VW Golf GTE is plug-in hybrid 24 | 02 | 2014
IMAGES OF VW'S new Golf GTE plug-in hybrid have appeared online ahead of it's first official appearance at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The badging stands for 'GT electric', simply because VW aims to pitch the car as a sporty model in a similar vein to its GTI and GTD models. Essentially, the German giant wants the public to see the GTE as an "electric version of the GTI".
Not surprisingly really, the spec of the production GTE will compare favourably with that of the VW Group rival, Audi's A3 e-tron.
On-sale in Scotland later this year, the Audi uses a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 148bhp, combined with an electric motor with 107bhp. Expect the VW GTE to mirror that powerplant.
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That combination is likely to see the GTE hit 62mph from standstill in around 7.5secs, and on to a maximum of 135mph. Using electric-only power, the top speed drops to 81mph.
Clever designing means the incorporation of the 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack — positioned below the rear seats where the fuel tank would normally be — doesn't reduce the interior space.
A specially adapted six-speed dual clutch auto gearbox transfers the power directly to the front wheels, and VW quotes a combined economy figure of 188.3mpg with CO2 emissions at 35g/km. On battery power alone, the GTE is reportedly good for 31 miles.
Inside the GTE, well it's like any other Golf really. There's a large central infotainment display in the centre console, though — quite naturally — a range of GTE-specific functions to track eco-driving are expected to be included.
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Jim McGill