During a press conference that I attended in July 2010 at its Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, California, Volkswagen chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn said, “In the future, the heart of Volkswagen will also beat with electricity.”

To bolster that statement, in September 2013 Dr. Winterkorn commented that VW was electrifying all vehicle classes and its goal was “market leadership in electric mobility by 2018.”

As for the German automaker’s heart beating with electricity, right now it wouldn’t register a blip on an EKG test. And in regards to being the market leader in electrified vehicles by 2018, the company needs a lot more juice than it has today — in the U.S. its two hybrids and one electric vehicle have dismal sales numbers.

Volkswagen is hoping it can change that by joining the plug-in hybrid bandwagon with two new entrants, the Cross Coupe GTE and Sport Coupé GTE recently revealed concept vehicles. The GTE acronym, with E as in Electric, generally applies to all sporty Volkswagen models with a high-tech plug-in hybrid drivetrain that offers some form of zero-emisssions driving.

In Europe, VW is already selling two cars with the GTE designation, a Golf and a Passat. While it’s likely those two cars will stay on the other side of the Atlantic, it appears that versions of the Cross Coupe GTE and the Sport Coupé GTE, will find their way to the U.S.

Both concepts have V-6 engines, two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack, a six-speed DSG transmission and are all-wheel drive, but that is where the similarities end.

Here are the details:

Cross Coupe GTE (It’s Not A Coupe)

Introduced at this January’s North American International Auto Show, you can see from the photos that Cross Coupe GTE is not a coupe. It is instead a quite handsome sport-utility vehicle that previews a new styling design developed specifically for the U.S. market.

The Cross Coupe GTE’s configuration will change in the production model — the concept has five seats, not the seven when production begins at the end of 2016 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. VW pointed out some of the new models features such as 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat and specific body dimensions: 190.8 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 68.3 inches high.

Unlike the softer, rounder edges that have become the norm with crossover SUVs, the Cross Coupe GTE has precision edges on the long hood, straight character lines and a near straight roofline. A bold front features two horizontal chrome bars with seamlessly integrated LED headlights and turn signals with large air inlets below. At the rear, the linear theme is continued, highlighted with a pair of trapezoidal LED taillights.

The cabin picks up from the exterior with strong horizontal lines of the control panel. The major new feature, an infotainment system that offers the option to swipe through menus without actually touching a control surface, is unlikely to be included in the new vehicle but it will be offered in future VW models.

Powering the Cross Coupe is a 3.6-liter V-6 and two electric motors. The six-cylinder direct-injection engine produces 276 horsepower and 258 pounds-feet of torque. The two electric motors have output of 54 horsepower and 162 pounds feet (front), and 114 horsepower and 199 pounds feet (rear).

Total output of the drive system adds up to 355 horsepower and 280 pounds feet. That’s enough to accelerate the Cross Coupe GTE from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 130 mph.

 A 14.1-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery housed in the center tunnel has enough energy for a zero-emissions driving range of up to 20 miles. Volkswagen says the hybrid has a fuel economy rating of 70 MPGe, but that’s based on the more generous European drive cycle.

The hybrid system can operate in all-electric mode, hybrid mode or locked into all-wheel drive for offroading. There are a number of driving profiles: On-road (with Comfort and Eco sub-modes), Off-road (with Rocks, Sludge & Sand and Gravel), Sport and Snow.

When the new SUV goes on sale it most likely will be offered with a gasoline V-6 or a TDI diesel engine. The plug-in hybrid will follow with no estimated date provided by Volkswagen.