Fact 1: VW presented a sporty-flavored, plug-in hybrid version of the new Golf Mk7 hatchback dubbed the GTE at the Geneva Auto Show in March.
Fact 2: The Jetta SportWagen’s successor, the new Golf SportWagen will go on sale in the US in the first quarter of 2015 with an initial choice of two engines, a 150hp 2.0-liter diesel, and a 170hp 1.8-liter turbo’d gasoline unit.
So, what’s the deal with this undisguised tester of a new VW Golf SportWagen wearing the GTE badges and styling kit that was snapped on camera parked near the San Francisco International Airport by a member of the GolfGTEforum today?
Admittedly, the find caught us by surprise and we have no official information on the car, but a plug-in hybrid version of the new Golf estate would make for an interesting addition to VW’s range not only in the U.S., but in Europe and other regions as well.
The car features the same styling treatment as the Golf hatchback GTE with a blue line running across the darkened headlamp lenses and grille, C-shaped LED running lights integrated into the reworked front bumper and unique, turbine-style alloy wheels.
We assume that the SportWagen GTE prototype shares the same powertrain as the hatch and which includes a 150PS (148hp) force-fed 1.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine and synchronous electric motor mounted within the gearbox housing. The two units produce a combined output of 204PS (201hp) and peak torque of 350Nm (258 lb-ft).
A 200kg (441 lbs) lithium ion battery located behind the seats that can be charged in three and a half hours from a household socket offers the hatch an all-electric range of 31 miles (50km).
We’ll try to find out more on this tester and let you know later.
By John Halas
Photos via GolfGTEforum
Shout out to Taylor V. for the submission!
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