Volkswagen Passat GTE: The Recharged Midsize
Determined to offer a vehicle for every single market niche, Volkswagen just unveiled a sporty-plug-in hybrid version of its midsize Passat.
First of all, it is important to note that this is not our version of the Passat, since the manufacturer actually builds three cars that bear this name: the North American Passat, the rest-of-the-world Passat, and the Passat CC (which is now only named CC), a stylish car based on the chassis of the last-generation of the intermediate sedan. Still following?
This new Passat will be named the GTE. It will become the third model on sale to feature plug-in capabilities, alongside the XL1 and the Golf GTE. It uses a 1.4 litre gasoline engine supplanted by an electric motor. The total output is around 218 horsepower.
Depending on how hard you press on the accelerator pedal, the Passat GTE can go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than eight seconds, or sip 2L of fuel per 100 km. With a full charge and a tank of fuel, it can cover nearly 1000 km.
Even though this particular version of the Passat won’t come to our shores, it is interesting to see that the manufacturer has worked on this type of drivetrain.
The Volkswagen Passat GTE will be displayed at the Paris Motor Show, set to open its doors at the end of the week.