Volkswagen to tackle Toyota with hybrids, starting with new T-Roc
Now Autocar reports the replacement for the German brand's top-selling car – both globally and in Australia – will be revealed a month earlier in August.
Furthermore, it cites Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer as saying its new Toyota-style hybrid powertrain, which will also feature in the Golf and Tiguan, will be necessary in markets where consumer demand is shifting away from battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and towards hybrid vehicles (HEVs).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
"Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically. It's a technology that everybody said was not necessary any more, but now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is [moving towards] HEVs," said Mr Schäfer, who added that Volkswagen is "experimenting now because certain regions are gliding into HEVs".
"We needed to do it anyway, because South America has a need for an HEV drivetrain – and the T-Roc is built in South America for South America, and also in China."
Like Toyota's tried and proven hybrid systems, Volkswagen's first parallel hybrid powertrain will be able to drive a vehicle's wheels with a petrol engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both at any given time.
Volkswagen already has a range of mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric powertrains in its range, less than a decade before it will be forced to go all-EV in Europe at least.
However, Mr Schäfer indicated the new HEV system wouldn't be made available in models already offered with PHEV power, saying that Volkswagen will "see where it makes sense" elsewhere in the brand's lineup beyond the MkII T-Roc, but "we're not going to double everything up; we will have PHEV and HEV models".
A Volkswagen spokesperson subsequently told Autocar the company's new HEV system will be added to the Golf and Tiguan in the next two years, but will not appear in every VW model based on the same MQB platform as the T-Roc.
However, the Volkswagen Group's new hybrid system will also reportedly be used in the Skoda Octavia, with other possibilities including the Tayron and Passat, as well as the Audi A3, the Cupra Leon and Formentor, and the Skoda Scala, Kodiaq and Superb.
The hybrid system is part of the Volkswagen Group's €60 billion (A$103bn) investment in combustion-engine development by 2028.
The new hybrid powertrain will reportedly combine a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, providing total power outputs of between 150-200kW, and torque peaks of between 350-400Nm.
Volkswagen has offered a traditional hybrid system before, including in the four-cylinder Jetta sedan built in the US during the 2010s, and in the V6-powered second-generation Touareg.
But following the Dieselgate scandal the German giant pivoted from specialising in diesel cars to investing heavily in EVs – as well as PHEVs, although they have only recently been offered locally by Audi and Cupra, with the Touraeg R being VW's sole PHEV here and Skoda Australia yet to offer one.
Given the new T-Roc won't have its global public premiere until August, the redesigned small SUV won't be released in Australia until at least 2026.
While it's unconfirmed at this stage if the T-Roc hybrid – or VW's other new hybrids – will come to Australia, Volkswagen could stand to benefit from such an option locally.
Besides hybrid giant Toyota, other brands to offer hybrid powertrains in Australia include GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, MG and Nissan.
The original T-Roc continues to be Volkswagen's best-selling car (excluding the Amarok ute) in Australia, where 1866 examples have been sold to April this year – almost 25 per cent fewer than in the first third of 2024.
Its successor was first spied in Europe about 12 months ago, but leaked images of an undisguised T-Roc earlier this year showed the new small SUV will adopt a similar slimline front-end design (headlights and grille) to the larger Tiguan, rather than the larger units suggested by the deceptive camouflage seen on prototypes.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc was first spied testing more than a year ago, and since then it's been confirmed the new small SUV will debut at the Munich motor show in September.
Now Autocar reports the replacement for the German brand's top-selling car – both globally and in Australia – will be revealed a month earlier in August.
Furthermore, it cites Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer as saying its new Toyota-style hybrid powertrain, which will also feature in the Golf and Tiguan, will be necessary in markets where consumer demand is shifting away from battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and towards hybrid vehicles (HEVs).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
"Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically. It's a technology that everybody said was not necessary any more, but now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is [moving towards] HEVs," said Mr Schäfer, who added that Volkswagen is "experimenting now because certain regions are gliding into HEVs".
"We needed to do it anyway, because South America has a need for an HEV drivetrain – and the T-Roc is built in South America for South America, and also in China."
Like Toyota's tried and proven hybrid systems, Volkswagen's first parallel hybrid powertrain will be able to drive a vehicle's wheels with a petrol engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both at any given time.
Volkswagen already has a range of mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric powertrains in its range, less than a decade before it will be forced to go all-EV in Europe at least.
