VW Golf GTE hybrid

VOLKSWAGEN presented the new Golf GTE with a plug-in hybrid drive at last month’s Geneva International Motor Show. The Golf GTE operates with a combined consumption (NEDC for hybrid vehicles) of 1.5 l/100 km (equivalent to 35 g/km CO2) as well as an all-electric range of 50 kilometres; the total driving range of the 150 kW / 204 PS Golf GTE is 939 kilometres.

GTI, GTD, GTE. The name of the Golf GTE is in line with the abbreviations GTI and GTD - two sporty icons belonging to the Golf range.

Back in 1976, the first GTI was the original in this class; today it is the most successful compact sports car in the world. The ‘I’ in the name GTI stood and stands for the electronic fuel injection. In 1982, the GTD united the GT concept with diesel fuel injection for the first time; a second GT bestseller was born. The latest versions of the two Golf sports cars - the GTI and the GTD - were introduced in 2013. Now, in 2014, Volkswagen has transferred its GT philosophy of compact sportiness to a third model - the Golf GTE.

The new Golf GTE is driven by two engines: one 110 kW / 150 PS turbo direct fuel injection en-gine (1.4 TSI) and one electric motor with 75 kW / 102 PS. These two engines combine to provide the stated system power of 50 kW / 204 PS. If the electric motor is the sole source for propulsive power, the Golf GTE is capable of speeds of up to 130 km/h. When the full power of the TSI is used, the GTE sprints to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds; the Volkswagen achieves a top speed of 217 km/h on German motorways and race courses. However, the “V/max” is of secondary importance. Of more significance is the superior pulling power of the Golf GTE thanks to its alliance of a petrol engine and electric motor that produces a maximum torque of 350 Nm. This torque sets this first “GTE” part from plug-in hybrid models from all other competitors in its class.

Despite its power and torque, the Golf GTE remains one of the world's most efficient cars. If you are mostly out and about on short routes daily, you can drive all-electrically with zero emissions for weeks if necessary. In the evening, you simply charge the battery from an ordinary domestic mains outlet in about three and a half hours.