On August 31, 2018 (the 21st) Chengdu International Automobile Exhibition kicked off. Volkswagen brand world's first plug-in hybrid SUV Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version unveiled at the 5th Hall of Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, announced the start of pre-sale in eight major cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version uses leading hybrid technology, combining high performance with low fuel consumption, demonstrating the latest achievements of SAIC Volkswagen in the fields of innovation and new energy.




Eight years ago, SAIC Volkswagen took the lead in the Chinese SUV market, and debuted on the way to the SUV. To date, the Tiguan brand has been trusted by more than 1.8 million owners and has consistently won the domestic joint venture SUV market for many years. As the country's new energy policy has gradually landed, energy-saving and low-cost travel has gradually become the mainstream consciousness of the masses. SAIC Volkswagen has a deep understanding of the market dynamics, accelerating the strategic layout of the new energy market, and launching the Volkswagen brand's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid SUV in China – the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version, which brings together Volkswagen's leading new energy technologies. And the superior product gene of Tiguan, while enjoying the new energy policies provided by the state, providing new choices for consumers who consider both dynamic performance and energy conservation.

Add exclusive design to enjoy new energy identity

The exterior design of the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version continues the strong style of Tiguan L, while the changes in detail highlight its unique identity. The front face is completely renewed, and the newly designed upper grille is inlaid with a blue PHEV logo. The newly designed C-shaped LED daytime running lights are stylish and representative, representing the future new energy design direction of the public. The side lines of the new car are smooth and slender, and the PHEV logo with the prominent identity is added to the front fenders on both sides. The unique low-resistance wheel shape is cool and dynamic. The tail profile design is three-dimensional, and the delicate tail trims are encased in a sporty style that enriches the visuals of the tail. The exclusive PHEV logo emphasizes a different identity.


The interior design of the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version is exquisite, and the geometric design of the tough panel and air conditioning vents echoes the strong and tough appearance. The newly designed instrument for the PHEV model displays exclusive information such as battery life, and is stylish and feature-rich. The PHEV logo on the welcome pedal and shifting cover reveals the exquisite details of the interior. The ambient light of the whole car is LED light source, which makes the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version of the interior noble and dynamic. Panorama panoramic electric sunroof, with a glass area of ​​1.18 square meters, provides more light and a wide view for the occupants.


Hybrid technology hits the new energy security benchmark

Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version uses a high-performance ternary lithium battery, high-efficiency integrated motor, intelligent electronic control management system and EA211 1.4TSI high-power engine hybrid system, with DQ400e 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, comprehensive battery life The mileage is up to 862KM, of which the pure electric range is 52KM, the maximum power and maximum torque are up to 155kW and 400Nm respectively, and the maximum speed can reach 200km/h. Depending on the motor characteristics, the hybrid can output powerful torque at the start of acceleration, with an acceleration time of only 8.1 seconds per 100 kilometers and a fuel consumption of 1.9L at a comprehensive operating condition.

In terms of battery safety that consumers are most concerned about, SAIC Volkswagen implements stringent German high-level safety standards, and the battery system fully verifies the reliability of the battery through 169 extreme safety tests such as acupuncture and fire. Excellent safety performance adds safety to driving safety and sets a new safety benchmark for new energy fields.

At the same time, Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version offers a variety of driving mode options, E-mode mode is zero fuel consumption pure electric mode; hybrid mode has excellent fuel economy, excellent performance and high cruising range; battery retention mode can be Maintaining the battery power at the set value saves power and provides conditions for pure electric driving in subsequent congested conditions; the battery charging mode can charge the high-energy battery while driving, achieving “self-sufficiency”; GTE mode allows Consumers enjoy the driving pleasure.

Pre-sale hot start instantly enjoy multiple benefits

It is reported that the pre-sale of Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version will be opened in 8 cities in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Xi'an and Chengdu. Consumers can enjoy national subsidies and local subsidies, and exclusive new energy. A number of new energy exclusive privileges such as road rights, national tax exemption policy, exclusive policies for new energy licenses, Sanpower warrants and brand insurance packages. From now on to the market, consumers can complete online reservations at SAIC-Volkswagen's official mall. Successful consumers will enjoy the pre-sale privileges of new cars, including priority car picking, nationwide city tasting test drive priority invitation, pre-enjoyment Charging wall box installation instructions and survey services.

At this auto show, the Volkswagen brand's heavy new car and forward-looking technology complement each other, bringing a wonderful feast of car culture to the audience. As the first mass-produced new energy model of Volkswagen brand in China, the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version has made SAIC Volkswagen's layout in the new energy field enter a new stage.

The 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

The Ford Fusion will probably be the last conventional four-door sedan the Ford Motor Company builds.  By now you've likely heard the news that over the next two years, Ford will end production of most of its passenger cars. The Fiesta, Focus and Fusion are goners.  Market forces at work. The trend is sharply away from three-box (hood, passenger compartment, trunk) cars.