However, Mr Schäfer indicated the new HEV system wouldn't be made available in models already offered with PHEV power, saying that Volkswagen will "see where it makes sense" elsewhere in the brand's lineup beyond the MkII T-Roc, but "we're not going to double everything up; we will have PHEV and HEV models".
A Volkswagen spokesperson subsequently told Autocar the company's new HEV system will be added to the Golf and Tiguan in the next two years, but will not appear in every VW model based on the same MQB platform as the T-Roc.
However, the Volkswagen Group's new hybrid system will also reportedly be used in the Skoda Octavia, with other possibilities including the Tayron and Passat, as well as the Audi A3, the Cupra Leon and Formentor, and the Skoda Scala, Kodiaq and Superb.
The hybrid system is part of the Volkswagen Group's €60 billion (A$103bn) investment in combustion-engine development by 2028.
The new hybrid powertrain will reportedly combine a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, providing total power outputs of between 150-200kW, and torque peaks of between 350-400Nm.
Volkswagen has offered a traditional hybrid system before, including in the four-cylinder Jetta sedan built in the US during the 2010s, and in the V6-powered second-generation Touareg.
But following the Dieselgate scandal the German giant pivoted from specialising in diesel cars to investing heavily in EVs – as well as PHEVs, although they have only recently been offered locally by Audi and Cupra, with the Touraeg R being VW's sole PHEV here and Skoda Australia yet to offer one.
Given the new T-Roc won't have its global public premiere until August, the redesigned small SUV won't be released in Australia until at least 2026.
While it's unconfirmed at this stage if the T-Roc hybrid – or VW's other new hybrids – will come to Australia, Volkswagen could stand to benefit from such an option locally.
Besides hybrid giant Toyota, other brands to offer hybrid powertrains in Australia include GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, MG and Nissan.
The original T-Roc continues to be Volkswagen's best-selling car (excluding the Amarok ute) in Australia, where 1866 examples have been sold to April this year – almost 25 per cent fewer than in the first third of 2024.
Its successor was first spied in Europe about 12 months ago, but leaked images of an undisguised T-Roc earlier this year showed the new small SUV will adopt a similar slimline front-end design (headlights and grille) to the larger Tiguan, rather than the larger units suggested by the deceptive camouflage seen on prototypes.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc was first spied testing more than a year ago, and since then it's been confirmed the new small SUV will debut at the Munich motor show in September.
Now Autocar reports the replacement for the German brand's top-selling car – both globally and in Australia – will be revealed a month earlier in August.
Furthermore, it cites Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer as saying its new Toyota-style hybrid powertrain, which will also feature in the Golf and Tiguan, will be necessary in markets where consumer demand is shifting away from battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and towards hybrid vehicles (HEVs).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
"Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically. It's a technology that everybody said was not necessary any more, but now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is [moving towards] HEVs," said Mr Schäfer, who added that Volkswagen is "experimenting now because certain regions are gliding into HEVs".
"We needed to do it anyway, because South America has a need for an HEV drivetrain – and the T-Roc is built in South America for South America, and also in China."
Like Toyota's tried and proven hybrid systems, Volkswagen's first parallel hybrid powertrain will be able to drive a vehicle's wheels with a petrol engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both at any given time.
Volkswagen already has a range of mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric powertrains in its range, less than a decade before it will be forced to go all-EV in Europe at least.
However, Mr Schäfer indicated the new HEV system wouldn't be made available in models already offered with PHEV power, saying that Volkswagen will "see where it makes sense" elsewhere in the brand's lineup beyond the MkII T-Roc, but "we're not going to double everything up; we will have PHEV and HEV models".
A Volkswagen spokesperson subsequently told Autocar the company's new HEV system will be added to the Golf and Tiguan in the next two years, but will not appear in every VW model based on the same MQB platform as the T-Roc.
However, the Volkswagen Group's new hybrid system will also reportedly be used in the Skoda Octavia, with other possibilities including the Tayron and Passat, as well as the Audi A3, the Cupra Leon and Formentor, and the Skoda Scala, Kodiaq and Superb.
The hybrid system is part of the Volkswagen Group's €60 billion (A$103bn) investment in combustion-engine development by 2028.
The new hybrid powertrain will reportedly combine a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, providing total power outputs of between 150-200kW, and torque peaks of between 350-400Nm.
