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Volkswagen Passat GTE plug-in hybrid revealed

The Volkswagen Passat GTE plug-in hybrid will be among the German giant’s reveals at this week’s 2014 Paris motor show


The electrified take on its new-generation mid-sized staple takes on the GTE moniker premiered on the Mk7 Golf in February, and features a 160kW/400Nm powertrain that boasts claimed fuel use of less than 2.0 litres per 100 kilometres on the European NEDC combined cycle (equating to emissions of 45g/km). 

Billed as the first VW plug-in to come in both sedan and wagon form, the Passat GTE also has a pure electric range of 50km and, in hybrid mode, tops out at a smidgen over 220km/h. 

With its 50-litre fuel tank brimmed and the 9.9kWh lithium-ion battery charged, the Volkswagen claims the Passat GTE can manage a driving range beyond 1000km.

The powertrain comprises the VW Group’s 1.4-litre TSI producing 115kW at 5000rpm and a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous electric motor in the gearbox housing producing 85kW. Combined output is 160kW at its peak. 

Maximum system torque is 400Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG, and the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a claimed 8.0 seconds. 

Differentiating the Passat GTE from its petrol or diesel siblings cosmetically are blue highlights on the grille, a redesigned front bumper, different DRLs and new 17-inch wheels. There are also new menu functions in the cabin that feeds information about the plug-in system to the driver. 

As with most EVs, you can also start the Passat GTE up, adjust climate functions and check vehicle information remotely via an app — in this case called CAR-NET e-Remote. 

There are two different ways to charge the battery via the charging socket in the radiator grille. The standard charging cable can be plugged into a 230-volt mains electrical socket, taking the batteries from dead to charged in four and a quarter hours.

Alternately, Volkswagen will offer an optional wall box for a garage that charges at a power level of 3.6 kW. Using this method, the battery is fully charged after only 2.5 hours.

After the XL1, e-Up, e-Golf and Golf GTE, the Passat GTE is the fifth electrified road-going Volkswagen. The company has previously said it wanted to be a world EV leader by 2020, and sees PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) technology as the ideal bridge until batteries become more efficient. 

The Passat GTE will launch in European showrooms in the second half of 2015. CarAdvice has contacted Volkswagen Australia regarding a potential launch here, though the company has previously stated it would wait some time until the business case for EVs in Australia made more sense. 

The all-new Passat - to be offered with petrol and diesel engine options - arrives here in the second half of 2015. 

UPDATE:

"We continue to evaluate these models but currently do not have any plans for a local release," Volkswagen Australia general manager of communications Karl Gehling told us.

"However, if the local market conditions were to change, we could incorporate the Passat GTE and other similar models into our existing model range."

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