The Ford portfolio in North America will consist of the F-150 and larger (F-250, F-350, etc.) pickups, the Expedition SUV, crossovers, a crossover variant of the Focus called the Focus Active, and the Mustang.

Word is the Fusion will outlast the Fiesta and Focus by a few months, making it the last one out the door.  But it will go with head held high.  This generation Fusion is the best, and I'll go so far as to say the best sedan Ford has ever built.

2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi interior.

From sleek exterior styling to a roomy, comfort-filled, nicely appointed interior, Ford's last shot at the American sedan is the one that finally hit the bulls-eye.  I just happened to be spending a week in the 2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi when the news of the product realignment came, making it all the more clear that, for the shrinking number of us who appreciate a truly good sedan, Ford's making one right now.

Energi is the plug-in hybrid model, giving you 20 miles of pure electric range on a full charge before switching to hybrid gas/electric mode.   If you drive less than 20 miles in a day and always charge it, you could go months before an unexpected trip causes you to use a single drop of gasoline.  With a 50-mile roundtrip commute and no charging station at my office, that's not me...but still, the Energi took gasoline out of the equation for 40 percent of the daily drive, and delivered stellar fuel economy (EPA estimate 42 mpg) in hybrid mode.  The combined MPGe, factoring in both electric and hybrid operation, is 97.

Fusion Energis can be had for as little as $31,400 in SE trim, but our tester was the top-of-the line Platinum, which begins at $41,305.  For that extra almost ten grand, you get a lot of luxury-level niceties, including:

• Configurable daytime running lamps.
• Auto-dimming driver's side mirror.
• Bright exhaust tips.
• LED fog lamps.
• Automatic high beams.
• LED headlamps.
• Heated, manually-folding dual power mirrors with memory and turn signal indicators.
• Power moonroof.
• Security approach lamps.
• LED taillamps.
• Rain-sensing wipers.
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
• Aluminium sport pedals.
• Dual-zone electronic automatic climate control.
• Heated/cooled 10-way power adjustable front seats with memory for the driver.
• Rotary gear shift dial.
• Premium leather seats.
• Two smart-chargins USB ports.
• Premium leather-wrapped heated steering wheel.
• One-touch power windows.
• A 12-speaker Sony audio system.
• Blind spot information.
• Enhanced active park assist.
• Intelligent access with pushbutton start.
• Lane-keeping system.
• Rearview camera.
• Remote start.
• Reverse sensing system.
• Smartgauge with EcoGuide.
• Eight-inch touchscreen.
• SYNC with Apple CarPlay.
• Universal garage door opener.
• Voice-activated navigation.
• With that much content in the standard equipment column, the available options are few---our tested had 18-inch machined-aluminum pocket wheels ($695) and rear inflatable safety belts ($225).

2018 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

Last year, the big news from Hyundai was the introduction of its Prius-fighter Ioniq Hybrid.  Now, for 2018, there's a plug-in version---and we like it better than the original.

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

We liked the '17 Ioniq just fine, apart from being unable to get close to the EPA fuel economy estimate in our tester.  But we had no such problems with the Plug-In Hybrid.

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid.

The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid delivers 29 miles of pure electric range before the gas/electric hybrid system takes over.  My commute is 25 miles each way, so 29 out of every 50 mile daily roundtrip was done without using a drop of gas.  That allowed me to finish the week, which involved about 300 miles of driving, with an average fuel economy of 62.5 miles per gallon.  Nice stuff.

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid interior.

Also nice is the fit, finish and level of equipment in our tester.  The Ioniq Plug-In starts at $24,950, but our tester was the Limited, which adds blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert and leather seating surfaces to the standard equipment of the base model, no slouch itself with proximity key, pushbutton start and a seven-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a backup camera.  Base price for the Limited is $28,300.

Our tester also had the Ultimate Package ($3,750), which adds a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, automatic emergency braking, smart cruise control, lane keep assist, headlights with dynamic bending light function, rear parking sensors, navigation (which then upgrades the audio screen to eight inches), an upgraded eight-speaker Infinity premium audio system with Clari-Fi Music Restoration technology , Qi wireless device charging and carpeted floormats. 

Bottom line is $32,050---which for the level of equipment---is more than competitive with the Toyota Prius Prime.  The Prime cost $4,031 more.  It does beat the Ioniq in MPGe figures, but four grand is four grand...and the Ioniq is a much nicer car to look at than the current-generation Prius.

The 2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid.

I am rapidly becoming a fan of plug-in hybrids.  Here's my reasoning:

2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid charging port.

2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid Eco gauge.

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime.