Volkswagen has offered a traditional hybrid system before, including in the four-cylinder Jetta sedan built in the US during the 2010s, and in the V6-powered second-generation Touareg.
But following the Dieselgate scandal the German giant pivoted from specialising in diesel cars to investing heavily in EVs – as well as PHEVs, although they have only recently been offered locally by Audi and Cupra, with the Touraeg R being VW's sole PHEV here and Skoda Australia yet to offer one.
Given the new T-Roc won't have its global public premiere until August, the redesigned small SUV won't be released in Australia until at least 2026.
While it's unconfirmed at this stage if the T-Roc hybrid – or VW's other new hybrids – will come to Australia, Volkswagen could stand to benefit from such an option locally.
Besides hybrid giant Toyota, other brands to offer hybrid powertrains in Australia include GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, MG and Nissan.
The original T-Roc continues to be Volkswagen's best-selling car (excluding the Amarok ute) in Australia, where 1866 examples have been sold to April this year – almost 25 per cent fewer than in the first third of 2024.
Its successor was first spied in Europe about 12 months ago, but leaked images of an undisguised T-Roc earlier this year showed the new small SUV will adopt a similar slimline front-end design (headlights and grille) to the larger Tiguan, rather than the larger units suggested by the deceptive camouflage seen on prototypes.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc was first spied testing more than a year ago, and since then it's been confirmed the new small SUV will debut at the Munich motor show in September.
Now Autocar reports the replacement for the German brand's top-selling car – both globally and in Australia – will be revealed a month earlier in August.
Furthermore, it cites Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer as saying its new Toyota-style hybrid powertrain, which will also feature in the Golf and Tiguan, will be necessary in markets where consumer demand is shifting away from battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and towards hybrid vehicles (HEVs).
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
"Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically. It's a technology that everybody said was not necessary any more, but now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is [moving towards] HEVs," said Mr Schäfer, who added that Volkswagen is "experimenting now because certain regions are gliding into HEVs".
"We needed to do it anyway, because South America has a need for an HEV drivetrain – and the T-Roc is built in South America for South America, and also in China."
Like Toyota's tried and proven hybrid systems, Volkswagen's first parallel hybrid powertrain will be able to drive a vehicle's wheels with a petrol engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both at any given time.
Volkswagen already has a range of mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric powertrains in its range, less than a decade before it will be forced to go all-EV in Europe at least.
However, Mr Schäfer indicated the new HEV system wouldn't be made available in models already offered with PHEV power, saying that Volkswagen will "see where it makes sense" elsewhere in the brand's lineup beyond the MkII T-Roc, but "we're not going to double everything up; we will have PHEV and HEV models".
A Volkswagen spokesperson subsequently told Autocar the company's new HEV system will be added to the Golf and Tiguan in the next two years, but will not appear in every VW model based on the same MQB platform as the T-Roc.
However, the Volkswagen Group's new hybrid system will also reportedly be used in the Skoda Octavia, with other possibilities including the Tayron and Passat, as well as the Audi A3, the Cupra Leon and Formentor, and the Skoda Scala, Kodiaq and Superb.
The hybrid system is part of the Volkswagen Group's €60 billion (A$103bn) investment in combustion-engine development by 2028.
The new hybrid powertrain will reportedly combine a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, providing total power outputs of between 150-200kW, and torque peaks of between 350-400Nm.
Volkswagen has offered a traditional hybrid system before, including in the four-cylinder Jetta sedan built in the US during the 2010s, and in the V6-powered second-generation Touareg.
But following the Dieselgate scandal the German giant pivoted from specialising in diesel cars to investing heavily in EVs – as well as PHEVs, although they have only recently been offered locally by Audi and Cupra, with the Touraeg R being VW's sole PHEV here and Skoda Australia yet to offer one.
Given the new T-Roc won't have its global public premiere until August, the redesigned small SUV won't be released in Australia until at least 2026.
While it's unconfirmed at this stage if the T-Roc hybrid – or VW's other new hybrids – will come to Australia, Volkswagen could stand to benefit from such an option locally.
Besides hybrid giant Toyota, other brands to offer hybrid powertrains in Australia include GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, MG and Nissan.
The original T-Roc continues to be Volkswagen's best-selling car (excluding the Amarok ute) in Australia, where 1866 examples have been sold to April this year – almost 25 per cent fewer than in the first third of 2024.
