Volkswagen Passat PHEV on the playing cards for Australia

The Volkswagen Passat mid-sized wagon might quickly be electrified in Australia.

Because the German model continues to launch particulars of its deliberate electrification rollout over the approaching 12 months or so, the model’s director for passenger automobiles has indicated extra plug-in hybrids might be on the way in which – particularly, the Passat.

VW Australia’s passenger car boss Michal Szaniecki informed CarExpert a plug-in Passat might be a part of the Golf GTE and Tiguan eHybrid PHEVs which are on observe for a 2023 Australian launch.

“We’re trying into the Passat section for our plug-in hybrid enlargement, that may be a pure factor to do,” Mr. Szaniecki stated, “that may in all probability exhaust our [plug-in hybrid] vary, no less than for maybe the foreseeable future.”

The present Passat GTE accessible abroad runs a model of the 1.4-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid drivetrain because the Golf GTE and Tiguan eHybrid, quoting system outputs of 160kW and 400Nm.

A 10.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack presents as much as 37mi (59.5km) of zero emissions EV vary on the WLTP take a look at cycle. VW claims the Passat GTE may also speed up from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds, and hit a high velocity of 222km/h.

In abroad markets, the VW Passat GTE has traditionally been accessible as each a sedan and wagon, although the Passat sedan was not too long ago discontinued all through Europe and the UK, in addition to Australia.

The Passat GTE is positioned because the flagship variant in markets just like the UK that don’t get the extra highly effective petrol engine choices Australia will get, priced from slightly below the start line for a brand new Golf R Wagon, which in Australia lists for $68,990 plus on-road prices.

Ought to the plug-in Passat undertake related positioning within the Australian line-up, anticipate a beginning worth between $65,000 and $70,000. For context, the present Passat Wagon 206TSI R-Line begins at $66,790 plus on-roads in Australia.

A brand new-generation Passat has been spied during development testing overseas and is believed to be on observe for a 2023 reveal, that means if VW Australia is planning a Passat PHEV, it might be primarily based on the brand new mannequin given it’s in all probability no less than 12 months away.

Based mostly on the most recent MQB platform (dubbed MQB Evo), the brand new Passat is predicted to develop in most dimensions and supply a extra electrified powertrain line-up, together with 48V mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines in addition to the model’s next-generation plug-in hybrid system.

Mentioned PHEV drivetrain shall be primarily based round VW’s newest 1.5 TSI evo2 turbocharged petrol engine, which not too long ago launched within the T-Roc crossover in abroad markets. The brand new engine has been designed to be appropriate “with fuels containing elements manufactured from renewable power sources”, in addition to “numerous hybridisation ranges”.

In a current European media launch, VW indicated a PHEV system with as much as 200kW will “be attainable”, whereas Cupra has stated its upcoming Terramar plug-in hybrid SUV – more likely to be constructed on the identical underpinnings – will supply 100 kilometres of EV driving vary.

Ought to it make it Down Underneath, the Passat plug-in hybrid would turn into Volkswagen Australia’s fourth plug-in hybrid providing – following the Touareg R (due early 2023), in addition to the aforementioned Golf GTE and Tiguan eHybrid.

VW presents decrease efficiency Golf and Touareg eHybrid PHEVs abroad, nevertheless it’s understood the much less highly effective plug-in fashions aren’t a precedence for our market.

Along with a possible quartet of plug-in hybrids, Volkswagen Australia is pushing onerous to convey its all-electric automobiles as quickly as attainable.

At this stage, the ID.4 and ID.5 EV crossovers ought to kickstart this rollout, at present pencilled in for a late-2023 or early-2024 introduction – although they may additionally come sooner if the native arm will get its means.

The Volkswagen Group as a complete has been pretty gradual to herald plug-in automobiles – each hybrid and full-electric – regardless of being a significant participant within the area globally.

Solely Audi presents EVs for the time being, within the type of the e-tron SUV and e-tron GT four-door coupe, whereas Spanish efficiency upstart Cupra will convey the Born – twin to VW’s ID.3 hatch – early in 2023.

Czech subsidiary Skoda plans to herald its Enyaq iV and Enyaq Coupe iV electrical automobiles across the similar time because the ID.4 and ID.5 – becoming given they’re successfully the identical beneath – however Audi has but to substantiate its associated Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron for Australia.

Volkswagen, in addition to a slew of different manufacturers, have lengthy blamed Australia’s lack of emissions rules and gas requirements for restricted electrified powertrain choices regardless of rising demand.

In areas like Europe, producers face hefty monetary penalties if their general fleet of latest automobiles bought don’t meet an outlined common CO2 emissions determine.

Because of this most manufacturers prioritise manufacturing of EVs and plug-in hybrids for these markets – consider, factories can solely put out a finite determine of models each year.

With the newly-elected Albanese Labor Authorities working to introduce a number of measures to drive low- and zero-emissions car uptake – together with an emissions discount coverage, tax incentives for EV and PHEV consumers, in addition to bettering charging infrastructure – it seems the Australian market might change quickly.

Restricted selection hasn’t slowed demand Down Underneath, nevertheless – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electrical gross sales proceed to develop in 2022, with EVs particularly displaying huge development (276.6 per cent 12 months thus far).

Keep tuned to CarExpert for all the most recent, and tell us your ideas within the feedback.

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