Volkswagen to adopt ‘self charging’ hybrid tech

Volkswagen is gearing up to introduce a full-hybrid powertrain for the first time, with the second-gen T-Roc set to debut at the Munich motor show in September.

This marks a shift in the German brand’s electrification strategy as it adapts to the reality of slower-than-anticipated EV sales. The new hybrid setup takes a leaf out of Toyota’s book, using a combination of an internal combustion engine, electric motor, and battery pack to boost efficiency and performance.

Under the bonnet, the petrol engine is expected to be a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, working in tandem with the electric motor to drive the wheels. It’ll also double as a generator to keep the battery topped up, enabling short bursts of pure-electric driving. 

This tech is a departure from Volkswagen’s current hybrid lineup, which includes plug-in hybrids requiring external charging and mild hybrids that only provide an electric boost but can’t run in full-EV mode.

It won’t be just the T-Roc getting this new hybrid system either. The Golf and Skoda Octavia are also on the list, with more models likely to follow. Volkswagen’s MQB Evo platform underpins a variety of models across the VW Group, meaning the hybrid drivetrain could find its way into the likes of the Tiguan, Passat, Tayron, Audi A3, Seat/Cupra Leon and Formentor, and Skoda Scala, Kodiaq, and Superb.

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Volkswagen’s hybrid models will carry HEV badging, confirming their electric-assisted credentials. And while hybrid tech is on the rise, diesel isn’t disappearing just yet—Volkswagen says key models will still offer diesel options for the foreseeable future. However, its long-term fate will depend on market demand and the uptake of these new hybrids.

The German giant is putting big money into this transition, committing €60 billion (£51.5bn) towards internal combustion engine development, including hybridisation, by 2028.

The new T-Roc will be the first HEV to roll out, landing in the UK next year alongside petrol and diesel variants.