GTE (Gran Turismo Electric)
The abbreviation GTE stands for Volkswagen’s sporty hybrid cars.
Volkswagen introduced the Golf GTE sports hybrid in 2014. Its name follows its sporty siblings, the petrol GTI and diesel GTD.
The new VW Golf GTE is set to pioneer the compact hot-hatch class while offering sportiness similar to its combustion siblings, the Golf GTI and GTD. Volkswagen expects to expand its range of sporty hybrid cars, with the VW Passat GTE being the next model to be tuned in this vein.
Technology of the Golf GTE
In the case of the Golf, the GTE specification includes a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 110kW 1.4 TSI petrol engine assisted by a 75kW electric motor, all of which is transferred to the road via a six-speed DSG gearbox. The combined power output is 150kW and gives the Golf a top speed of 222km/h, accelerating 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds. All of this with a catalogue combined consumption of 1.5 l/100 km (perhaps no need to comment on the reality of such a figure), catalogue CO2 emissions of 35 g/km with electric driving of 0 g/km (which does not take into account the fact that the electricity had to be produced and delivered to the batteries somehow).
The synchronous electric motor draws power from 8.7 kWh lithium-ion batteries located under the floor. The battery consists of 96 cells with a total weight of 120 kilograms. This load contributes to a considerable kerb weight of 1,599 kilograms.
However, the Golf GTE can be recharged within 3.5 hours from a domestic power socket. With charged batteries, the Golf GTE can travel up to 50 kilometres in pure electric mode, giving the car a total range of around 939 kilometres.
