[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJjby2_toLU[/youtube]
Ready to sample some currently forbidden fruit? Today it arrives in the form of the Volkswagen Golf GTE. No, that’s not a typo. This is a GTI… plug-in hybrid, and it’s been available in Europe since 2014.
Pay attention to this car though, fans of the VW brand, as this could be the path to a non-diesel salvation for the brand.
[Disclaimer: Volkswagen tossed us the keys to the Golf GTE for a few days, and included a full tank of gas in the car. We barely dipped into that fuel tank. Seriously, why aren’t they selling this here yet?]
Volkswagen Golf GTE: Your Electrified GTI
By Jeff Glucker
Mar 18, 2016
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
William Byrd 
Kamil Kaluski
Holy crap that’s a big car! When you first entered stage right my mind took a second to catch that you were right next to it and not back in the distance a little bit. It’s only six inches shorter than an old first generation Chrysler minivan, and the width is only an inch different.
The only reason I can think of as to why they’re not selling it in the US is that it may cannibalise sales from the e-Golf, which is an excellent CAFE average number reducer now that the TDis are (possibly indefinitely) off the market.
They actually are selling it here… as the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.
That’s probably why they’re not selling it here with a VW badge.
They went to plaid! Glad to see VW still does that.