With hybrid sales in general---and the Prius' in particular---down, it might seem like dark days for this segment.  But the Toyota Prius Prime is a brilliant vehicle.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime.

Three months ago, I wrote how the current Prius is the best ever, let down largely by gas prices and polarizing styling.  The Prius Prime is the best of the best, and a huge leap over its predecessor, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

Greater battery capacity means a 26-percent improvement in mileage.  The Prius Prime's EPA estimate is 133 MPGe, which rockets it to the top of the TireKicker's Top 10 Fuel Savers list on the right side of this page.  The old plug-in Prius was number eight with 95 MPGe.

That extra battery capacity means you can go farther and faster on purely electric power.  The EV range is now 25 miles at speeds of up to 84 miles per hour, making it more likely that you can get through a typical day without using a drop of gasoline.  And if you do have to use more than electricity, the combination of that pure EV range and the improved hybrid estimate of 55 city/53 highway means a total range of 640 miles.  That is a staggering number for a small passenger car.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime interior.

Our test vehicle was the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced, which starts at $33,100 and includes rain-sensing windshield wipers, quad-LED auto on-off headlights, LED fog lights and accent lights, heated power outside mirrors, an 11.6-inch HD multimedia display with a 10-speaker premium JBL audio system with navigation, a backup camera and the Entune app suite.  There's also a new color head-up display, Softex-trimmed heated front seats, pushbutton start and Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging.  Those of us who own iPhones must go to the aftermarket for Qi-compatible cases or charging adaptors.

Our test vehicle also had options, including the universal tablet holder ($99), illuminated door sills ($299), alloy wheel locks ($65), paint protection film ($395), 15-inch alloy wheels ($899) and a glass breakage sensor ($359).

With $865 delivery processing and handling fee, the as-tested price was $36,081.  Which is not that much more than loaded Priuses that don't offer the range of the Prime.  Gasoline prices may be low now, but that will not always be the case.  The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime's glory days may be ahead.

The 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

I said it about eight years ago on this very eight-and-a-half-year-old website:  The market for alternative power (hybrids, plug-ins) is not in little boxes that get great fuel economy with a gasoline engine.  It's with larger cars that experience a big jump in mileage when you apply the tech.

Case in point: The 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

2017 Ford Fusion Platinum Energi.

The Ford Fusion is a family sedan, doing battle with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Mazda 6, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat and Subaru Legacy.  In its more basic trim levels, the Fusion is an economical choice, the SE the Phoenix Bureau tested two years ago ringing in at $27,890 and getting an EPA-estimated 25 city/37 highway from its 175 horsepower 2.5-liter four.

Those are some impressive numbers in this car's size class.  The only way to improve on them in a Fusion are the Fusion Hybrid (which the Phoenix Bureau will be reviewing in a few days) or the Fusion Energi, a plug-in hybrid.

The advantage to the plug-in?  A bigger battery pack than the Fusion Hybrid, allowing for 22 miles of range on pure electric power before the hybrid gas/electric powerplant kicks in. If you drive less than 22 miles a day, and plug it in every night, you can go a long time before touching a drop of the fuel in your tank.  And, unlike a pure electric, it won't leave you stranded as long as you remember to actually buy gas when the needle heads for "E".

Also nifty:  A charge from your home wall socket only takes about five hours.  Two and a half if you have 240-volt capability.  And that's because you're charging for 22 miles of range, not 100 as in some pure electrics that need 14 to 16 hours to charge.

The EPA gives the Fusion Energi two estimates:  97 MPG combined city/highway electric equivalent, and, for those of you who get lazy and don't always plug in, a straight 42 MPG when the battery pack is at zero and you're driving it as a normal hybrid (that's the same EPA estimate the Fusion Hybrid gets).

2017 Ford Fusion Energi interior.

For 2017, all Fusions get an exterior and interior freshening that give the car a more premium feel while reducing its dependence on its Aston Martin-influenced styling.  It works.  As does the Fusion Energi in daily driving.  My office is 24 miles from my home, so I dipped into the fuel tank two miles before arriving at work and drove home in hybrid mode during the week I had our tester.  And while driving, the Energi is gimmick-free, unless you're watching the eco-related gauges.  It feels and drives like a smooth, comfortable family sedan.

The Fusion Platinum Energi has a base price of $41,120.  That's because the Platinum trim level brings with it some very nice standard equipment, including dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, a power moonroof and a suite of safety features including blind spot information, enhanced active park assist, lane keeping and pre-collision assist.

And that's where the tab stops, save for $875 in destination and delivery charges...making the bottom line $41,995.  But that's before the Fusion Energi Discount right there on the window sticker, so the real bottom line comes to $39,995.  A reasonable price for what you get.  And if your daily commute is less than 22 miles, the gasoline savings could be considerable.