Appropriately enough, seeing as electric vehicles are more gadget than car, Volkswagen decided the best venue to introduce their latest EV products to UK public is the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham. The highlight of the show will be the Golf GTE, and it will be joined by the amazing XL1 super-efficient vehicle and the fully electric e-up!
The new VW Golf GTE offers, in theory at least, the fun of a Golf GTI with the eco credentials of the electric e-Golf. The car has a petrol engine combined with an electric motor for a total output of 204 PS. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in an acceptable 7.6 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 138 mph.
Even though the addition of the hybrid gear makes VW Golf GTE heavier than the normal versions, it is by far the most economical petrol-powered car in the family, delivering a combined cycle figure of 188 mpg and CO2 emissions of 35 g/km, and a theoretical range of 580 miles. What’s more, the GTE can cover 31 miles in zero-emission electric mode. The top speed of the car in this mode is limited to 81 mph.
As mentioned, at the Gadget show you will also get to see the incredible XL1, an ultra-futuristic, ultra-frugal car powered by a two-cylinder turbodiesel engine and an electric motor, returning a mind-bogging 33 mpg. The e-up! will be there too, but to be honest it’s not a very interesting car.
