The fastest growing segment of Autos in the small SUV. Consumers are tending more and more to favour an SUV compared to a salon car. Estates only account for a small share of the market as the SUV continues to crush all in front of it.
Like make vendors Vauxhall has seen the light and is entering the Plug In SUV world. The success of the Plug In Outlander shows the demand is there especially with company tax system. Even if the Government stupidly messed with the Road Tax for Plug Ins.
In a fit of complete madness the UK Government makes no Road Fund Tax allowance for Plug Ins.
So what do we have from Vauxhall, now part of the French PSA alliance.
Well the new Grandland X Hybrid4 is Vauxhall’s first-ever plug-in hybrid and features state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology. The car’s powertrain comprises a 200hp, 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric drive system with two electric motors (combined output 109hp), all-wheel drive and a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery. Together, the petrol engine and electric motors produce up to 300hp, and offer a combined fuel consumption of 128mpg, emitting just 49g/km CO2.
The petrol engine is Euro 6d-TEMP-compliant, and has been specially engineered for the hybrid powertrain. The front electric motor is coupled to an electrified eight-speed automatic transmission, while the second motor and differential are integrated into the electrically-powered rear axle, providing all-wheel traction on demand.
The Grandland X Hybrid4 offers four driving modes – electric, hybrid, AWD and Sport. In pure electric mode, the car has a range of 30 miles (according to WLTP1). In hybrid mode, the car automatically selects the most efficient method of propulsion. When travelling at low speeds within cities, for example, the system switches to electric mode for zero-emission driving.
Fast, easy and convenient charging
The Grandland X Hybrid4 comes with a 3.3kW on-board charger for 16 Amp charging, with an optional 6.6kW version also available offering 32 Amp charging. Vauxhall will also offer devices for fast charging at public stations, as well as wallboxes at home. With a 7.4kW wallbox, customers can fully charge the battery in less than two hours.
To make charging even more convenient, owners of the Grandland X Hybrid4 will benefit from more than 85,000 charging points across Europe, as part of Vauxhall’s Free2Move Services. This also includes a trip planner, which suggests the best routes based on the car’s remaining range and highlights the location of charging stations along the way. The Navi 5.0 IntelliLink infotainment system, available as standard, guides drivers to the selected charging station.
See images of the Grandland X.
Vauxhall goes Electric
The Grandland X Hybrid4 reinforces Vauxhall’s dedication to electrifying its entire product portfolio by 2024. Later this year, the fully battery electric version of the next-generation Corsa will go on sale. This will be followed by the new Vivaro Life MPV, new Vivaro LCV and the successor to the Mokka X – all of which will feature a fully electric versions.
Learn more
See Vauxhall website to learn more about the Plug In SUV.