Volkswagen sows doubt with its universal electric platform and an internal combustion engine

One might have thought that after a century and a few decades, the German giant Volkswagen would operate on a straight highway, without traffic jams or absurd detours. But no, this time they surprise us with something worthy of a rather mediocre magic trick: a universal electric platform which, hold on tight, also features a combustion engine. As if putting all their eggs in one basket wasn't enough, they decide to juggle with tradition while trying to flirt with the electric future. If this isn't modern mobility in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" mode, what is it?

A car that doesn’t know where it’s going

Four years after announcing its electric hub, the famous SSP (Scalable Systems Platform), Volkswagen realizes a small detour is needed. Originally, everything was supposed to be ready and operational, but between the brakes imposed by the software division Cariad and the urgent need to stand out in this ocean of embellished vehicles, it seems that the journey has turned into an obstacle course. This reminds us of the gloomy times of its famous breakdowns, doesn’t it?

Combustion engines? Just for show.

It is fascinating to note that in this great mix, the combustion engine will only serve, brace yourselves, as a generator. A clever way to fill a vast void while reaching into the wallet for long trips. Reminiscent of designs from brands like Nissan with its e-Power system, where one barely touches the engine, Volkswagen seems keen to dance on the fragile line between tradition and innovation. Certainly, VW’s engineers are likely rewriting the script for a horror movie: “A car that charms gasoline without ever using it”!

An architecture for all tastes

Let’s talk a bit about this architecture that, we are told, will cover all segments of the market. The intention to bring this platform into models ranging from city cars to a bulky family SUV is commendable. Just imagine the electric Golf, the little black sheep of manufacturers, soon replaced by an armada of variants but with the same soul. Meanwhile, the engineers are having fun sketching silhouettes, drumming on their desks hoping not to have forgotten to connect the electricity in the right place.

Hybrids in Europe, a bit like chocolate with chili?

The Europeans, seemingly more clear-headed, appear to be taking a more pragmatic route. With plug-in hybrids on the shelves, CEO Thomas Schäfer asserts that range extenders cost an arm and a leg without providing the comfort of true autonomy. A good piece of advice, unless the goal is to awaken the anxiety of never finding a charging station in time. One must believe that the idea of a Volkswagen running wild with a gasoline engine in the trunk is starting to make everyone laugh.

A delicately planned revolution

As for the true star of future models, the electric Golf, it will make its appearance by the end of the decade. In the meantime, its thermal version will continue on, like an old lion in a savanna, until the 2030s. Production will be split between Germany and Mexico, like an automotive version of a grand game of musical chairs.

The giant prepares for the show-stopper

In the meantime, Oliver Blume, the current CEO, promises the development of a masterpiece suited for the future. The SSP platform should be the quantitative measure that places Volkswagen as a contender for technological supremacy. But let’s not kid ourselves; executing this “revolution” is a bit like hoping that coffee becomes hot again after a night in the fridge. The stakes are compartmentalized, and a change in technology can mean the loss of a market that other newcomers, like Tesla, have already devoured.

As doubt settles on what this unusual coupling of electric and thermal really means, one question remains: Could Volkswagen be bringing to market a car that doesn’t really know what it wants to be? Are we going to see this innovation entering a new era, or are we doomed to live in this automotive anachronism? Time will tell, but in the meantime, cheers to the tenacity of a valiant-hearted Volkswagen amidst this grand construction project!

Source: rouleur-electrique.fr

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