While the eighth generation Passat is being launched in Europe, Volkswagen plans to show off the Passat GTE plug-in hybrid at the Paris Motor Show – the first Passat with a plug-in hybrid drive system.
It has the potential to be either a zero-emission or long-distance vehicle and is available as a saloon or estate. In GTE mode, the Volkswagen also has a sporty side.
The plug-in hybrid drive train combines a turbocharged direct injection petrol engine (TSI) with an electric motor, which is supplied with energy from an externally (or in Charge mode) chargeable lithium-ion battery. Thanks to this battery, the Passat GTE can cover a distance of up to 31 miles in all-electric mode and thus with zero emissions.
At the press of a button next to the gear lever, the driver can also control the all-electric mode (“E-Mode”) at will – for example, at the end of a drive when the destination is in a city.
A contrast to the “E-Mode” is offered by the mode “GTE”, which is also accessible at the press of a button – in this mode, the Passat delivers a maximum system output of 160 kW / 218 PS; a wide variety of parameters such as the accelerator pedal and steering are also configured in a sportier way in this mode.
The 1.4-litre TSI engine develops a power of 115 kW / 156 PS (as of 5,000 rpm); the electric motor produces 85 kW / 15 PS. The maximum torque of the plug-in hybrid drive system is 400 Nm.
Official test figures estimate CO2 emissions lower than 45 g/km and, in combination with the TSI engine, a driving range of over 620 miles with a full 50-litre fuel tank and fully charged battery.
The low power/fuel consumption and emission values contrast with a powerful driving performance: the Passat GTE, always with front-wheel drive and equipped as standard with a six-gear dual clutch gearbox especially developed for the hybrid drive, accelerates to 62 mph in less than 8.0 seconds and achieves a top speed of more than 136 mph or 80 mph in “E-Mode”.
The Passat GTE will be launched in the second half of 2015 – both as a saloon and an estate. With the market launch of the plug-in hybrid, a total of nine drive versions, covering a power range from 92 kW / 125 PS to 206 kW / 280 PS, will be available for the European version of the Passat.
All versions will meet the EU 6 emissions standard. The Passat GTE also constitutes an integral part of the strategy for electric mobility at Volkswagen. After the XL1, e-up!, e-Golf and Golf GTE, the Passat GTE is the fifth and sixth model (saloon and estate) that can be operated by electric motor with zero emissions.
Standard equipment includes many features also available in other models of the range, however, as a high-tech flagship, the Passat GTE features several unique elements and equipment upgrades which distinguish it from the rest of the range.
In the upper section of the front end, the Passat GTE can be recognised by a specific chrome radiator grille unit with additional blue line. The front bumper was also redesigned, with distinctive cross panels in the lower air inlet and C-shaped LED daytime running lights.
The interior will also be fine-tuned for the new drive system. With a menu matrix for the functions and displays related to the drive system, the engineers and interface designers at Volkswagen tailored features such as the standard “Composition Media” infotainment system and the instrument cluster (with power meter) for the plug-in hybrid drive.
Owners of a new Passat GTE can make use of the “CAR-NET e-Remote” app, to activate the charging or climate control functions via a smartphone. In addition, information on the vehicle status, state of charge of the battery, recent driving data or last parking position can be queried. It is also possible to check whether the doors are closed and the lights turned off.
The new Passat GTE will be launched with the high resolution 6.5-inch display of the standard “Composition Media” infotainment system. Optional: the “Discover Media” (also with a 6.5-inch display) and “Discover Pro” (with an 8.0-inch display) radio-navigation systems. Both devices feature numerous additional functions in the Passat GTE. They include a “range monitor”, an “energy flow indicator”, “zero-emission statistics”, “e-manager” and – when the optional navigation system is installed – the “360° range” feature.
Range monitor: depicts the momentary electric driving range of the Passat GTE; the additional range potential that can be achieved by turning off auxiliary consumers that might be in use is also shown.
Energy flow indicator: this indicator utilises animated graphics to depict the energy flow when accelerating (blue arrows) as well as braking, i.e. regenerative braking (green arrows)
e-Manager:up to three departure and charging times can be programmed here, and heating or cooling of the interior can be activated via the stationary air conditioning, which comes as a standard feature.
360° range: the driving range in “E-Mode” is shown by the so-called 360° zone on the map of the surrounding area. The highlighted zone depicts the one-way electric driving range of the car.
Charging stations can be displayed and used in route calculation.
Charging is via a socket in the radiator grille.
Plugged into a standard electrical socket the battery is charged at a power level of 2.3 kW. From completely flat, it can be fully charged in four hours and 15 minutes.
Alternatively, Volkswagen offers an optional wall box for a garage or carport which charges at a power level of 3.6 kW. Using this method, the battery is fully charged after only two hours and 30 minutes.
There are also public charging stations that charge electric cars at a level of 3.6 kW.
The Passat GTE will become available to order in the UK in June, with first deliveries in October 2015.
Newspress
