Saar: In all likelihood, it will make its world premiere at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

Volkswagen T-Cross Test Mule

It is safe to say that at first glance, at least, many of you will get disappointed with these spy shots. Not because of their quality, but because what the upcoming Volkswagen T-Cross looks like in production guise. Well, allow us to pacify you lot because while the compact SUV looks like it has no camouflage whatsoever, there still is some. And those small hidden design cues make a big impact overall.

Volkswagen T-Cross Test Mule

Since Volkswagen released the first-ever teaser of the T-Cross with a sketch of its rear end, let’s start with how the test mule looks in comparison. First-up, the number plate housing – it has been shifted from the middle of the tailgate to the bumper. This has made the rear diffuser, which is flanked by two faux exhaust outlets, smaller. The second noticeable change is the layout of the rear lights – where is the break-light strip that joins the two taillamp enclosures at either end? Well, look closely and you’d notice that there is a black sticker to hide it. Even the taillamp enclosures, which look a bit oversized for the compact SUV, have under translucent covers. Some black stickers are also there at the bottom of the rear bumper.

Volkswagen T-Cross Test Mule

At the front, Volkswagen has slyly covered certain design cues with some black stickers. The grille has some glossy black inserts at either end, where it meets the typical VW-style headlamp enclosures. Speaking of which, the Volkswagen T-Cross will light the way forward with projector units and horn-shaped LED DRLs. Volkswagen has been really skilful to sticker the lower half of the front bumper in such a manner that it resembles the one shown on the T-Cross Breeze Concept (T-Cross is a hard-top, five-door version of that). In reality, though, that section will have a totally different design.

Volkswagen T-Cross Test Mule

Unfortunately, no images for the interior has surfaced yet. That said, the Volkswagen T-Cross is likely to carry the similar interior layout to the new-gen Volkswagen Polo, a model with which the SUV will also share the MQB platform and powertrains with. Volkswagen will launch the T-Cross in Europe later this year. But before that happens, expect the German carmaker to unveil the T-Cross at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

It is confirmed that Volkswagen will be bringing the T-Cross to India after Skoda launches its own version of a compact SUV with the same skeleton. But that will only happen by late 2020 or early 2021. Both Skoda and Volkswagen will equip their Hyundai Creta rivalling SUVs with a 1.0-litre TSI engine, which will also be produced in India.