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VW Sport Coupe Concept GTE 'marks beginning of a new design era' [w/video]

You didn't think that Volkswagen was going to come to Geneva armed only with a bunch of European-market minivans and wagons, did you? Of course not. Last week VW gave us our first glimpse at a new show car for the Swiss auto expo, and here it is in full: the Volkswagen Sport Coupe Concept GTE. Set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this week, the Sport Coupe is envisioned as a successor to the current CC, but beyond previewing a specific model, this concept showcases a new design language that's set to characterize all new VWs to come. And judging by how good it looks from the images in the slideshow above, that could prove to be a very good thing indeed. The concept strikes us as the sleekest iteration yet of the company's flexible MQB architecture that already underpins vehicles as small as the Golf and as large as the new Skoda Superb. It's larger than the current CC in every dimension but height, and pushes the wheels further out on a longer wheelbase. And with a liftgate at the back instead of a trunk, it strikes a form more similar to the Audi A7 than the Passat-based CC. As with recent past concepts, VW has taken the opportunity to showcase its hybrid powertrain technologies, fitting the Sport Coupe with a plug-in hybrid system that couples a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 to a pair of electric motors and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The internal combustion engine drives 295 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, while an electric motor integrated into the gearbox contributes another 54 hp and a second one kicks in 114 hp at the rear. Juiced by a lithium-ion battery housed in the center tunnel and offering all-wheel traction, the combined output of 374 hp is said to be capable of propelling the concept to 62 miles per hour in five seconds flat and on to a top speed of 155 mph. It can travel for 32 miles on electric power alone and on to an overall range of 745 miles, netting the equivalent of 118 miles per gallon on the European cycle. Inside, the four-seat cabin is laden with digital displays: there's a 12.3-inch unit – dominated by the speedo and power meter – in place of a conventional instrument cluster. The center stack incorporates a 10.1-inch infotainment display, and the rear-seat passengers have access to another 12.3-inch display at the back of the center console and another pair of 10.1-inch displays in the seatbacks.

Ecotricity offering 1,000 free EV miles to new customers

Ecotricity is offering electric vehicle drivers in the United Kingdom an lengthy incentive for using green energy: 1,000 miles of free fast charging per year. Called "Green Electricity + Car," the program will power customers' homes with renewable power allow them to charge their cars through Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers, which the company has named the Electric Highway. It makes complete sense for Ecotricity. "To get the greatest environmental benefit from an electric car, it needs to be charged using 100 percent green electricity from the wind and the sun – otherwise you're still powering it from dirty fossil fuels," wrote Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity. Ecotricity, a UK-based producer of green energy, wants to bring fast charging to 90 percent of highway service stations around the UK in the near future and four fast chargers are installed per week under the Electric Highway campaign, the company says. Users can fast charge their EVs in 20-to-30 minutes. Ecotricity recently instituted a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until April 1, reducing energy costs below what's being billed by the country's "Big Six" energy companies. Green Electricity + Car coincides with Volkswagen bringing its electric e-Up! to the British market. Volkswagen Group (UK) Limited imports VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brand vehicles and has signed a deal with Ecotricity as its official green energy supplier. Volkswagen Group customers purchasing an EV through one of its brands can take advantage of a new, reduced-cost Ecotricity tariff and a free smart meter installation. 08 February 2014 Green Electricity + Car Drivers of electric cars will receive 1,000 free miles every year with a new electricity tariff being launched by green energy company Ecotricity. Green Electricity + Car – will not only power customers homes with green energy but also their cars (either 100% electric or plug-in hybrids), plus they'll get free access to Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers[1] – the Electric Highway. This latest move comes after Ecotricity announced a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until the end of winter (April 1st), making them cheaper[2] than the standard tariff of the Big Six energy companies.

VW bringing fuel cell concept to LA Auto Show

Amid the flurry of hydrogen announcements from Toyota and Honda last night, Volkwagen has something to add: a new hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle. This will be the first VW hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in many years – remember the Tiguan Hy-Motion back in 2008? – and it comes as a bit of a surprise. First written up by the German publication Wirtschaft Woche, VW is going to have the prototype car (not pictured) available at the ride and drive at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week. We don't yet know what kind of vehicle will sport the hydrogen powertrain, but our money's on a Golf variant. We'll see soon enough when we get to Los Angeles. What's interesting is that there have been a number of not-so-mixed messages out of the VW executive ranks when it comes to hydrogen vehicles. VW's Japanese president, Shigeru Shoji, said in September that, hydrogen fuel cells, "may fly within Japan, but not globally." Last year, VW's electrification head Rudolf Krebs said that "hydrogen mobility only makes sense if you use green energy." Also last year, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said it's basically impossible to build hydrogen vehicles at a "reasonable cost." Nonetheless, we're going to see a new VW H2 concept soon. Thoughts?