Its successor was first spied in Europe about 12 months ago, but leaked images of an undisguised T-Roc earlier this year showed the new small SUV will adopt a similar slimline front-end design (headlights and grille) to the larger Tiguan, rather than the larger units suggested by the deceptive camouflage seen on prototypes.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Cupra Terramar PHEV here in November
The all-new Cupra Terramar mid-size SUV will add a 'VZe' 200kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant with over 100km of electric range before year's end, finally giving the Volkswagen Group a PHEV in the mid-size SUV space in Australia. Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed local-spec Terramar VZe vehicles are now in production at the Hungarian factory (shared with Audi) from which it's sourced for Australia, and are scheduled to arrive here in November. Full pricing and specifications for the PHEV are still to be confirmed, but it will complete the four-strong lineup and likely be positioned in line with the $73,490 drive-away Terramar VZ petrol variant. For reference, the 200kW e-Hybrid is actually cheaper in the UK after on-road costs than the equivalent 195kW 2.0 TSI. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Terramar VZe will be powered by the beefier 1.5 e-Hybrid drivetrain already available overseas and in other VW Group models, quoting system outputs of 200kW and 400Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic, while the 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery allows 69-72 miles (111-115km) of WLTP-certified electric driving. While it's technically the most powerful Terramar variant available, the 200kW e-Hybrid's front-drive layout means it's not quite as quick as its all-wheel drive turbo-petrol contemporary. Cupra claims a 7.3-second 0-100km/h sprint time, compared to the VZ's 5.9 seconds. The Terramar will be Cupra's second model to offer the VW Group's second-generation plug-in hybrid system for vehicles based on the MQB platform, following the Leon Sportstourer in October. Cupra continues to lead the VW Group's erm… charge towards electrifying its models in the mainstream segments, now offering mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (EV) products across several segments. The Spanish brand has pipped Volkswagen and Skoda locally in offering both MHEVs and PHEVs, despite a catalogue of options being available in overseas markets. Using the Terramar alone as an example, it offers the 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid and will soon have the 1.5 e-Hybrid PHEV in Australian showroom, whereas the VW Tiguan with which it shares its underpinnings currently offers no electrified options locally – though the same mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are available in the VW overseas. Stay tuned to CarExpert for our Australian first drive review of the Cupra Terramar on August 7.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Cupra Terramar PHEV here in November
The all-new Cupra Terramar mid-size SUV will add a 'VZe' 200kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant with over 100km of electric range before year's end, finally giving the Volkswagen Group a PHEV in the mid-size SUV space in Australia. Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed local-spec Terramar VZe vehicles are now in production at the Hungarian factory (shared with Audi) from which it's sourced for Australia, and are scheduled to arrive here in November. Full pricing and specifications for the PHEV are still to be confirmed, but it will complete the four-strong lineup and likely be positioned in line with the $73,490 drive-away Terramar VZ petrol variant. For reference, the 200kW e-Hybrid is actually cheaper in the UK after on-road costs than the equivalent 195kW 2.0 TSI. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Terramar VZe will be powered by the beefier 1.5 e-Hybrid drivetrain already available overseas and in other VW Group models, quoting system outputs of 200kW and 400Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic, while the 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery allows 69-72 miles (111-115km) of WLTP-certified electric driving. While it's technically the most powerful Terramar variant available, the 200kW e-Hybrid's front-drive layout means it's not quite as quick as its all-wheel drive turbo-petrol contemporary. Cupra claims a 7.3-second 0-100km/h sprint time, compared to the VZ's 5.9 seconds. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Terramar will be Cupra's second model to offer the VW Group's second-generation plug-in hybrid system for vehicles based on the MQB platform, following the Leon Sportstourer in October. Cupra continues to lead the VW Group's erm… charge towards electrifying its models in the mainstream segments, now offering mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (EV) products across several segments. The Spanish brand has pipped Volkswagen and Skoda locally in offering both MHEVs and PHEVs, despite a catalogue of options being available in overseas markets. Using the Terramar alone as an example, it offers the 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid and will soon have the 1.5 e-Hybrid PHEV in Australian showroom, whereas the VW Tiguan with which it shares its underpinnings currently offers no electrified options locally – though the same mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are available in the VW overseas. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Stay tuned to CarExpert for our Australian first drive review of the Cupra Terramar on August 7. MORE: Everything Cupra Terramar
