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Volkswagen to Launch Hybrid Beetle at 2011 Detroit Auto Show

by Caleb Johnson on August 11, 2010 at 05:50 PM

Hybrid VW

Next year, Volkswagen's most recognizable, dome-shaped classic will be getting a redesign. According to Autoblog Green, VW plans to debut a Beetle with a hybrid powertrain and a new exterior design at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. The car's specs should be similar to the New Compact Coupe (NCC) that VW revealed last year. That vehicle carried a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four cylinder engine, a 20-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. All in all, it packed 177 horsepower and 110 pounds of torque, while averaging about 45 miles-per-gallon -- not bad for a car most people want to cuddle. Autoblog Green reports that the hybrid Beetle will at least match those numbers, and could even improve upon them. VW has established itself at the forefront of cutting-edge car tech, whether it's this 'green' Bug or a super-sleek car that reads road signs. [From: Autoblog Green, via: Fast Company]

Tags: auto, car, CarTech, green, hybrid, HybridCars, top, volkswagen, VolkswagenBeetle

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