Despite a number of highly successful concept cars under its belt, Volkswagen of America was again able to take the 2008 SEMA auto show by storm with its latest offering; this stunning VW CC.

The CC is a four-door coupe based on the Passat platform that offers a more luxurious, stylish package at a very reasonable price (starting from $26790 for the potent 2.0T).
The CC would be the base vehicle for the 2008 VWoA SEMA concept car, and is the company’s second concept. The first was a luxury interpretation called the CC Gold Coast and launched at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours (http://blogs.eurotuner.com/6287853/euro-news/special-edition-vw-passat-cc-gold-coast-debuts/index.html).
However, this second CC would have a more extrovert performance theme but with an unusual twist – the software on this vehicle has been adapted to give different, switchable power levels ranging from 220hp to 311hp, and giving increased economy.

Creating a follow-up to the VWoA’s previous R-GT and RGTI SEMA concepts was going to be a real challenge for Chief Designer Derek Jenkins and his team. However, they returned to SEMA 2008 with what’s possibly the most sophisticated concept to date.

Like the previous Passat R-GT concept, this Performance CC (as it’s known) has taken the car in an overtly sporting yet utterly elegant direction. It’s intention is to provide potential owners with inspiration to modify their own CC, as well as indicate to the aftermarket tuning specialists what can be possible with this vehicle.
 The Performance CC brings a sleek exterior treatment that’s finished in a custom mix of Lamborghini’s grey pearlescent paint. This is highlighted by black chrome exterior accents along the sides of the car, as well as custom bumper, side panels and machined aluminum elements finished in a satin black.

The high gloss of the black window trim and the stunning paintwork was perfect contrasted by set of custom-designed 10-spoke, 20” wheels. These were designed by VW’s in-house team and featured both machined and shot-peened finished that were hard anodized for durability.
The wheels are wrapped in 245/30-20 Yokahama tires, while the handling has been tuned by H&R Street coilover suspension.  
Inside the wheels are 14” Brembo front brake rotors with four-piston aluminum calipers in a custom white finish.
The gloss black exterior treatment continues inside with piano black accents, which are again offset by matte black graphics – the same graphics that run the length of the exterior, over the black roof, and have even been repeated on the white leather seats using an innovative laser-etching process that has burnt the surface of the hide to create the unique pattern. In addition to the white leather, the Recaro seats have black leather outer sections and white piping.  

A vehicle like this couldn’t retain the stock motor, so the Performance CC retains its 2.0L TSI engine but it has been upgraded with an APR stage 3 turbocharger system. The software has been programmed to allow three performance levels. In Full Power mode, the Performance CC driver has access to 311hp and 313 lb-ft of torque; GT mode offers 252hp and 268 lb-ft; and in the Eco mode 222hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Also included is an APR stainless steel performance exhaust system and custom carbon fiber engine covers created by VW’s design team.
What’s interesting about the Eco performance mode, is that while horsepower has been increased from the stock 200hp, the team claims a reduction in fuel consumption. A production 2.0T CC automatic gets 28mpg highway and 19mpg city, yet the Eco mode gives this CC a claimed 33mpg highway and 27 city. Even the Full Power mode is said to have shown a fuel economy increase!
Further innovation on the CC concept sees a diversion from the “traditional” carbon fiber finishes you might expect to see on a vehicle such as this. Instead, the design team has pioneer billet aluminum trim pieces. And on the CC, the slats in the dynamic front and rear spoilers, as well as the distinctive spoiler on the trunk, were machined from aluminum. And to increase the weight saving advantages, the undersides of each piece had been machined out to create a slim profile. 

In our opinion, the VW Performance CC was the best European car unveiled at SEMA: possibly the best new concept of any type at this year’s show. It represents the best of elegant, dynamic European engineering and styling. We will have a full feature in eurotuner magazine very soon.