VW just announced domestic pricing for the new plug-in hybrid, which starts at €44,250 for the sedan and €45,250 for the wagon. For that much scratch, you get a Passat with a 1.4-liter turbo four good for 154 horsepower paired with an electric motor good for another 113 hp. Working in unison, the hybrid powertrain produces as much as 216 horses, and will drive up to 31 miles on electric power alone. Combined with the 50-liter (13.2-gallon) gas tank, the Passat GTE will travel over 680 miles before needing to stop.
Along with the GTE, the German automaker is also launching the new Alltrack version of the Passat. Based on the Variant wagon, the new Passat Alltrack packs all-wheel drive and more rugged styling inside and out for a treatment similar to what Audi does for its Allroad models, Volvo its Cross Country line, and Subaru its Outback range. In Passat form, the Alltrack will set German buyers back €38,550.
Two new models added to the Passat range
Volkswagen is extending its Passat range, adding the GTE and Alltrack. These models are available immediately at German Volkswagen dealers.
For a year now, the three distinctive letters GTE have stood for plug-in hybrid models from Volkswagen. Following the Golf, the second GTE standard model is now going on sale, the new Passat. The Passat GTE is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI engine delivering 115 kW / 156 PS and an electric motor producing 85 kW / 115 PS. The two are perfectly coordinated and pool their resources to generate system output of 160 kW / 219 PS. The combination of turbocharged direct-injection engine (TSI) and electric motor brings together efficiency and sustainability. The lithium-ion battery that provides the e-motor with electricity is charged as the car drives along, including via regenerative braking. The charging process can, however, also be carried out at home via a charging cable connected to a mains socket.
In all-electric mode the Passat GTE* can drive up to 50 kilometres completely emission-free. With the 50-litre tank full of fuel and the battery fully charged the range is more than 1,100 kilometres. The GTE’s main distinguishing features externally are its C-shaped LED daytime running lights and a blue bar across the radiator grille that extends into the headlights. There are special GTE features inside as well, such as an instrument cluster with power meter and an infotainment system with a menu matrix for functions and displays specific to each drive system.
Many of the Passat GTE’s functions can optionally be controlled and monitored via smart phone using the ‘Car-Net e-Remote’ app. These include charging the battery, activating the air-conditioning functions or seeing where the car was last parked. The prices for the Passat GTE start at €45,250 for the estate and €44,250 for the saloon.
The latest generation of the Passat Alltrack** is also now available from dealers. The new Passat Alltrack, which is based on the latest Passat Variant (estate version), boasts impressive features, including a robust off-road look, 4Motion four-wheel drive as standard and leading edge technologies. The Passat Alltrack has its own unique exterior design, including bumpers coordinated to the bodywork (complete with underbody protection in stainless steel look), robust wheel-arch and side-sill covers in an ‘anthracite’ finish and sill extensions. Its ground clearance has also been increased by 27.5 millimetres, making it a match for any driving situation.
At the same time, the Passat Alltrack scores with ultramodern technology: it is the perfect all-rounder for the on-road and off-road world thanks to the special off-road driving programme with correspondingly adapted assistance systems, adjusted suspension and the alliance of EDS (electronic differential lock), XDS+ and 4Motion four-wheel drive as standard. Thanks to driving profile selection and optional DCC Adaptive Chassis Control (fitted as standard on the 162 kW TSI and above), it provides an extremely comfortable ride and simultaneously masters off-road terrain. The Passat Alltrack is also an ideal towing vehicle: it can tow (braked) a load of up 2,200kg up an incline of up to twelve per cent. The versatile Passat Alltrack is available from €38,550.
