VW Reveals Sporty GTE Plug-In Hybrid; Completes GTI, GTD Range

The plug-in hybrid Golf GTE completes Volkswagen’s sporty hatchback range that also consists of the petrol GTI and diesel GTD.

It sits in between the two other models, in terms of power, making a combined total of 201 hp and 258 lb-ft or 350 Nm which pushes it past 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 135 mph (or 216 km/h, which we assume must be somewhat electronically pegged back, since the less powerful diesel tops 142 mph/229 km/h).

Since it's the slowest of all three models, both in terms of sprinting and outright speed, you’d expect it to have a party piece since it will probably be pretty expensive and they do want to sell it, right?

Correct, as they’ve given it a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 1.5 l/100km (equal to 157 mpg US or 188 mpg UK), and as you may have imagined, it is achieved with the all-electric range of up to 31 miles (~50 km). The car has a combined autonomy of 584 miles (934 km), plus super low CO2 emissions of 35 g/km.

It achieves those feats (in the lab…) thanks to the marriage of a 1.4-liter 148 hp turbocharged engine used in many other models with a 101 hp electric motor. The car can run solely on the latter up to a speed of 81 mph or 129 km/h.

This means that if your daily commute is short and you have a place to charge, you could basically run this in the same way you’d run a Chevy Volt and only use the petrol engine for performance driving, if the need suddenly arises; a full charge on the battery from empty takes under three hours from a conventional wall socket.

The GT's looks draws heavily upon that of the GTI, but with e-Golf influences. It also replaces the GTI’s red detailing with blue and features side skirts and a discreet spoiler on the back that are taken from the other two models. GTE badges finish off the look, as do the unique LED daytime-running lights borrowed from the e-Golf. The inside is shared with the GTI/GTD, with sporty seats and details that continue the blue exterior theme.

The Golf GTE is set to debut in the metal at the Geneva motor show.

It’s Officially the Future: Winter Tires With Retractable Studs by Nokian

Sheet ice on smooth roads is so dangerous that we don’t even need to link a video in order to prove it, but we will anyway. It can turn any drive on a seemingly clear road into short-lived and fast-paced adventure that usually ends in the back of another car (or somebody’s living room) unless you have a set of the new Nokian winter tires with retractable studs.

The Finnish company’s newfangled tires offer the best of both worlds: extreme grip on ice, with the metallic studs deployed and smooth (and most importantly quiet) progress on motorways or other fast roads where they are not needed.

The tech would also theoretically allow people to use these kinds of tires for a longer period of time, since conventionally-studded ones are restricted in many countries.

Don’t expect to see one of these at your local tire vendor’s any time soon, though, because they are far from being ready for mass production. Nokian Technical consumer service manager Matti Morri said they “may indeed become a reality one day.” Cost is probably the main issue, though, for now…

Check out the first promo video, below.

1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S Contradicts Muscle Car’s Reputation of Poor Handlin

Car brands come and go, but one thing is for sure: they will be remembered thanks to their best products. In the case of Chrysler’s now defunct Plymouth brand, one of these products is definitely the Barracuda pony car.

Built from 1964 to 1974 over three generations, the Barracuda is a sought after vehicle today, especially immaculate examples like this 1967 Barracuda Formula S.

Formula S models were upgraded in-house by Plymouth with suspension and brakes that allowed it to keep up with European sports cars in curves.

Owner Bob Gough, who bought the car over 23 years ago, felt the need to add some upgrades himself. Under the long hood of the car a 340 cubic inch (5.6-liter) V8 has replaced the car’s original 273 cubic inch (4.5-liter) engine, while the standard transmission has been replaced with a Tremec 5-speed.

However, Plymouth’s upgrades on the suspension were pretty good, so the only modification Gough made was replacing the original shocks with nitrogen shocks that he says significantly improve the handling.

I know you’re curious to see what the car drives and sounds like, so check it out in this latestPetrolicious video.

UK Firm's Kinda, Sorta Wants to Recreate Subaru WRX Concept…But Not Really

The name is Bond, Michael Bond, and he is the founder and owner of a UK company called Rumbler that is purportedly planning to recreate the looks of the striking 2013 Subaru WRX Concept on the production WRX with a project codenamed "Concept 13".

To my knowledge, Subaru has only confirmed a limited number of units of the WRX STI (and not the WRX) for Britain, but Rumbler says it will "by-pass the normal supply channels to import additional models specifically for the Concept 13 project". How that's possible and if Subaru UK will allow it, is something I do not know.

But what exactly will Rumbler do to the production car to make it look more like the study we all loved? Well, here's what the press blurb states:

"It will restyle the WRX body to reflect the original Subaru concept around the nose and tail and recreate its sophisticated modern design style. Although little can be done with the bulk of the body every customer will also be given tuning options for the engine to raise performance above the standard model from 350 bhp upwards to a maximum potential of 1,000 bhp depending on the customer's preference and budget."

Leaving aside the insane horsepower figure coming from a company that, on its website, showcases drawings of a Batmobile Tumbler-inspired study and the Ultra-Smart Watch, the whole idea sounds vague, if you ask me, and let's be honest; the concept looked great mostly because of its proportions and low-slung, coupe-like styling, both of which can't be recreated without new sheetmetal from top to bottom. Deleting the rear wing and adding a new fascia and rear diffuser won't really turn the WRX into the impressive concept, will it...

Right now, it's only an idea with Rumbler stating that, "production will begin when we cross the threshold of fifty (50) confirmed orders. There is no upper limit," and adding that, "At present the Concept 13 project is limited to the UK/British Isles (including Eire) but may be extended to other markets with sufficient demand".

We know for a fact that Subaru has priced the WRX STI at £28,995 a pop in the UK – so if Bond is referring to the STI and not the plain WRX, that would mean an investment of at least £1.45 million (US$2.4 million) for the cars alone.

A visit to Rumbler's website, where Michael Bond describes himself as "confidential escrow financial services agent" by day and a "technology designer, innovator and occasional writer" by night, will probably raise more questions than answers (i.e. this: "Acquiring The RUMBLER Sport Tank – FREE)", at least until we see something tangible to back up the talk.