Plug-in Volkswagen T-Roc GTE on the way

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

It's all about the look: meet Volkswagen's new compact SUV, the T-Roc.

Volkswagen is developing a plug-in version of the T-Roc crossover to sit below the range-topping T-Roc R.

That's the news coming from Auto Express, which spoke to Volkswagen's electrified powertrains boss, Dr Kai Philipp, who said a T-Roc GTE will be greenlit if there's enough demand.

Thanks to the MQB platform, a plug-in T-Roc isn't a tall order for VW. According to Auto Express, such a model would use the powertrain from the new Golf GTE. That means a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a dual-clutch transmission.

Volkswagen is preparing a plug-in version of its T-Roc crossover.

Output would be 180kW/400Nm, meaning torque is identical to the T-Roc R but power is down on the R's 221kW power figure.

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Like the smaller hatch, the T-Roc PHEV should be able to cover around 65km on electricity only. Volkswagen might see fit to beef out the battery to cope with the slight increase in weight compared to the Golf.

The PHEV T-Roc GTE will be beaten to market by a plug-in Tiguan, which will also bear the GTE badge.

'As we see it, we have the Tiguan SUV as one of the best settling cars in its market,' Dr. Philipp explained. 'And that is what we focus on right now.'

At the moment, VW NZ is looking into offering the eighth-generation Golf GTE here. With any luck we'll also get the plug-in Touareg R. However, nothing has yet been confirmed for our market.