If you thought the choice between the three hot VW Golfs currently on offer was decent (GTI, GTD and R) then we need to tell you that there may be a fourth one added to the list, and it promises to be even greener than the diesel…
Believed to gain the GTE designation, it will share its powertrain with the Audi A3 e-tron, which marries a 148 hp turbo petrol engine with a 107 hp electric motor – when working in tandem, they make a maximum output of 201hp.
What remains unclear is when it will be built and for which markets it will be addressed. The plug-in A3 is coming to market later this year, so according to Car&Driver and Autocar, it would be fair to assume that its launch could happen one year later.
However, despite the US’ affinity with all things hybrid and especially plug-ins, plus the positive reviews of the Jetta Hybrid that’s already on sale, it’s not seen as a sure thing for the GTE to make it into Stateside showrooms when it does get launched.
By Andrei Nedelea
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