Space, pace, and environmental credentials that even before its official U.K. showroom debut have already secured it a prestigious 'green' award, the new Volkswagen Passat GTE is calculated to offer drivers the very best of all worlds. A winner in the Large Family Car class in the recent Next Green Car Awards even before its showroom debut here, the new Passat GTE is available to order tomorrow through the Volkswagen U.K. retailer network.
The first Passat with a state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid drive system, the innovative new car offers spirited performance alongside the possibility of zero emissions when driving in all-electric mode.
Available in saloon or estate body styles, the most environmentally responsible Passat to date emits just 39g/km of CO2. Yet with 400Nm of torque and combined system power of 215bhp, the new car can sprint from rest to 100km/h in a lively 7.6 seconds before heading to a top speed of 225km/h, where legal.
The Passat GTE is a plug-in hybrid that can be driven up to 50km on electric power alone in E-Mode. A 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine delivers 153bhp, while the electric motor adds a further 113bhp. Underlining its engaging performance capabilities, the electric motor alone can provide up to 330Nm of torque from near-standstill.
A specially developed six-speed DSG gearbox is standard on the Passat GTE and features a third, disengagement clutch. This decouples the TSI motor whenever possible, to allow the vehicle to make best use of kinetic energy and hence increases efficiency still further.