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
2026 Cupra Leon Hatch due in October with mild-hybrid, long-range PHEV to follow
The facelifted Cupra Leon Hatch will finally be launched in Australia in October, when it will be released in mild-hybrid entry-level and 221kW VZx flagship forms, before a 150kW 'Ve' plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant arrives early next year. Speaking with CarExpert at the local launch of the all-new Terramar mid-size SUV, Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed the three-tier small-car range and said the decision to import the lower-output PHEV instead of the 200kW version is a case of "trying something different". "The hatchback is a bit of a smaller car. We want to look at where that lands in terms of price point," Mr Shafer said. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It means the facelifted Leon range will look a little different to the outgoing lineup, which comprises 140kW V, 180kW VZ, 180kW VZe and 221kW VZx grades. The new Leon S mHEV will form the lowest rung on the ladder, powered by the Volkswagen Group's 1.5 eTSI four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Making 110kW and 250Nm, it's the same powertrain that just launched in the larger Terramar and already does service in the Audi A3 35 TFSI – both of which share the Leon's MQB evo underpinnings. Expect it to be something of an efficiency leader, too. While not a full hybrid like you'll find in a Toyota Corolla, the Leon Hatch 1.5 eTSI claims to consume just 5.3L/100km on the strict WLTP combined cycle based on UK specifications, and emits 122g/km of CO2. Driving the front wheels via a seven-speed 'DSG' dual-clutch automatic transmission, the mild-hybrid Leon accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 216km/h – the UK-spec Corolla Hatch 1.8L hybrid manages a 9.1-second sprint and consumes 4.4-4.7L/100km, for reference. Meanwhile, the new Leon Ve PHEV uses a 150kW version of the VW Group's second-gen PHEV system, which teams the 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine with an 85kW/330Nm electric motor and a 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery pack. It's the same running gear as the 200kW e-Hybrid, just with lower system outputs. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 7.7 seconds (versus 7.1 for the 200kW variant), with top speed listed at a claimed 220km/h (versus 229km/h). Thanks to its smaller wheel and tyre package globally, the 150kW Leon e-Hybrid offers a slightly longer WLTP-certified EV driving range (124-132km versus 121-122km) than its more powerful sibling, while both can be DC fast-charged at up to 50kW, which replenishes the battery from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 26 minutes. Mr Shafer didn't rule out the more powerful Leon Hatch PHEV entirely for Australia, but he did confirm the 200kW version as the launch drivetrain for the new Leon Sportstourer wagon, which is due in Australia around the same time. Sitting atop the hatchback range will be the carryover 221kW/400Nm VZx, which uses the same tune of the EA888 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo engine as the VW Golf GTI Clubsport that forbidden fruit for the Australian market. The performance flagship dashes from 0-100km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds (claimed), on its way to a top speed of 250km/h. Mr Shafer didn't let on much about potential pricing and specifications, but we're expecting the Spanish brand to go hard on value to reassert itself in the premium small passenger car segment. The Leon Hatch range originally started from $49,190 drive-away for the 140kW Leon V for model year 2024, but that has since been revised to $39,265 drive-away based on current advertised run-out offers. A mid-$40,000 drive-away starting price would put the Leon S mHEV in the thick of high-spec mainstream and low-spec premium competition – think Corolla ZR, Mazda 3 G25 Astina, Golf Style and Civic e:HEV L – and we expect the VZx flagship should remain around the current model's $63,000 drive-away mark. As for the new Leon Ve, it's more unclear. The pre-facelift VZe never got nationwide drive-away pricing like the non-PHEV models and, as such, commands a premium over the VZx once on-road costs are factored in. However, using the outgoing model's $61,690 RRP sticker as a guide and considering Australia's new emissions legislation as a guide, Cupra may be intending to really sharpen the pencil with its new entry-level plug-in hybrid. CarExpert expects the Leon Ve to start at around $50,000 before on-road costs, and for drive-away pricing (irrespective of a potential nationwide offer) to come in under $60,000. The e-Hybrid version would also give Cupra a unique point of difference within the VW Group locally, as well as the wider small passenger car segment, as no other vehicle at the mainstream or premium ends of the market currently offers a PHEV option – though the Peugeot 308 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class have previously. