The
Opel / Vauxhall Grandland X SUV now offers two plug-in hybrid variants, as the
PSA-owned automakers have released a front-wheel drive model.
The
new PHEV badged Grandland X Hybrid joins the existing Hybrid4 all-wheel-drive
version that was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. While
the latter delivers a combined output of 300 PS, the FWD version is
rated at 224 PS and up to 360 Nm of torque.
The
new model combines a 180 PS 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
gasoline unit with a single 110 PS electric motor (the AWD version
uses two motors) coupled to an electrified eight-speed automatic transmission,
and a 13.2 kWh lithium-ion battery.
The
way this setup works is the combustion engine mostly engages at medium to high
vehicle speeds, while the electric motor covers lower to medium speed driving.
The all-electric driving range is rated at up to 57 km in the WLTP
cycle (65 km NEDC). This means the Opel/Vauxhall Grandland FWD plug-in
hybrid has a 5-km longer pure-electric driving range than the AWD
version, probably due to its weight.
The Grandland X Hybrid could potentially drive with zero emissions all
of the time, given that most daily journeys in Germany cover a distance of
under 50 km. Charging the battery takes less than two hours with the
optional 7.4 kW on-board charger.
The
powertrain, which is shared with the Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid, offers three
driving modes: Electric, Hybrid and Sport. The Electric mode is
self-explanatory, Hybrid allows the car to automatically select its most
efficient method of propulsion, and Sport combines the power of both the combustion
engine and electric motor. In
Sport mode, the Grandland X Hybrid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 225 km/h. Prices for the new
plug-in hybrid model start at £ 32,390 in the UK (OTR) and € 43,440 in Germany
(including VAT).
