items shown in the left instrument, while the right one acts as speedometer and fuel gauge.”

Rear seat passengers, meanwhile, have access to a pair of iPad Minis built into the back of the front-seat headrests.

The VW CrossBlue Coupe Concept features a large, reconfigurable LCD gauge cluster and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen.

VW claims that it didn’t trade sporty looks for functionality, integrating doors that open especially wide. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain, incidentally, can function as a generator, offering power in the field or to keep a home going in the event of a grid blackout.

In show car trim, the concept relies on a plug-in hybrid system pairing a turbocharged V-6 with twin electric motors. They reportedly produce 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 100 kmh (0 to 62.5 mph) in just 5.9 seconds.

Nonetheless, VW will claim fuel consumption of a mere 3 liters per 100 km. In U.S. terms, that would work out to 79 mpg.  The CrossBlue Coupe Concept’s lithium-ion battery pack, meanwhile, can handle just over 20 miles per charge. In EV mode, only the 114-horsepower rear electric motor is used to propel the Coupe.

Normally, the 9.8-kWh lithium-ion battery is charged by plugging into a 230-volt charger, says VW, though a driver can choose to have the gas motor fire up and recharge the battery pack, as well.

VW isn’t talking about production plans though the 3-row CrossBlue is seen as a likely strong influence on the next-generation Volkswagen Tiguan. Might the CrossBlue Coupe have a future as a competitor to the likes of the new BMW X4? Here are some strong hints: the fact that it uses the same platform as the seventh-generation VW Golf and, as the maker notes, the possibility that instead of the plug-in driveline, the Coupe “could, if it were produced, be fitted with conventional four- and six-cylinder engines running on a variety of fuels such as gasoline, diesel,” and even compressed natural gas. We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.