Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Sets Bonneville Record for Fastest Hybrid

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took a modified Jetta HybridVolkswagen Jetta HybridGermany, 2012 > present5 photos
to the Bonneville Salt Flats during the Speed Week last week and set a new record time for a hybrid vehicle. The modified Jetta managed an average speed over two runs of 185.394 mph (298.363km/h). Motor Trend Associate Road Test Editor Carlos Lago drove it.

The car had to be modified by Volkswagen in Wolfsburg to achieve the high speed, but it is still the fastest a production-based hybrid car has ever gone on the salt flats. 

The standard Jetta Hybrid uses a 1.4-liter TSI engine with 150hp and an electric motor with 27hp. Both are linked to a seven-speed DSG. The car will go on sale in the US in October, but VW has not revealed fuel economy information yet. It claims that it will get 45mpg on the highway. 

“It was a real challenge to integrate the complex hybrid elements and generate the power needed to run at these speeds. The Jetta Hybrid Land Speed Record project shows both the sporty nature of our Hybrid offering and the technical excellence of our engineers in Wolfsburg and in the Test Center California,” said Marc Trahan, Vice President of Quality at VW.