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What is it?

This is the Volkswagen Touareg hybrid. It’s Volkswagen’s first real go at petrol-electric hybrid drive, although it will a while before you can buy a Touareg hybrid. This drivetrain - a 323bhp petrol V6 from Audi and an eight-speed automatic - won’t feature in the current Touareg, but will be launched in the next-generation model, due in 2010.

In the VW Touareg hybrid there’s a 38kw (51bhp) motor powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack mounted undernea...Read the full article

Autocar:

In the VW Touareg hybrid there’s a 38kw (51bhp) motor powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery

- wonder why they went for a NiMH battery and not the supposedly superior Lithium Ion.

And I wonder why they stuck it in a chuffing great brick.

Actually, it's simple - cynical marketing/PR.

 Pity, detracts from their take on it all.  Let's see it at work in a Passat.

Other drawbacks? By employing a disengagement clutch, The VW Touareg hybrid is to use its petrol engine to charge the batteries while the car is running on electric power.

 So what is the drawback is it able or unable to charge the batteries?

Poor subbing on this one I think.

Presumably they chuck out these SUV hybrids because an extra 300kg/£10000 on an already stupidly heavy/expensive car isn't going to make too much difference. I guess a golf or passat would collapse under the weight.