Volkswagen Ramping Up Hybrid And EV Models But Will Not Resort To Unique Models

Volkswagen Group is getting serious about plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles but it won't follow the lead of Toyota, Ford or General Motors.

That means the group's brands won't embrace different styling or give unique names to its hybrid or electric vehicles.

VW management says that's the quickest way to signal a car is boring.

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MercedesSL - 10/4/2012 11:07:56 AM

+2 Boost

Wow, 6 VW related articles...out of 9 articles posted today..I guess no one else is making news? Maybe just a reflection of 009's "view" of the auto industry.

Agent009 - 10/4/2012 1:29:59 PM

0 Boost

You are welcome to post any Acura new you run across. The problem is the real movers and shakers right now are not from the far east. New headlight eyelids really aren't that exciting.

vdiv - 10/4/2012 11:19:55 AM

+2 Boost

Ford is also not making exclusive plug-in models, Focus Electric, Fusion and C-MAX Energi all have gasoline only models.

Toyota, if they had any concrete plans are also not making exclusive plug-in models. The Prius Plug-in, the IQ, the Rav4 EV all have hybrid or conventional gasoline only versions.

GM's pure EV, the Spark EV, has a gasoline counterpart, The Honda Fit EV has a gasoline counterpart. The Accord PHEV obviously has a gasoline counterpart. Even the Volt and Leaf share platforms with the Cruze and Versa correspondingly.

In reality car makers do not have to make special EV models as all optimizations for space, weight, and air drag apply to all types of vehicles.

As far as boring cars are concerned VW should look itself in the mirror, the new Passat looks like a Camry.

Agent009 - 10/4/2012 1:32:40 PM

0 Boost

Suppliers? Nah... New colors? Yeah...

BTW VW's don't have lug nuts they have lug studs. A true Gearhead would know that.