MotorAuthority

Volkswagen prepping 69MPG diesel-electric hybrid Golf

Posted Thu Feb 21 2008 10:15 PM by Ralph Hanson

Yet another carmaker has revealed plans for a diesel-electric hybrid concept car for next month’s Geneva Motor Show, the latest being Volkswagen and its ultra-efficient hybrid Golf. We’ve already reported about BMW’s new X5 ActiveHybrid concept and before that the Peugeot‘s 308 oil-burning hybrid, and now we have info about a Golf hatch that returns a remarkable 69.2mpg fuel consumption rating and emits just 89g of CO2 per km.

The car is almost production ready but according to VW it’s still a concept and there are still a number of other upcoming concept versions before the concept finally goes on sale. VW has in fact been testing hybrid vehicles as far back as the early ‘90s and more recently it showcased a diesel-electric hybrid at the 2004 Challenge Bibendum eco-car rally in Shanghai.

Also on show at the upcoming Geneva event will be the production-ready Scirocco coupe, an E85-compatible Passat Ecofuel, eco-friendly Sharan Bluemotion and the Passat CC.

VW Passat CC

Story Tags:

• Concept cars
• Hybrid-Electric
• Volkswagen
• Volkswagen Golf
• Volkswagen Rabbit

Reader Comments

• Fri Feb 22 2008 12:24 AM

  SuperSkyline89 says

  Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get on the market and hopefully it's available in North America.

• Fri Feb 22 2008 6:47 AM

  Chris says

  This is what hybrids should have been like in the first place. Don't stick an electric motor to a thirsty V6 and claim you're trying to save the planet (i.e. Lexus), go for an already economical engine and make it cleaner and even more frugal, and then sell at a price most people can afford.
  This will be a big hit in the UK, as at 89gm/km this Golf would be exempt from road tax...unless the current government decides to backtrack on its earlier promises for low emissions vehicles. 69mpg will also be a big saver at the pumps, where a litre of diesel is currently £1.10 (over $2).

• Fri Feb 22 2008 5:12 PM

  SuperSkyline89 says

  If anything, the Lexus hybrids are just a smart business move. Toyota knows that people are stupid enough to buy anything with the word hybrid in it's name so they make fast and luxurious ones.

• Fri Feb 22 2008 6:17 PM

  hh says

  if anythng, toyota is the reason why hybrid technology nowadays is far enough to be considered for cars like a golf. keep in mind, that other car makers (like VW, mercedes, bmw) spend a lot of money on developing useless 700HP diesels for SUVs or V12 machines.

• Sat Feb 23 2008 5:16 PM

  SuperSkyline89 says

  True but no one buys a Mercedes or BMW to get a hybrid. They're luxury car makers, people expected fast powerful cars from them, not small underpowered efficient cars.