The Volkswagen T-Cross has been one of the most interesting appearances in recent years in segment B of SUV (compact) cars, a market niche that the extinct Ford EcoSport was able to create and lead for a long time.

Produced in Brazil on the MQB modular platform (the same as the Polo, Nivus and Taos, among others), the model launched in our region in 2019 is facing its first restyling and everything seems to indicate that it will follow the same stylistic path as its European namesake.

After official photos of the version manufactured in the old continent were leaked, and later some camouflaged units were seen in full testing phase in Brazil, the certainty came -curiously- from the hand of the INPI in our country.

It happens that the National Institute of Industrial Property is the entity through which many automakers register the design of their future models in order to avoid plagiarism. These registrations are presented with a series of specifications and “3D models” that largely detail what the silhouette of the model in question will be like, which will be presented in our region in 2024.

Design details of the new Volkswagen T-Cross SUV car

In the renders delivered by the German brand to this entity, it can be clearly seen that the design of the model for Mercosur will be identical (at least on the outside) to the one marketed in Europe.

The main changes with respect to the current model focus on the trunk, the front bumper and the rear optics. In addition to displaying the renewed Volkswagen logo, the trunk will have a LED strip that will illuminate the entire width of the front grill, a stylistic resource launched by the Taos manufactured in our country.

Likewise, the daytime running lights will continue to be located in the lower part of the bumpers, but now they will have another format and will also offer LED technology.

There are no major changes on the sides and, although there are no details of the wheels on the model, it is to be expected that they will be modified in the same way that occurred with the European model, which in the top-of-the-range versions look sportier.

The bumpers will also be reformulated at the back, but the most striking thing is the new appearance of the lights, which, although they maintain the horizontal format that runs through the entire tailgate, at the ends of it, you can see a new internal distribution of the three-dimensional type.

Among the documents disclosed by the INPI there are no images of the interior. However, taking into account the similarities with the European T-Cross, it is expected that in this logic of turning it into a “Mini Taos” there will be more careful finishes and better manufacturing, as well as an update to the digital dashboard and a larger multimedia screen. large and of the floating type.

Will there be changes to the mechanics of the SUV T-Cross car?

When Volkswagen introduced the T-Cross to the market in 2019, the only engine available was the historic 1.6 MSi 110 hp gasoline (aspirated), associated with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed Tiptronic automatic.

Over the years, the Volkswagen Group began to get rid of this old power plant in many of its models to introduce a new generation of turbochargers..

We are talking about the 1.0 three-cylinder that is available with two power levels: 170 TSI with 95 hp and 200 TSI with 116 horsepower, associated with a five-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic, respectively.

Despite the aesthetic renewal, apparently the coincidences between the Mercosur and the European models seem to end under the hood, since the Brazilian will maintain its current configuration, at least initially.

The one from the old continent, meanwhile, in addition to keeping the two aforementioned options, adds the well-known 150-horsepower 1.4 turbonafter TSi (only with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox): nothing less than the same engine used by its older brother, the Taos made in Argentina.

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In all cases, the traction is 4×2 (front) and at the moment Volkswagen does not plan to introduce 4×4 versions in this model. Regarding the equipment, we will have to wait until 2024 when it is launched in our region, but it is expected that it will add some driving assistance.