Volkswagen is preparing several new crossovers for sale in the U.S., ranging from a seven-seat American-built model down to a little Mini Countryman competitor.

The seven-seat crossover was previewed by the CrossBlue concept at the Detroit auto show

this year. At 197 inches long on a 117-inch wheelbase, and with a space-efficient transverse engine, the new vehicle is designed to provide more size and space at lower prices than the Touareg. Because the vehicle is built on VW's MQB platform, it can accept a wide range of powertrains, from V-6 AWD to diesel and hybrid.

Important for the U.S. will be a narrow-angle V-6. VW originally said that the V-6 wouldn't fit in the MQB platform, but when we asked about the new turbo versions of the V-6 that have appeared in a couple of concepts lately, VW chief engineer Ulrich Hackenberg (he was moved to Audi days afterward) confirmed to Motor Trend, "These bigger cars need a bigger engine." It's a twin-turbo, direct-gas-injection 3.0-liter engine, good for 295 hp and a generous 370 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to VW's six-speed DCT, and there will be a 4Motion mechanical all-wheel-drive system available.

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In recent concept cars VW has also shown the plug-in hybrid drive it has planned for the production CrossBlue. Like the Jetta hybrid, this uses an electric motor sandwiched between the combustion engine and the twin-clutch transmission. At the rear is a second electric motor.

Total system power for all that is more than 400 hp. The battery is housed in the center tunnel and has capacity of 9.8 kW-hr. Even when it's exhausted, the vehicle has full all-wheel-drive capability, albeit at reduced absolute performance. This is possible because the front electric motor can function as a generator and power the rear e-motor. Volkswagen calls this "propshaft by wire."

The lowest-power version of this crossover will likely be a 188-hp four-cylinder 2.0-liter with front drive.

A year or two later, VW will launch a "coupe" version of this vehicle, which again was previewed by a concept, the CrossBlue Coupe, at Shanghai in April. It's a four- or-five seater with a lower roofline, but the same wheelbase.

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Even after the locally built crossovers are launched, the Touareg will likely continue in the U.S. range. It's more luxurious and off-road-oriented and can take larger engines thanks to its longitudinal layout. However, VW might discontinue U.S. sales of the smaller yet still relatively expensive European-built Tiguan. If not, a new Tiguan on the MQB platform would arrive in 2016.

And yet VW will offer an even smaller crossover in the U.S. Hackenberg said VW needs a competitor in the booming subcompact SUV segment against such rivals as the Buick Encore. VW's entry will be developed from the same amazingly versatile MQB architecture as the seven-seat crossover, but will be more like the Ford Fiesta in size. A VW spokesman confirmed to us it will come the U.S., as will the closely related next-generation Polo hatchback. CAFE is the reason.

This small crossover is still at least three years from sale. But use of the MQB architecture means it can have mechanical AWD and electric AWD or FWD hybrid. The related Polo will also be offered with full electric drive but a full electric crossover is unlikely.