Volkswagen on Thursday unveiled a Golf Twin Drive in its home-country of Germany, which is the company’s first plug-in hybrid capable of driving up to 30 miles on electricity alone. The electric motor is rated at 82 horsepower, and when its energy is spent, a 122hp 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine kicks in to extend the range.
The usual tricks to extend the battery life are accounted for, including an engine shutdown system when stopped and regenerative brakes. On electricity alone, the Golf can reach a top speed of about 75 mph, as per Motor Authority reports. Supplying its energy are lithium-ion batteries, that feature a fast-charging capability from a household power outlet.
VW will launch a fleet of 20 Twin Drive Golfs in Germany for the government’s use, to research the zero-emissions vehicle. To help it make the claim, the electricity needed to recharge the Twin Drive’s batteries will be generated by wind and hydro generating stations.
06/26, 12:02 PM
posted by:
F451
More power to VW!
06/26, 12:04 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Now that’s what a plug in hybrid is supposed to be. Screw testing… bring that thing over here now, sell it for $30k, and blow the Volt out of the water.
06/26, 12:12 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
^Amen
06/26, 12:15 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
I love those rims, haha yeah this is pretty impressive, especially if this could be available right now. And if they could sell this @30k or less, this would totally kick the Prius’s ass!
06/26, 12:51 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Please come back around when gas is $12 a gallon in the states, and we’ll consider putting these vehicles into production. As of now, they need to go through more rigorous testing, as they have for the past 15 years. Thank you for your obvious patience in the face of $5 a gallon!
06/26, 1:00 PM
posted by:
tob
Zero emissions…because they will be setting at the dealer with a million electrical issues. I have owned 2 VWs and although they drove and looked great they had more breakdowns than any car\ truck I have owned. With VW customer care’s ill service I decided to ditch them both and never look back. VW + hybrid = lifetime of headaches
06/26, 1:02 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Yeah, the rims remind me of the BBS rims of the 80s. Not so sure about this. VW is having a hard time making a car they don’t have to recall. In that sense, I’d take a Ford first.
06/26, 1:52 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
So why is GM screwing around so much?
06/26, 2:07 PM
posted by:
xyunya
I think there is a error on the image: the plug is wrong shape. WV owners would be better served with something less hurtful in shape.
06/26, 3:07 PM
posted by:
A4
uhmm its a great car but why wouldnt they just make it so the 2.0 TDI recharges the batteries?
06/26, 4:07 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I believe that is because ditching the standard driveline in favor of an all electric setup with the engine acting as a generator would require re-engineering the entire car. Thus why the Volt (a re-engineered Malibu) is going to cost $40,000. If you share driveline components with all the other Golfs out there you save a substancial amount of money… and pass those savings on to the customer.
06/26, 8:44 PM
posted by:
Diel
Wonder how this will translate to Volkswagen Up!.
06/26, 9:10 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
raineman- Please cite some official source that shows the Volt is a re-engineered Malibu. Thank you.
06/27, 1:20 AM
posted by:
bigp
nice but will it make it down the street
06/27, 1:50 AM
posted by:
maxcar
@ tob
Ford has had almost double the number of recalls compared to VW over the last 6 months. That doesn’t even include Ford’s other brands. See for yourself:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallmonthlyreports.cfm
06/27, 6:20 AM
posted by:
tob
@ maxcar
I love german cars ( I own 2 now) but the VWs I had were trouble, I loved my GTI though. I also have a co -worker that has 2 new passats. 1 had a new engine the 1st month and the other has been to the dealer a bunch. Also with VWs unwillingness to compensate \ help me for my hassles I decided they didn’t want me as a customer. Screw me once your fault screw me twice my fault kinda thing. As a side note we had a loaner Toureg for 3 weeks. It had a sunroof drain hose leak and the center console lid would not stay shut.
06/27, 1:27 PM
posted by:
VWInformant
I think it’s awesome that VW is exploring alternative fuels so aggressively. First the hydogen Tiguan and now this. It will be interesting to see what they finally end up offering the public. Either way, it’s great for the industry as a whole.
—
Working with VW to spread the word about the new Tiguan. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at: shawn@m80im.com. Thanks!
06/27, 8:46 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
shawn- If I were you and trying to tout VW, I would tout bio-diesel. Most bio-diesel vehicles I know of are VW’s or MB’s. I’m guessing though your only promoting the Tiguan?