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead up to the new Cupra Leon's arrival in October. MORE: Explore the Cupra Leon showroom Content originally sourced from: The facelifted Cupra Leon Hatch will finally be launched in Australia in October, when it will be released in mild-hybrid entry-level and 221kW VZx flagship forms, before a 150kW 'Ve' plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant arrives early next year. Speaking with CarExpert at the local launch of the all-new Terramar mid-size SUV, Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed the three-tier small-car range and said the decision to import the lower-output PHEV instead of the 200kW version is a case of "trying something different". "The hatchback is a bit of a smaller car. We want to look at where that lands in terms of price point," Mr Shafer said. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It means the facelifted Leon range will look a little different to the outgoing lineup, which comprises 140kW V, 180kW VZ, 180kW VZe and 221kW VZx grades. The new Leon S mHEV will form the lowest rung on the ladder, powered by the Volkswagen Group's 1.5 eTSI four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Making 110kW and 250Nm, it's the same powertrain that just launched in the larger Terramar and already does service in the Audi A3 35 TFSI – both of which share the Leon's MQB evo underpinnings. Expect it to be something of an efficiency leader, too. While not a full hybrid like you'll find in a Toyota Corolla, the Leon Hatch 1.5 eTSI claims to consume just 5.3L/100km on the strict WLTP combined cycle based on UK specifications, and emits 122g/km of CO2. Driving the front wheels via a seven-speed 'DSG' dual-clutch automatic transmission, the mild-hybrid Leon accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 216km/h – the UK-spec Corolla Hatch 1.8L hybrid manages a 9.1-second sprint and consumes 4.4-4.7L/100km, for reference. Meanwhile, the new Leon Ve PHEV uses a 150kW version of the VW Group's second-gen PHEV system, which teams the 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine with an 85kW/330Nm electric motor and a 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery pack. It's the same running gear as the 200kW e-Hybrid, just with lower system outputs. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 7.7 seconds (versus 7.1 for the 200kW variant), with top speed listed at a claimed 220km/h (versus 229km/h). Thanks to its smaller wheel and tyre package globally, the 150kW Leon e-Hybrid offers a slightly longer WLTP-certified EV driving range (124-132km versus 121-122km) than its more powerful sibling, while both can be DC fast-charged at up to 50kW, which replenishes the battery from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 26 minutes. Mr Shafer didn't rule out the more powerful Leon Hatch PHEV entirely for Australia, but he did confirm the 200kW version as the launch drivetrain for the new Leon Sportstourer wagon, which is due in Australia around the same time. Sitting atop the hatchback range will be the carryover 221kW/400Nm VZx, which uses the same tune of the EA888 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo engine as the VW Golf GTI Clubsport that forbidden fruit for the Australian market. The performance flagship dashes from 0-100km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds (claimed), on its way to a top speed of 250km/h. Mr Shafer didn't let on much about potential pricing and specifications, but we're expecting the Spanish brand to go hard on value to reassert itself in the premium small passenger car segment. The Leon Hatch range originally started from $49,190 drive-away for the 140kW Leon V for model year 2024, but that has since been revised to $39,265 drive-away based on current advertised run-out offers. A mid-$40,000 drive-away starting price would put the Leon S mHEV in the thick of high-spec mainstream and low-spec premium competition – think Corolla ZR, Mazda 3 G25 Astina, Golf Style and Civic e:HEV L – and we expect the VZx flagship should remain around the current model's $63,000 drive-away mark. As for the new Leon Ve, it's more unclear. The pre-facelift VZe never got nationwide drive-away pricing like the non-PHEV models and, as such, commands a premium over the VZx once on-road costs are factored in. However, using the outgoing model's $61,690 RRP sticker as a guide and considering Australia's new emissions legislation as a guide, Cupra may be intending to really sharpen the pencil with its new entry-level plug-in hybrid. CarExpert expects the Leon Ve to start at around $50,000 before on-road costs, and for drive-away pricing (irrespective of a potential nationwide offer) to come in under $60,000. The e-Hybrid version would also give Cupra a unique point of difference within the VW Group locally, as well as the wider small passenger car segment, as no other vehicle at the mainstream or premium ends of the market currently offers a PHEV option – though the Peugeot 308 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class have previously. