The Volkswagen Passat is the brand’s best-selling mid-size model with over 30 million units sold worldwide. It is an important product for Volkswagen and so is its plug-in hybrid variant called Passat GTE.
Speaking of which, the battery’s energy capacity is up from 9.9 kWh to 13 kWh, a 31 percent increase. The all-electric range is also up from 50 km (New European Driving Cycle) to 70 km. Under the WLTP cycle, which is considered as similar to practical use, the range is about 56 km.
The new GTE has three modes on offer. The EV mode which is self-explanatory, GTE mode (sporty driving with full system power of 160 kW / 218 hp, 400 Nm of torque and up to 222 km/h), and Hybrid mode (automatic switching between the electric motor with 85 kW / 115 hp and the TSI engine with 115 kW / 156 hp, as needed).
For longer distances and above 140 km/h, the electric motor supports the GTE’s TSI petrol engine as an additional booster, offering a sporty driving experience especially in GTE mode.
To charge the battery while driving, the driver has to activate Hybrid mode in the infotainment system; a battery divided-up into 10 segments then appears on the touchscreen. The driver can use this display to select how much of the battery’s capacity should be reserved for pure electric driving.
The new Volkswagen Passat GTE is available to order, priced from €44,795. If used as a company car, the Passat GTE plug-in hybrid attracts 0.5 percent tax in Germany instead of 1 percent.
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