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VW says its Golf TwinDrive plug-in hybrid delivers a combined 174 hp and more than 90 mpg. (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=128028#4)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/508/vw_golf_twin_drive_3_500.jpgThanks for the find mtbiker278

edmunds Inside Line - June 26, 2008

BERLIN — Volkswagen unveiled its Golf TwinDrive plug-in hybrid at a government-sponsored forum here, and said it hopes to put the first production vehicles on the road by 2010.

VW said it is adapting electric motors, hybrid drive systems and lithium-ion battery packs to its TDI and gasoline engines. The Golf TwinDrive test vehicle delivers a combined 174 horsepower and can run up to 30 miles on pure electric power. Over a typical 62-mile route, the vehicle returns more than 90 mpg, VW said.

VW introduced the Golf TwinDrive at a forum sponsored by the German Ministry for the Environment. It is developing plug-in hybrid vehicles as part of an alliance of German companies working on the future of mobility and the efficient use of renewable energy sources in transportation.

What this means to you:… http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=128028#4

Great Find !

timing sounds like a 2011 model year EU release and 2012 or 2013 in US

Unless we put pressure on our government representatives we may never see the diesel version here.

They already have 10 production vehicles in the UK that get better than 65 mpg. And only one is a hybrid.

This might be the first "Golf cart" you can actually drive on a highway. ;)

with a speed limitation of 200 KmH

Interesting. We saw the concept for this several months ago and figured it would be way too expensive to produce. I guess they changed their minds...

Interesting. We saw the concept for this several months ago and figured it would be way too expensive to produce. I guess they changed their minds...

I don't think the other one was a PHEV. Since this one is, maybe they can justify the higher cost?

Kirk

It's a sharp looking little car.

Now that's cool. TDI and plug-in hybrid together.

Now how about some consistency in reporting plug-in mileage. Something like "electric only for x miles, 60mpg after that point" would be the most useful, I think. None of this "150mpg for a 40-mile trip" business.

On a typical commuting route of 100 km (62 miles), the Golf TwinDrive consumes 8 kWh of electricity and 2.5 liters of fuel. Together, the electric motor and engine provide output of up to 130 kW (174 hp).
source:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/06/volkswagen-unve.html#comments

yeah i hate those kind of ratings too, only reporting gasoline consumption when electricity consumed is just as important, also mileage AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEPLETED is a must report too, people will realize how crappy it gets once your not using battery power anymore... (regular car or for worse due to the extra dead weight of the empty batteries)

I don't think the other one was a PHEV. Since this one is, maybe they can justify the higher cost?

Kirk

I found the other article here (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11472&highlight=diesel+hybrid) and it appears you are correct -- I didn't see any mention at all of plugging in the vehicle.

This should be interesting to watch!

Unless we put pressure on our government representatives we may never see the diesel version here.

They already have 10 production vehicles in the UK that get better than 65 mpg. And only one is a hybrid.Apples and oranges! None of the vehicles on that list would get much over 50mpg on EPA tests. UK gallons are bigger than ours, and the EPA's fuel economy testing is more rigorous.

source:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/06/volkswagen-unve.html#comments

yeah i hate those kind of ratings too, only reporting gasoline consumption when electricity consumed is just as important, also mileage AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEPLETED is a must report too, people will realize how crappy it gets once your not using battery power anymore... (regular car or for worse due to the extra dead weight of the empty batteries)I agree, it's completely misleading to claim 90mpg and not factor in the kWh used.

I'm guess that when EPA starts testing PHEVs, they will include the electricity used and calculate the gasoline energy equivalent. That's what they did with EVs when they were briefly available in California. Go to fueleconomy.gov and look up the 2001 Toyota RAV4 EV. It shows 112 mpg or something like that.

[QUOTE=Madmario;114489]Unless we put pressure on our government representatives we may never see the diesel version here.

Right on, Madmario!! Unless we do something about "special interest groups" & "lobbying", that has powerfuf powers of persuasion on our government representatives (they bribe them to convince them of their ways), we will probably see only bones thrown our way (nothing with real high MPG capability, you know)! Like the few bones Ford threw us yesterday with the Fiesta and I think an (Opel?). No great MPG, just something to keep us off their back and without high MPG cars.:mad:

I bet if this did make it to states i'd only be offered as a Jetta Phev. 200+ hp, turbocharged, oh and a 30 mile EV range but a EV mode kill switch for all the leadfoots.