Following the Golf GTE, Volkswagen is continuing to electrify the rest of their fleet including the new Passat. The car was revealed last year during the Paris Motor show so it doesn’t really come as a surprise here.
I have seen a coupe of the new Passats being driven around here in Scotland where I have been spending the last couple of weeks (posts pending of course) and it does seem to have that little bit of sexiness thanks to it’s new curved lines and sharper front design.
But this isn’t about the new Passat, its about the GTE model. As most VW cars in Europe are diesel variants, its refreshing to know that Volkswagen has embarked on hybrid technologies as well. The Passat GTE dishes out a total of 218ps whilst only using 1.6 litres of fuel per 100km. Thats crazy! It’s electric range is up to 50 kilometres, which is more than a round trip from my home to my office. In actual fact, I would be relying completely on the electric motors on my daily commute.
Here in the UK, or London to be specific, the GTE is exempt from the usual congestion charges, which is £11.50 daily (around RM68). That is definitely a lot of savings to consider!
To keep up with it’s high tech status, this include LED headlights (for main and dipped beam), Driver Alert System, Automatic Post-Collision Braking, the Front Assist ambient traffic monitoring system including City Emergency Braking function, a rain sensor, ParkPilot for front and rear, chrome trim on the side windows and comfort seats (in the front).
You can also bling your car up to your own individualisation, with accessories that have been conceived solely for the Passat GTE. These include at the front a specific chrome radiator grille unit with an integrated striking blue stripe – blue being the colour of Volkswagen electric motoring.
The Passat GTE’s progressive charisma is strengthened by the completely redesigned bumper with a C-shaped LED daytime running light signature. In common with the blue design elements, this C-shaped signature is an identifying feature of all Volkswagen electric and plug-in hybrid models. From the side the 17-inch Montpellier alloy wheels identify the Passat GTE as a plug-in hybrid. The interior too has been conceptually aligned to the new drive system.
Here the engineers and designers have tailored the instrument cluster and standard Composition Media infotainment system with dedicated menu matrix to the functions and displays specific to the plug-in hybrid’s drive system. Standard details such as the blue ambient lighting, the multi-function leather steering wheel with blue decorative stitching, a GTE-specific gear knob with blue stitching and the seats, likewise with a matching blue basic structure, have also been individualised. The interior has been further refined with aluminium-look and gloss black trim.
Sadly the Passat GTE and Passat GTE Variant will arrive on the European market this autumn; in the first few countries advance sales have already begun. In Asia the launch will also be this year. In terms of the brand, the Passat GTE is an elementary building block in Volkswagen’s electric motoring strategy.
