The GTE is officially with us...

[carl1]

Sound like a good compromise  but what will the residuals be like in 2 or 3 yrs time
compared to a GTi  / GTD.

I could see the residuals being at least as good as a GTI, the whole drivetrain doesn't rely on a battery (which is the main downfall of most electric only vehicles, and the fear of huge replacement costs along with diminishing range) - these will be very popular for London commuters. Near as damn-it GTD performance (on 0-62 anyway - would be interesting to see mid-range acceleration figures: 40-80mph in 4th/5th/6th), as well equipped. Would have been interesting to see them knock out an all LED headlight for GTE to keep battery drain down.

It should have LED headlights mate, we were told that when we went to drive it early December.

Going to be one of the most influential cars for a long time. If you want a 5 door DSG GTD or GTI then why would you not buy the GTE.......I am predicting record breaking demand and horrific lead times.

Because i wouldn't want to pay 28k for a 1.4 golf with 148 bhp and i'm presuming the boot is smaller for batteries ?

[phope]

Have you considered what the actual fuel costs are as well? I mean how many pence per mile for a GTD vs GTE (assuming a certain perecentage of electric drive usage). Also, if you get a company fuel card... are they going to pay your home electricity bill? I think I know the answer...

Much like the push for derv vehicles to lower CO2 (only to discover the nitrous dioxide polution problem) I have a sneaking suspicion that electrically powered transport is going to run into a problem too - this time that the UK hasn't got enough electricity because of failure to decide on which sort of power stations to build.

With predictions of rolling blackouts in the UK, is it necessarily wise to punt for an electric car - even if this one is a hybrid...

Charging station at work so wouldn't cost my electric but I know others wouldn't be so fortunate. I did see some figures previously about the cost per mile for hybrids but can't find them now

i do agree with your other comments though when hybrids get mass market share

[monkeyhanger]

So can it do 166 mpg on a long run with the engine running in tandem with the electric motor or are they basing that 166mpg off 8.8 kw of charge of electric to do 31 miles? If its the later what a load of bull$hit it is.

That'll be on a short run (probably the official test cycle of around 11mins duration, probably having gone about 6miles). 80% of that derived figure will be from all electric driving. If you are on a long journey (>150 miles) and you've exhausted the batteries, you'll likely be getting 45mpg overall.

[fredgroves]

You'd probably be better off with the 1.6 TDI Bluemotion.... 99g/km

[phope]

Here's an idea (leaving performance aside for a moment)

Go and download the Audi Mileage Tracker app for your iPhones and Androids, and see what engine type it suggests for your typical journeys would be most appropriate...you may all be surprised what type could suit better (the VW app doesn't seem to have been updated yet)

Given that the A3 e-tron is the Golf GTE drivetrain in another suit, it's probably a very similar outcome for the comparisions.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audi-mileage-tracker/id531301468?ls=1&mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.audi.tracker

[carl1]

£12.55 to do 31 miles. Yes i'm interested in the Etron instead of a R8 V10 

[andrewparker]

Noticed this morning that these were on the configurator. I'm very interested in one for early next year.

[mcmaddy]

People need to be careful buying purely electric cars for work as hmrc currently state that no mileage rate can be paid/reimbursed as it is deemed to be not a fuel. Hybrids are ok but the only thing you might get from an employer is to be able to charge your car for nowt. Some will chose to pay an amount but they are not forced to.

[monkeyhanger]

People need to be careful buying purely electric cars for work as hmrc currently state that no mileage rate can be paid/reimbursed as it is deemed to be not a fuel. Hybrids are ok but the only thing you might get from an employer is to be able to charge your car for nowt. Some will chose to pay an amount but they are not forced to.

And most places of work are trying to get leaner with their costs (6-sigma, 5C/5S initiatives etc) not add to them by having their employees tap into their electricity to charge their cars.

[Exonian]

Forgive me for being over simplistic and I'm sure the question has been asked a million times but:

How are these things actually 'greener'? There may be less smoke coming out of the arse end but there will be a huge extra draw on the power stations which in turn are then going to have to produce more electric so they'll have masses of extra waste byproduct, be it nuclear or coal fired or whatever. Plus battery disposal at end of life, use of fancy metals to make new batteries...