Monday, January 9, 2012

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid debuts with projected 45 mpg combined rating

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid debuts with projected 45 mpg combined rating:

Filed under: ,





The lithium-ion battery in the new Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid may be small (just 1.1 kWh), but it can pack a punch big enough to move the gas-electric to speeds up to 44 miles per hour using nothing but electrons. Throw in a combined estimated fuel efficiency rating of 45 miles per gallon and a class-leading 0-60 time of 9.0 seconds, and you've got a green Jetta that should prove to be fun out on the highway.



Of course, with only a kilowatt hour in the battery pack, you won't get very far on battery power (just 1.2 miles, VW says) and all of those electrons will come from energy that was originally gasoline (there is no plug involved here), but it's still enough of an electric powertrain for VW to call the Jetta Hybrid the "most fuel-efficient Jetta in the lineup." And it is quite a line-up, since there are now a total of five powertrains available for the Jetta, offering "a German engineered compact sedan for everyone."



The Hybrid pairs up a four-cylinder, 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a 20-kW (27 hp) electric motor. The gas engine produces 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque between 1400 rpm and 3500 rpm. The Jetta Hybrid will become available in North America in 2012 and will be "competitively priced with other compact hybrids," VW claims. This is VW's second hybrid, following the Touareg Hybrid SUV, but the Volkswagen AG has experience with gas-electrics. The Jetta Hybrid may be the first hybrid to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but the way the clutch decouples the engine from the drivetrain when the car is using just the battery for power or coasting is similar to how the Porsche hybrids do it.



As for visual changes, look for minor outside changes that improve the car's aero, like "a new front airdam, a rear diffuser, and an integrated rear spoiler."

Continue reading 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid debuts with projected 45 mpg combined rating

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid debuts with projected 45 mpg combined rating originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No comments:

Post a Comment