Expanding electrification: a flurry of innovations to debut
The market landscape is populated with cars with different levels of hybridisation. Among the cars being launched is the second generation T-Roc, Volkswagen's first full hybrid.
Watchword: electrified. An adjective that sums up the main feature of company car fleets, where electric cars are struggling to take off and, on the contrary, electrified cars continue to be increasingly present. The term electrified leaves room for a wide range of technologies, from light hybrid models to plug-in hybrids with over 100 kilometres in all-electric mode.
Among the recent debuts awaited by fleet managers is the Volkswagen T-Roc, now in its second generation, becoming larger, more connected and above all, finally, hybrid. The new model built on the Mqb Evo platform makes a leap upwards starting with its dimensions increased by 12 centimetres to a total of 4.37 metres, its wheelbase increased to 2,631 mm (+28 mm) and a new front and tail design that follows the style introduced by the latest generation Tiguan. At the front, completely new LED headlights make their debut, available in the Matrix Iq.Light version which, like the LED Plus headlights that come as standard in the most comprehensive equipment, are linked by a thin LED crossbar and an illuminated Vw logo.
Stepping inside we find the Tiguan and Tayron derivative's ambience, starting with the large 12.9-inch central screen from which to operate the Mib4 infotainment system with ChatGpt. At launch, two mild hybrid (eTsi) 116 and 150 bhp drivetrains will be available exclusively with seven-speed Dsg gearboxes. Goodbye then to the manual transmission, underlining the higher positioning.
The second series of the T-Roc is clearly aimed at fleets, as are models announced recently and due to arrive next year such as the sixth generation Renault Clio, which is relaunching the hybrid challenge in the B segment with an E-Tech Full Hybrid engine with 160 horsepower, in common with the Dacia Bigster, another car that is a candidate for a prominent place in company fleets. This is a sector in which brands such as Hyundai are also betting, hitherto unimportant but now aiming to compete with the electrified cars of the Volkswagen group, the latter increasingly present in the 'super hybrid' category with a long list of models from the various brands with over 100 kilometres of autonomy in fully electric mode, starting with the Audi A3 Allstreet at 138 km, Skoda Superb at 135 km, Volkswagen Passat at 133 km and Cupra Leon at 131 km.
Electrified engines have also become a common denominator at Stellantis, starting with the third-generation Compass ready to hit the road in combination with mild hybrid, all-electric and later at launch also phev powertrains. Specifically, under the bonnet of the Compass will come the puretech 3-cylinder 1.2 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain with 145 horsepower and the 1.6 plug-in hybrid with 195 horsepower. The electric Compass will be offered with two batteries, starting with the 74 kWh rear-wheel-drive version with 213 horsepower.
