Friday 21st February 2014

VW releases Golf GTE

Want GTD-beating economy with petrol power? Plug-in GTE Golf could be the answer

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‘GTE’ was always a fast Vauxhall moniker but it looks like becoming a VW mainstay with the introduction of a plug-in hybrid Golf. With a GTI for Injection and GTD for Diesel, it shouldn’t take too much thought to infer what GTE is for...

Subtlety the name of the game for GTE

The hybrid powertrain combines a 150hp 1.4 TSI petrol engine and a 102hp electric motor. Don’t combine the two for a GTI-beating 252hp, as the total power output is 204hp. With 258lb ft as well, the Golf GTE is capable of 135mph and 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Combined mpg is rated at 188mpg with 35g/km of CO2. These are provisional figures so don’t be surprised if they aren’t matched in the real world. A ‘theoretical range’ of 580 miles has also been suggested.

VW claims the GTE can travel up to 31 miles on electricity alone (no doubt contributing to that crazy mpg figure) at up to 81mph. The 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery that supplies the motor can be charged in three and a half hours through a regular mains outlet or two and a half with a wallbox. It also adds 120kg to the Golf’s kerbweight, with a porky 1,520kg the result.

Available as a five-door and DSG only, the Golf GTE unsurprisingly takes a lot of its styling cues from the GTI and GTD. Red accents are replaced by blue (natch) and it even gets a GTE badge in the GTI font. 18-inch ‘Serron' wheels are standard and the interior gets the GTI-aping makeover with tartan seats and further blue highlights.

The Golf GTE will debut at the Geneva show and go on sale in August; expect price details at some point during the summer. Deliveries will begin by the end of this year.

[dukebox9reg]

Hmmm this will be cheap. How does the hybrid affect the packaging space etc?

And under 1600kg isnt that porky considering its carrying batteries and DSG.

Think the mk2 leon diesel DSG tipped the scales at 1650kg. Not saying 1600kg is light but shows it still an improvement over the older chassis weight still

Edited by dukebox9reg on Friday 21st February 12:43

[IknowJoseph]

It initially looks very tempting, but then I remembered the mkv TDI I owned. My old Golf was largely very reliable, but produced a few enormous bills; I can only imagine the big bill potential on this GTE is even higher.

[panholio]

Wil this have "torque fill"?

[Fetchez la vache]

Article said:

Combined mpg is rated at 188mpg with 35g/km of CO2. These are provisional figures so don’t be surprised if they aren’t matched in the real world

This always gets on my tits.
Why can't manufacturers use a useful measure that isn't basically a salesmans wet dream?

[Monty Python]

panholio said:

Wil this have "torque fill"?

...and an open brake-steer tourque vectoring E-differential?

[McWigglebum4th]

grumble grumble grumble shouldn't it be a GTH gurmble grumble

[Charge99]

IknowJoseph said:

It initially looks very tempting, but then I remembered the mkv TDI I owned. My old Golf was largely very reliable, but produced a few enormous bills; I can only imagine the big bill potential on this GTE is even higher.

Yes, my Mk5 Diesel's the same, mostly very reliable, but some sensor glitches cost a fortune. Both my Mk5 and my girlfriend's Mk6 needed around £1,000 of work within a couple of months of the original 3yr warranty expiring, thankfully I got VW to cover mine with the threat of legal action and she had bought hers from a main dealer. I have (touch wood) less problems now the car is older and hardly do any short journey's just long runs.

Anyway, presumably with a £5k government grant the GTE could look quite good value? Just make sure you pay for a longer warrantee!

[panholio]

Monty Python said:

panholio said:

Wil this have "torque fill"?

...and an open brake-steer tourque vectoring E-differential?

Well quite. If not I'm not interested.

[HaloGen8]

Only one GT/E and that's the Opel Manta.

[CraigyMc]

Fetchez la vache said:

Why can't manufacturers use a useful measure that isn't basically a salesmans wet dream?

Because the NEDC rules aren't something they are in control of.

[Hub]

188mpg? Don't be funny! Otherwise interesting figures, but it will be a little bit expensive too.

[angry jock]

Fetchez la vache said:

Article said:

Combined mpg is rated at 188mpg with 35g/km of CO2. These are provisional figures so don’t be surprised if they aren’t matched in the real world

This always gets on my tits.
Why can't manufacturers use a useful measure that isn't basically a salesmans wet dream?

Nothing to do with the manufacturer and everything to do with the EEC.

[Captain Muppet]

Fetchez la vache said:

Article said:

Combined mpg is rated at 188mpg with 35g/km of CO2. These are provisional figures so don’t be surprised if they aren’t matched in the real world

This always gets on my tits.
Why can't manufacturers use a useful measure that isn't basically a salesmans wet dream?

Because they are legally obliged to use the NEDC test for their published MPG figures.

Don't blame the manufacturers, they don't like it any more than you do.
Blame the government, and also all the drivers in the real world who expect to meet the published figures but can't wait for 114 seconds to get to 60mph.

[mp3manager]

HaloGen8 said:

Only one GT/E and that's the Opel Manta.

Or Kadett

[zygalski]

"Golf GTE is capable of 135mph and 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds"
Ironically, almost exactly the same performance figures as 23+ year old Astra Gte 16v

[OilBurnerSurrey]

7.6 seconds ?

Really?

With 250hp?

1600kg is that heavy is it?

Cant wait to see the price. I rekon it will be £35k-40k

[McWigglebum4th]

Why is 150Bhp plus 100 Bhp equal to 200Bhp

Will the chocolate gearbox explode?

I would like this apart from too short a range on electrics and the horrendous VAG relaiabilty

[goron59]

I'm guessing this is based on the Audi A3 e-Tron planned for launch about the same time?

Will be have Skoda/Seat versions in short order too?

[NDNDNDND]

Had the misfortune to drive a GTD DSG, once. I hated it bitterly. Dull, dull, dull, dull and numb

This has about as much appeal as lunch with Mrs. Shed!!

[CraigyMc]

Wait a minute. It only does 135mph with 204bhp?

My BMW does 142mph with 163bhp.

Does the GTE have the aerodynamics of a portakabin or something?