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New Golf GTE Makes Video Debut, Bringing New Kind of Performance to Light

Anybody with money to spend on a BMW ActiveHybrid or Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid will tell you electrified performance is nothing new. But what if your credit will only stretch to about €30,000, will you then settle for a Lexus?
New Golf GTE 1 photo
Photo: Volkswagen
The CT 200h is a good little hatch, but with the same sort of power output as the Prius, only a pleasantly surprising chassis can inspire you to push hard. Wouldn't it be great if you could buy a Golf GTI with an electric socket? Well now you can… sort of, as the Golf GT family just gained a third member. Called the GTE, this car offers the same chassis and suspension as the famous hot hatch, but is can be powered by electricity.

204 horsepower of "pure driving pleasure" is delivered by a 1-2 combo of 1.4-liter turbo and electric motor. Acting together, they can take the Golf GTE from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 135 mph (218 km/h). That's the same performance you get from a GTD's big diesel, but the economy figures are far superior, thanks to 31 miles (50 km) of pure electric driving range.

Thinking back to the original GTI's mantra of combining power and everyday practicality, the GTE is like the perfect interpretation of that, but brought into the 21st century. You can travel into the city on zero local emissions, fill the boot with useless Ikea flat packs and drag race on the weekends.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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