Volkswagen Passat GTE unveiled

The Paris Motor show seems to be a hotbed for manufacturers to showcase cleaner, greener variants of their most popular offerings. As is the case with Porsche and the Cayenne S E-Hybrid which comes with the plug-in hybrid drive train, one of Volkswagen’s most popular sedans too will soon get very similar technology.

Named the Volkswagen Passat GTE, the plug-in hybrid version of the popular sedan features various exterior and interior changes along with the updated power train. Based on the eight generation Passat, the model is the third plug-in hybrid from the German manufacturer after the limited-run XL1 and the Golf GTE. When sales start in the second half of 2015, the vehicle will be available in both saloon and estate body styles in countries around the world.

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.