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Shanghai Auto Show 2015: Volkswagen C Coupe GTE revealed, aimed to sit between the Passat and Phaeton

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE (1)

Volkswagen has officially lifted the curtain on the C Coupe GTE at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show. The C Coupe GTE is a plug-in hybrid saloon that is to be eventually slotted between the Passat and Phaeton. This “people’s car” at the People’s Republic is actually quite vast in its dimensions; it measures in at 5.07 metres in length, 1.9 metres in width and is 1.44 metres tall. The wheelbase is just north of 3.0 metres and is only seconded by the long wheelbase (LWB) version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE (2)

Wheelbase on this VW is just shy of that found on the LWB S-Class, that’s saying something.

GTE in the world of Volkswagen, stands for its plug-in hybrid breed of cars. The C Coupe GTE features a 2.0-litre TFSI 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that cranks out 207 bhp and has an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Couple this to the 91 kW (appx. 121 bhp) electric motor, the total output as a whole is 242 bhp and 500 Nm of torque. That said, don’t take this C Coupe GTE for an hybrid GTI, as it isn’t very fast and this German saloon is actually front-wheel drive (FWD), only.

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE (5)

This big German saloon is available only in FWD version.

The C Coupe GTE will get to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and go on to hit 232 km/h, which isn’t lethargic, but won’t set the road on fire. Even though the electric motor in this VW isn’t very powerful, thanks to the 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, in pure electric mode this big saloon can still do 130 km/h and manage to cover 50 km. In hybrid mode, the fuel economy hovers at around 43 km/l and the C Coupe GTE can reach destinations that are 800 km away. The overall efficiency is aided by regenerative braking as well.

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE (3)

The cabin is mostly understated. We also expect VW to skip some kit on the production car.

Volkswagen C Coupe GTE (4)

The back has a 2+2 seating arrangement and possibly copious amount of legroom.

The Volkswagen C Coupe GTE comes fitted with 22-inch alloys and wears 265-section rubber at the front and rear. The interior features the luxury car must-haves such as wood, leather, metal accents etc and seats four in assured comfort. This GTE saloon will be ready for sale some time in 2016 and will add another member to the the VW plug-in hybrid family.

Click here to check out more on the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show

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