New battery for the Volkswagen Golf GTE: 60 km of electric range

The eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf is about to arrive, and with it its most efficient version. The new Golf GTE promises an improved range of 60 km.

The Geneva Motor Show 2020 is just around the corner, and with it all the news we have been telling you about. Volkswagen has just unveiled the final images of its entire Golf range. The new GTI and GTD, along with this Golf GTE, will make their official debut in Geneva on March 3.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is not new. In the previous generation of the compact we already saw this plug-in hybrid system which, far from being an adventurous experiment, appears to have worked. So much so that the Germans will offer the eighth iteration of their Golf with this PHEV alternative as well, in addition to the already familiar petrol and diesel versions.

Details that set it apart

The new Golf GTE is practically no different from its siblings in the range. But, as a plug-in version, it has distinguishing features. On the outside, the “GTE” badges and, above all, the absence of exhaust outlets are the hallmarks of this version. Inside, it will have a dual-screen setup: a 10-inch screen on the dashboard and a 10.5-inch digital instrument cluster on the top trim level of the range.

Battery with 50% more capacity

Volkswagen wants to make a strong bet on this model, and it shows. The entire drivetrain has been improved as a whole to give this GTE a dynamic performance worthy of a GTI, but with the advantages and efficiency of a car with the 0 emissions label.

The propulsion system combines a 1.4 TSI 150 CV petrol engine with a 115 CV electric motor. The gearbox paired with the engine is the well-known six-speed DSG dual-clutch unit. The entire system delivers a combined output of 245 CV, the same as the GTI, with a peak torque of 400 Nm, the same as the GTD. It could be said, then, that this GTE combines the best of each sibling in the range, with the added benefit of consuming considerably less fuel.

The lithium-ion battery is new. It has 50% more energy capacity (13 kWh) and extends the EV-mode range up to 60 kilometres. The car can run in electric mode up to 130 km/h, at which point the hybrid mode takes over. Whenever the battery has enough charge, the car will start automatically in electric mode.

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €