Volkswagen plans to introduce more new models in 2010 than ever before in its history, and the smart, stylish fuel-efficient 45mpg hybrid coupe it introduced at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show is a great start.
It is the first hybrid from VW, but not the last. There also are plans for a VW hybrid SUV before the end of 2010. The sporty new VW hybrid compact coupe is positioned between Europe's bestselling sports car, the VW Scirocco, and VW's performance sport sedan, the CC.
Unfortunately , this great little car has a terrible name. VW is calling it New Compact Coupe. You would think that a company that can produce a hybrid with a seven-speed gearbox that gets 45mpg is also smart enough to come up with a better name than New Compact Coupe. They didn't even put the all-important word hybrid into its name. But, this is the same company that called its re-designed Beetle, an iconic car if there ever was one, New Beetle. And even though the New Beetle is no longer new after a decade, the name exists and persists. But I digress.
The new two-door VW hybrid coupe gets a top speed of 141 mph, pretty impressive for a car this size, especially a hybrid, thanks to a gas powered TSI engine mated with a 20 kw electric motor.
There's no word yet on price, when it goes into production and how many will be produced. Stay tuned. Includung about news of the planned VW hybrid SUV.
Volkswagen is on a roll. It introduced the world's most fuel efficient car at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and a well-received super efficient four-seater concept ate the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
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