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead up to the new Cupra Leon's arrival in October. MORE: Explore the Cupra Leon showroom Content originally sourced from: The facelifted Cupra Leon Hatch will finally be launched in Australia in October, when it will be released in mild-hybrid entry-level and 221kW VZx flagship forms, before a 150kW 'Ve' plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant arrives early next year. Speaking with CarExpert at the local launch of the all-new Terramar mid-size SUV, Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed the three-tier small-car range and said the decision to import the lower-output PHEV instead of the 200kW version is a case of "trying something different". "The hatchback is a bit of a smaller car. We want to look at where that lands in terms of price point," Mr Shafer said. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It means the facelifted Leon range will look a little different to the outgoing lineup, which comprises 140kW V, 180kW VZ, 180kW VZe and 221kW VZx grades. The new Leon S mHEV will form the lowest rung on the ladder, powered by the Volkswagen Group's 1.5 eTSI four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Making 110kW and 250Nm, it's the same powertrain that just launched in the larger Terramar and already does service in the Audi A3 35 TFSI – both of which share the Leon's MQB evo underpinnings. Expect it to be something of an efficiency leader, too. While not a full hybrid like you'll find in a Toyota Corolla, the Leon Hatch 1.5 eTSI claims to consume just 5.3L/100km on the strict WLTP combined cycle based on UK specifications, and emits 122g/km of CO2. Driving the front wheels via a seven-speed 'DSG' dual-clutch automatic transmission, the mild-hybrid Leon accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 216km/h – the UK-spec Corolla Hatch 1.8L hybrid manages a 9.1-second sprint and consumes 4.4-4.7L/100km, for reference. Meanwhile, the new Leon Ve PHEV uses a 150kW version of the VW Group's second-gen PHEV system, which teams the 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine with an 85kW/330Nm electric motor and a 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery pack. It's the same running gear as the 200kW e-Hybrid, just with lower system outputs. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 7.7 seconds (versus 7.1 for the 200kW variant), with top speed listed at a claimed 220km/h (versus 229km/h). Thanks to its smaller wheel and tyre package globally, the 150kW Leon e-Hybrid offers a slightly longer WLTP-certified EV driving range (124-132km versus 121-122km) than its more powerful sibling, while both can be DC fast-charged at up to 50kW, which replenishes the battery from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 26 minutes. Mr Shafer didn't rule out the more powerful Leon Hatch PHEV entirely for Australia, but he did confirm the 200kW version as the launch drivetrain for the new Leon Sportstourer wagon, which is due in Australia around the same time. Sitting atop the hatchback range will be the carryover 221kW/400Nm VZx, which uses the same tune of the EA888 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo engine as the VW Golf GTI Clubsport that forbidden fruit for the Australian market. The performance flagship dashes from 0-100km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds (claimed), on its way to a top speed of 250km/h. Mr Shafer didn't let on much about potential pricing and specifications, but we're expecting the Spanish brand to go hard on value to reassert itself in the premium small passenger car segment. The Leon Hatch range originally started from $49,190 drive-away for the 140kW Leon V for model year 2024, but that has since been revised to $39,265 drive-away based on current advertised run-out offers. A mid-$40,000 drive-away starting price would put the Leon S mHEV in the thick of high-spec mainstream and low-spec premium competition – think Corolla ZR, Mazda 3 G25 Astina, Golf Style and Civic e:HEV L – and we expect the VZx flagship should remain around the current model's $63,000 drive-away mark. As for the new Leon Ve, it's more unclear. The pre-facelift VZe never got nationwide drive-away pricing like the non-PHEV models and, as such, commands a premium over the VZx once on-road costs are factored in. However, using the outgoing model's $61,690 RRP sticker as a guide and considering Australia's new emissions legislation as a guide, Cupra may be intending to really sharpen the pencil with its new entry-level plug-in hybrid. CarExpert expects the Leon Ve to start at around $50,000 before on-road costs, and for drive-away pricing (irrespective of a potential nationwide offer) to come in under $60,000. The e-Hybrid version would also give Cupra a unique point of difference within the VW Group locally, as well as the wider small passenger car segment, as no other vehicle at the mainstream or premium ends of the market currently offers a PHEV option – though the Peugeot 308 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class have previously. