Volkswagen wants to attract UKcustomers who are looking for a spacious hybrid. The German manufacturer will launch the popular Passat also in its hybrid version in UK. The all new Passat GTE is available to order from August and prices are starting at £36,525.
Available in saloon or estate body styles, the Passat GTE emits just 39g of CO2 on the EU Combined Cycle, equating to fuel economy of 166 mpg. Yet with 400 Nm of torque and combined system power of 218 hp, the new car can sprint from rest to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds before heading to a top speed of 140 mph. The potential range between refuelling stops is more than 660 miles.
The Passat GTE is a plug-in hybrid that can be driven up to 31 miles on electric power alone in E-Mode. A 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine delivers 156 hp, while the electric motor adds a further 115 PS. The electric motor alone can provide up to 330 Nm 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.
The Passat GTE comes in two trim levels in the UK. On top of the standard features of the Passat GT (such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, Discover Navigation, Bluetooth and parking sensors), standard items include LED headlights and tail lights, Mode 2&3 charging cables and Car-Net e-Remote. Standard items on the GTE Advance trim also include the new Active Info Display, Discover Pro navigation (eight-inch screen), Nappa leather, Area View and LED premium headlights.
Despite its extra technology and revised styling, dimensions of the Passat GTE match those of the standard Passat, including boot volume (402-968 litres for the saloon and 483-1613 litres for the estate).
