If you take a look at Volkswagen’s 2015 lineup, you’ll find sedans, hatchbacks, sports coupes, and even premium sports SUVs. There’s a gap in that lineup when it comes to midsize SUVs. In the US, where SUVs are so popular, that’s not just a gap, it’s a chasm. Volkswagen is about to close that gap.

Volkswagen announced that it will introduce a midsize sport utility vehicle based on the CrossBlue concept car that was a huge success at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The design of the midsize SUV will be aimed at pleasing customers in the US As a testament to its commitment, VW plans to manufacture the vehicle at its factory located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Let’s look at some of the features of the concept car on which the new midsize SUV will be based.

The Volkswagen CrossBlue concept

The Detroit Auto Show is always a good measure of what the American public wants from their cars. Automakers use this program to present new designs in the form of prototypes. If the American public eats them, the automaker will most likely create a car based on that design. Wider and longer than the German automaker’s Touareg (79.3 inches wide and 196.3 inches long), the CrossBlue is shorter, measuring 68.2 inches. That makes it six inches shorter than the Touareg, which should allow the vehicle to grip the road better with its wider and shorter stance.

Here are some other features of CrossBlue:

Lots of ponies under the hood: A diesel hybrid, the CrossBlue produces 300 horsepower and 517 pound-feet of torque. Although the new vehicle will come with several powertrain options, the plug-in diesel will undoubtedly be one of the options.

Automatic transmission: The CrossBlue featured a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Drink, do not swallow fuel: With 33 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, this midsize SUV will keep buyers from going broke.

Acceleration from zero to 60: Fast, reaching full highway speed from a standstill in just seven seconds.

Medium price: At $ 31,500, this vehicle will be well within the budget of most potential SUV buyers.

Inside the car, the dash provides a clean and professional appearance. A center console with a touchscreen navigation panel separates the passenger seat from the driver’s seat. Cargo capacity with all seats occupied is 12 cubic feet. Fold down the third row of seats and expand to 28 cubic feet. With more interior space than the Touareg or Tiguan, the new VW SUV should be a popular choice with families.

With the CrossBlue, Volkswagen will be well prepared to go head-to-head with the midsize SUVs of the other automakers in the US market. However, if you are a fan of the Touareg or Tiguan, rest easy. CrossBlue will not replace your favorite vehicle. It only adds to the options that Volkswagen can offer the American public.

Find out more about Volkswagen’s planned midsize SUV at your local Volkswagen dealer. If you’re like most SUV fans at the Detroit auto show, you’ll be counting down the days until the vehicle arrives at a showroom near you.