(February 20, 2014) WOLFSBURG, Germany — Volkswagen will present the new Golf GTE plug-in hybrid at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 4.  It is the fifth powertrain to be offered in the Golf, adding to gasoline, diesel, CNG and full electric versions.

The Golf GTE has an NEDC hybrid combined European fuel economy rating of 157 mpg ) and an all-electric range of 31 miles along with an overall range of 584 miles.

The Golf GTE name is in line with the GTI and GTD abbreviations — two sporty icons of the Golf range. The first GTI in 1976 invented the term “hot hatch” and is currently the most successful compact sports car in the world. The “I” in the name stands for electronic fuel injection while the “D” in GTD, introduced for the first time in 1982, stands for diesel fuel injection. The latest versions of these two best-selling Golf sports cars were introduced in 2013. Now Volkswagen has transferred its sporty compact car philosophy to a third model — the Golf GTE.

The new Golf GTE has two engines: a 1.4-liter 148 horsepower turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine and a 101 horsepower electric motor. These combine to provide 201 horsepower. If the electric motor is the sole source for propulsive power, the Golf GTE is capable of speeds of up to 81 mph. When the full power of the system is harnessed, the GTE sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds and achieves a top speed of 135 mph.

Of more significance is the superior pulling power of the Golf GTE thanks to its alliance of a gasoline engine and electric motor that produces a maximum torque of 258 lb-ft. This torque sets this first “GTE” apart from other plug-in hybrid models.

Despite its power and torque, the Golf GTE remains one of the world's most efficient cars. If you mainly run short distances, you can drive in emissions-free all-electric mode for days, weeks, and months. The battery takes about three and a half hours to charge fully from a conventional wall outlet.

If the battery is charged using a wallbox or a public charging station, the charging time is shortened to approximately two and a half hours. Thanks to the control options on the Golf GTE, the driver can also ensure on longer trips that only the electric motor is used in an urban area.