Volkswagen Set to Embrace Toyota-Style Hybrid Technology
Volkswagen is poised to introduce a new ‘closed-loop’ hybrid system, drawing inspiration from Toyota’s successful approach, as reported by Autocar. This technology will debut in the second-generation T-Roc, slated for unveiling at the Munich motor show in September, before extending to other models within the VW Group, including the VW Golf and Skoda Octavia.
This marks a significant step for Volkswagen, representing its first modern-era conventional, non-plug-in hybrid system. The brand had previously experimented with hybrid technology in prototype vehicles as early as the 1970s. This move comes amid slower-than-anticipated demand for electric vehicles.
Until now, Volkswagen has focused on two hybrid approaches: mild-hybrid technology, which enhances acceleration and smooths out stop/start functionality, and plug-in hybrids, which can be charged from an external power source. The new full-hybrid system will combine a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a high-voltage battery.
Autocar suggests that the new hybrid system will offer power outputs ranging from 150kW/350Nm to 200kW/400Nm. The petrol engine will act as a generator for the battery pack, enabling “limited electric-only driving,” and will also have a parallel mode where both the engine and electric motor can power the wheels simultaneously.
Vehicles built on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB Evo architecture are expected to incorporate this new hybrid system. These models reportedly include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Tayron, and Passat, the Skoda Kodiaq and Superb, the Cupra Leon, Formentor, Terramar, and the Audi A3 and next-generation Q3.
The Volkswagen Group, the world’s second-largest car manufacturer, has committed to a substantial investment of 51.5 billion euros (approximately $AU88.7B) in internal combustion engine development by 2028, including the full-hybrid system. The next-generation T-Roc, competing with the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Nissan Qashqai, is anticipated to arrive in Australia around 2026. Similar to its larger Tiguan sibling, the new T-Roc is likely to feature VW’s latest technologies, including larger touchscreens and enhanced safety features.
