Volkswagen has developed a new hybrid drive that combines temporary electric driving with high efficiency and long range. The new drive system is planned for use in the Golf Hybrid and T-Roc Hybrid models from the fourth quarter of this year. The new hybrid system will in the future be offered in two power levels and offers lower fuel consumption compared to the mild hybrid drive.
Compared to a mild hybrid, it enables a greater share of electric driving and thus lower emissions and consumption. In the Golf, the new hybrid system will be labeled ‘Hybrid’ and fills the gap between the mild hybrid, which is labeled as ‘eTSI’, and the plug-in hybrid that hides under the label ‘eHybrid’ or as the sporty GTE.
The new hybrid drive drives the front axle. Its basic components are a hybrid module, a turbo petrol engine (TSI) and a lithium-ion battery. The hybrid module includes an electric motor for propulsion, a second electric motor as a generator, energy management electronics, a differential and a single-stage power transmission, as well as an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch with its own control unit that serves to ‘connect’ and ‘disconnect’ the TSI engine in the powertrain. In the front part of the vehicle, the electric air conditioning compressor and the electric brake booster are integrated. The high-voltage battery, adapted to the hybrid drive with NMC cells and with a capacity of 1.6 kWh (gross), common for HEV vehicles, is integrated into the floor of the vehicle in the rear part of the Golf and T-Roc models.
Volkswagen designed the collaboration of the 1.5 TSI evo2 turbo-petrol engine, two electric motors and high-voltage batteries to achieve a good balance between efficiency, dynamics and comfort. The electric motor in charge of propulsion replaces or supports the gasoline engine in all phases in which it provides greater efficiency. The drive system offers three operating modes, which are automatically activated depending on the vehicle’s usage profile: electric motor drive, serial drive (electric motor + generator) and parallel drive (gasoline engine and electric motor). With the latter, the TSI engine is the primary source of power at around 60 km/h on roads and highways, while the electric motor supports the engine, for example as a ‘boost’ during acceleration. Three driving profiles have been prepared: Eco, Comfort and Sport.
In Croatia, we expect new Golf and T-Roc HEV models in the fourth quarter of 2026, when the prices will be announced.