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead up to the new Cupra Leon's arrival in October. MORE: Explore the Cupra Leon showroom Content originally sourced from: The facelifted Cupra Leon Hatch will finally be launched in Australia in October, when it will be released in mild-hybrid entry-level and 221kW VZx flagship forms, before a 150kW 'Ve' plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant arrives early next year. Speaking with CarExpert at the local launch of the all-new Terramar mid-size SUV, Cupra Australia head of product Jeff Shafer confirmed the three-tier small-car range and said the decision to import the lower-output PHEV instead of the 200kW version is a case of "trying something different". "The hatchback is a bit of a smaller car. We want to look at where that lands in terms of price point," Mr Shafer said. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. It means the facelifted Leon range will look a little different to the outgoing lineup, which comprises 140kW V, 180kW VZ, 180kW VZe and 221kW VZx grades. The new Leon S mHEV will form the lowest rung on the ladder, powered by the Volkswagen Group's 1.5 eTSI four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance. Making 110kW and 250Nm, it's the same powertrain that just launched in the larger Terramar and already does service in the Audi A3 35 TFSI – both of which share the Leon's MQB evo underpinnings. Expect it to be something of an efficiency leader, too. While not a full hybrid like you'll find in a Toyota Corolla, the Leon Hatch 1.5 eTSI claims to consume just 5.3L/100km on the strict WLTP combined cycle based on UK specifications, and emits 122g/km of CO2. Driving the front wheels via a seven-speed 'DSG' dual-clutch automatic transmission, the mild-hybrid Leon accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 216km/h – the UK-spec Corolla Hatch 1.8L hybrid manages a 9.1-second sprint and consumes 4.4-4.7L/100km, for reference. Meanwhile, the new Leon Ve PHEV uses a 150kW version of the VW Group's second-gen PHEV system, which teams the 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine with an 85kW/330Nm electric motor and a 25.8kWh (gross) lithium-ion battery pack. It's the same running gear as the 200kW e-Hybrid, just with lower system outputs. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 7.7 seconds (versus 7.1 for the 200kW variant), with top speed listed at a claimed 220km/h (versus 229km/h). Thanks to its smaller wheel and tyre package globally, the 150kW Leon e-Hybrid offers a slightly longer WLTP-certified EV driving range (124-132km versus 121-122km) than its more powerful sibling, while both can be DC fast-charged at up to 50kW, which replenishes the battery from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 26 minutes. Mr Shafer didn't rule out the more powerful Leon Hatch PHEV entirely for Australia, but he did confirm the 200kW version as the launch drivetrain for the new Leon Sportstourer wagon, which is due in Australia around the same time. Sitting atop the hatchback range will be the carryover 221kW/400Nm VZx, which uses the same tune of the EA888 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo engine as the VW Golf GTI Clubsport that forbidden fruit for the Australian market. The performance flagship dashes from 0-100km/h in a swift 5.7 seconds (claimed), on its way to a top speed of 250km/h. Mr Shafer didn't let on much about potential pricing and specifications, but we're expecting the Spanish brand to go hard on value to reassert itself in the premium small passenger car segment. The Leon Hatch range originally started from $49,190 drive-away for the 140kW Leon V for model year 2024, but that has since been revised to $39,265 drive-away based on current advertised run-out offers. A mid-$40,000 drive-away starting price would put the Leon S mHEV in the thick of high-spec mainstream and low-spec premium competition – think Corolla ZR, Mazda 3 G25 Astina, Golf Style and Civic e:HEV L – and we expect the VZx flagship should remain around the current model's $63,000 drive-away mark. As for the new Leon Ve, it's more unclear. The pre-facelift VZe never got nationwide drive-away pricing like the non-PHEV models and, as such, commands a premium over the VZx once on-road costs are factored in. However, using the outgoing model's $61,690 RRP sticker as a guide and considering Australia's new emissions legislation as a guide, Cupra may be intending to really sharpen the pencil with its new entry-level plug-in hybrid. CarExpert expects the Leon Ve to start at around $50,000 before on-road costs, and for drive-away pricing (irrespective of a potential nationwide offer) to come in under $60,000. The e-Hybrid version would also give Cupra a unique point of difference within the VW Group locally, as well as the wider small passenger car segment, as no other vehicle at the mainstream or premium ends of the market currently offers a PHEV option – though the Peugeot 308 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class have previously. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest in the lead up to the new Cupra Leon's arrival in October. MORE: Explore the Cupra Leon showroom Content originally sourced from:
