Speaking at the VW Group evening the night before the Paris Motor Show, CEO and Chairman of the VW Group, Dr Martin Winterkorn, has revealed plans to introduce seven plug-in hybrids over the next three years. He called the hybrid technology "the best of both worlds."
The plan is to introduce the technology, branded 'e-hybrid' on the facelifted Porsche Panamera - due in early 2013 - first, hence the decision to fit a plug-in powertrain to the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, also revealed today.
The Porsche technology combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with a powerful electric motor to produce a total of 416bhp - enough to catapult the Panamera from 0-62mph in under six seconds.
With a fully-charged battery an electric-only range of 20-miles, up to speeds of 80mph is possible (before the petrol engine kicks in to work in tandem with the motor), with fuel economy and CO2 emission of 80.7mpg and 82g/km respectively.
In 2014 the same powertrain will be fitted to the Porsche Cayenne, while a similar set-up - combining a 4-cyl 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor - will be fitted to the Golf, Passat and A3 the same year. In 2015 the Audi A6 and A8 will be fitted with a development of the Porsche plug-in powertrain described above.
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Trust VAG to offer fuel saving technology to the people that need it the most, last. The usual BS. I won't be buying another New German car again ( or any new car) until their cars are electric because now fuel prices are so High and I drive 20k miles + a year, I can't have a new car and pay for fuel.
Also, for most people a car with a real 100 miles range is all that is needed along with a good charging network, we don't need a complicated expensive hybrid drivetrain, electric is so simple and very little maintenance needed. Who drives more than 100 miles in one day anyway , or 100 miles and back 100 in the same day ? Surely if you needed to you could charge your car in an hour or so ? You would hardly be driving 100 miles and back straight away!
All I need is a real 100 miles range in winter driving and I'm converted.
Where do you live - the Isle of Wight?