VOLKSWAGEN has revealed more about its much-anticipated new mini-SUV, the T-Cross, which is due to be premiered at the Paris Motor Show in October.

When it goes on sale next year, the T-Cross will be competing in an increasingly crowded market for ultra-compact crossovers and will be up against the likes of the Citroen Aircross, Renault Captur, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic as well as its own VW Group stablemate the SEAT Arona.

And with Skoda - another VW-owned company - also due to join the fray in 2019 with a mini SUV built on the same platform and the Nissan Juke due for an extensive revamp next year the T-Cross will have a formidable task on its hand when it eventually hits the showrooms.

Built on the same platform as the Polo, it will be shorter than most immediate rivals at 4,107mm, but Volkswagen promises some innovative features including a back seat which can be adjusted lengthwise allowing more knee room or more room for luggage.

The company says the T-Cross will also come with a wide range of standard-fit assistance systems including traffic monitoring and lane departure warning systems.

The latest design sketches released by Volkswagen show a front end with the bonnet and headlights integrated outside the wide radiator grille. At the side, a sharply cut character line divides the window line from the lower body to form a powerful shoulder section and merges into a new design element.

VW will be adopting many of the trendy tricks employed by rivals in an attempt to make this arguably the first "cool" VW for the urban generation. There will be sophisticated sound systems, all the latest connectivity gizmos, dual colour interior trims and bi-colour paintwork will also be an option with a choice of a dozen different colourways.