Volkswagen’s Jetta Hybrid becomes world’s fastest hybrid

Posted 17th August, 2012 in Volkswagen | Leave a comment

Volkswagen’s Jetta Hybrid has impressed onlookers during this year’s Speed Week event at Bonneville Salt Flats, near Wendover, achieving a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h); a new record for production-based hybrids at the iconic location.

Piloted by by Motor Trend’s Associate Road Test Editor Carlos Lago, the Jetta’s powertrain has been tweaked by Volkswagen R&D in Wolfsburg in accordance with SCTA rules, with further modifications carried out by California’s A-Salt Racing and Advanced Product Engineering in order to run the car safely on the salt.

Powering the Jetta is a 1.4-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine, developing 110 kW (148 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb/ft), along with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor.

“The Jetta Hybrid Land Speed Record project shows both the sporty nature of our Hybrid offering and the technical excellence of our engineers in Wolfsburg and in the Test Center California,” said Volkswagen’s Marc Trahan.