Paris 2014: Volkswagen Passat GTE unveiled

Volkswagen’s eighth generation Passat gets the plug-in hybrid treatment for Paris along with a few exterior and interior changes. This makes the Passat GTE Volkswagen’s third after the XL1 and Golf GTE at a time where hybrids are very much getting into mainstream cars for their cleaner efficient traits.

Volkswagen will launch the car sometime next year in saloon and estate body styles across the world although in India, expect only the sedan version to make it, if at all Volkswagen finds it viable for India. With the Camry hybrid doing its bit in India, Volkswagen does have a case for large executive sedans with a greener air around making their mark in the country.

The Passat GTE is powered by a petrol-electric hybrid power plant that includes a tuned version of the 1.4-liter TSI petrol unit rated at 156PS supported by an electric motor with 115PS of peak power and 400 Nm of peak torque. The combined output is a staggering 271PS of peak power. The power plant will be mated to Volkswagen’s new 6-speed dual clutch PDK gearbox.

Visually the Volkswagen Passat GTE differs from the standard Passat with its blue accents on the radiator grille, the restyled front bumper with integrated C-shaped LED lights and bigger sportier alloy wheels. The interior too gets a blue ambient lighting scheme, a redesigned gear knob and a sporty leather-trimmed flat bottom steering wheel. 

Volkswagen says the average fuel consumption of the Passat GTE will be about 50kmpl with emissions rated at only 45 grams per kilometre. With a full 50-litre fuel tank and lithium-ion battery fully charged, the Passat will have a theoretical range of about 1000 kilometers. Volkswagen also claims that the 0-100 sprint will take less than eight seconds, while top speed of the Passat GTE will be about 220 kmph.