Tuareg VW’s first hybrid
Volkswagen’s first gas-electric hybrid will be the Tuareg.
This came after Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn changed the plans made by former CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder. The plan originally called for hybrid versions of Volkswagen’s compact automobiles.
Winterkorn said that the $2000-$3000 premium associated with the addition of a hybrid system to the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta was too great considering the price competitiveness of the compact segment. Pischetsrieder had previously said that VW would roll out a hybrid Jetta by 2008.
Under the new plan, VW’s first gas-electric hybrid will be the Tuareg SUV, followed by the Porsche Cayenne, its platform-mate.