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Viknesh Vijayenthiran

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2008 volkswagen twin drive concept 001

The two will explore the future of electric mobility, with a view to launch new plug-in hybrids and electric cars in China

Enlarge Photo

A few months back Volkswagen revealed its intentions to enter the race to build and market ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid vehicles with the unveiling of the original Golf TwinDrive. The concept car, based on the Mark V Golf, featured a twin powerplant design with an electric motor designed for city driving and an internal combustion engine for longer trips.

The carmaker has now showed of a second-generation design, this time in the newMark VI Golf. In the latest version, the car develops a combined output of 176hp (130kW) and can automatically switch between electric-only, petrol-only, or a combination of both, with an intelligent operating system picking the optimal operating mode depending on individual route conditions.

While a typical hybrid vehicle uses an electric motor to supplement its internal combustion engine, "the exact opposite is true on the TwinDrive: here the diesel or gasoline engine supplements the E-motor," explained VW CEO Martin Winterkorn.

No independent tests have been conducted yet but VW claims the vehicle averages about 94mpg (2.5L/100km) in fuel-economy and drive up to 50km on electric power alone.

VW will trial a fleet of 20 TwinDrive Golfs early next year together with the German government under a new scheme investigating the future of personal mobility. To ensure the cars are true zero-emissions vehicles, the electrical energy required to charge the batteries under the trial will be generated from renewable resources such as wind and hydro power.

2008 Volkswagen Twin Drive Concept

Volkswagen Golf Mark VI TwinDrive

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