Volkswagen Four Door-Coupe

The so-called four-door coupe -- kicked off in 2004 by Mercedes-Benz' E-class based CLS-class -- has become, along with crossovers, a vehicle type that seemlingly every automaker is rushing to develop. Volkswagen is apparently the latest automaker to lob its hat into the ring with this Passat-based vehicle recently caught testing in the California desert.

It is unknown if the vehicle is in any way related to the rumored Audi A7, but the style is clearly influenced by the CLS, particularly the shape of the greenhouse in the rear and the crease above the door handles. The rear end, however, is quite different from the CLS' and is closer in shape to the BMW 6 Series. The overall shape is strangely reminiscent of the late-90s cab-forward offerings from Chrysler such as the Dodge Intrepid and Chrylser 300M.

Expect to see the same powertrain options available on this yet-unnamed vehicle that are available on the Passat, including the 2.0-liter turbo four and 3.6-liter V-6. There is also the possibility of a high-performance R36 variant. It will likely sit slightly above the Passat in Volkswagen's range, but nowhere near the ill-fated Phaeton.