Carscoops photographers caught another
Golf GTE prototype almost completely undisguised, giving us a very clear idea
of what the upcoming Golf Mk8 will look like when it debuts this autumn. It’s pretty clear to see that
only subtle patches of black tape are applied around the headlights to disguise
their shape, as well as on the grille, fog lights and the rear bumper. The
taillights seem to wear a disguise as well around the edges. Still, these
attempts are not that effective at hiding the design of the 2020 Golf which
remains easy to recognize as it’s largely an evolution of the current model
from a visual point of view.
The GTE model seen here distinguishes itself from
other Golf variants thanks to the charging port on the left front fender,
exclusive aero-style wheels, and likely some blue accents on the grille,
headlights, and rear bumper. The Golf GTE is expected to become the most efficient model in the
range when it goes on sale in early 2020 as the all-electric e-Golf will no
longer be offered for the eighth-generation.
The GTE’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is likely the
same from the facelifted Passat GTE, pairing a 156 PS 1.4-liter TSI
turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 115 PS electric
motor and a 13-kWh battery for a system output of 218 PS and 400 Nm of torque.
In the revised Passat GTE, the powertrain enables an
EV driving range of 56 km under the WLTP cycle. In the Golf GTE, the
range could be slightly higher as it’s a smaller, lighter vehicle. GTE model
aside, the 2020 VW Golf range will feature several gasoline and diesel
powertrains many of which will feature 48-volt mild-hybrid tech. The VW Golf
GTI and Golf R performance models will also arrive later on.
