The VW Hybrid team has prepared a line up of vehicles. Of the proposed cars, the Touareg hybrid has made it to production. The Touareg starts at around $60,000 and accelerates from there.
Hybrid Bug?
There has been discussion of a VW Beetle hybrid for the past few years. The hybrid electric bug has been reported to be partially powered by a 20 kW electric motor combined with the gas (or diesel) motor for a total power of 177 hp. An average 45 mpg for the concept car has been estimated.
The second generation gas powered bug puts out some 150 hp and 170 ft-lbs torque. The 2nd gen bug however only returns some 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. That's one hungry bug.
The original beetle rated at about 50 hp power output was also rated at around 33 mpg average. VW sold nearly 22 million beetles.
It sounds cool, but so far, the hybrid Beetle awaits production.
The VW Touareg
The VW Touareg has been around for the past 10 years. It was designed to hang with the Porsche Cayenne. The Touareg is an off road capable vehicle as well as around town, highway hauling SUV. Four wheel drive is standard as ride height adjustment. Power and speed at a price. Fuel economy and CO2 output was not much considered. Enter the hybrid version.
The Touareg Hybrid is a well appointed SUV with mpg ratings of 20 city and 24 highway. The Touareg is powered by a 3.0 liter V6 cranking out an amazing 380 hp and 425 ft-lbs of torque. This is enough power to tow 7,700 pounds.
Compare this to the base model 5.0 liter V8 F150 towing capacity of 7,900 pounds courtesy of 420 ft-lbs torque. The F150 claims about 16 mpg city, and 22 on the highway.
The Touareg is designed with luxury in mind however. A power sunroof, privacy glass, power tail gate and a long list of safety features is standard gear. Passenger comfort is well taken care of as well as the latest in instrumentation and enetrtainment.
VW Golf Hybrid
The VW Golf is another Volkswagon model moving from a 1974 gas powered car to hybrid power sometime. The hybrid version first unvieled in 2008, is still a concept car at this point.
Note that the Golf has also been configured as a concept BEV. The battery only version is powered by a an electric motor making 114 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. The elctric Golf sports a 26.5-kWh lithium-ion battery.
The hybrid version however is powered by the combination of a 3-cylinder, 74 hp diesel engine linked to a 27 hp electric motor stated to produce 103 ft-lbs torque. The power is routed through a 7-speed transmission. The concept car also features battery recharge by regenerative braking.
Electric power is stored in a 1.4 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The combined gas/electric fuel economy is some 83 mpg! The car will hit 60 mph in under 13 seconds and top out at 113 mph.
The specs are impressive, but the car is not yet on the show room floor.
