Only its second petrol-electric hybrid after the XL1, the Golf GTE will feature a 1,4-litre direct-injection petrol engine coupled to a synchronous electric motor sited in the gearbox housing. The 1,4 produces 110 kW and the electric unit 75 kW, for a combined output of 152 kW and 350 N.m, figures which very closely match those of the GTI.
Don’t expect GTI-rivalling performance, though. Tipping the scales at 1 524 kg, it’s almost 200 kg heavier than the hot hatch. That said, VW claims a 0-100 km/h sprint of 7,6 seconds.
Powertrain configuration is left up to the driver. The most efficient is E-mode, in which the electric motor solely drives the front wheels for up to 50 km at speeds of up to 130 km/h.
VWSA has confirmed the GTE won’t be introduced locally.