With a new CEO, Volkswagen has changed its hybrid plans, and now the first vehicle to use the automaker’s petrol-electric hybrid system will be the Touareg, according to Automobilwoche.

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VW’s new CEO Martin Winterkorn changed the plans of its former boss Bernd Pischetsrieder, who originally said the automaker’s first gas-electric would be a hybrid version of the Jetta, which would arrive by 2008, reports Trend.


Winterkorn states that the $2,000+ hybrid premium is too much for VW in the competitive compact segment. VW believes that diesel is a better option for compact cars like the Golf/Rabbit and Jetta given the price and fuel efficiency gains.


Under the new plan, the hybrid Touareg will be followed by a hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne.

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