Volkswagen charges up new Passat GTE for the trip to Paris

We all know that the letters GT stand for Gran Turismo, but tacking on another letter can evoke a different meaning altogether. GTO for Ferraris (or Pontiacs), GT-R for Nissan supercars, GTA for high-performance Alfa Romeos (or car-theft video games, or metropolitan Toronto)... The list goes on and on, but few are as familiar with the idea as Volkswagen, which uses the letters GTI for hot hatches, GTD for their diesel counterparts, and most recently, GTE for plug-in hybrids. VW introduced the nomenclature with the Golf GTE earlier this year, and is now following up with the Passat GTE you see here. It packs a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.4-liter turbo four producing 154 horsepower and an electric motor good for another 114 hp, channeled to the front wheels through a six-speed DSG for a combined output of 215 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. In electric-only mode, it'll reach 80 mph and take you as far as 31 miles. That's more juice than the Golf GTE, but in the larger Passat delivers similar performance: 0-62 in under eight seconds and a top speed in excess of 136 miles per hour. In electric-only mode, it'll reach 80 mph and take you as far as 31 miles. But with both motors running, and both the 13-gallon fuel tank and the lithium-ion battery topped off, it'll travel up to 1,000 kilometers. That's the equivalent of 622 miles - more than the Golf GTE and more than enough to send the plug-in Passat from London to its debut in Paris and back again (or all the way from Detroit to New York) all without stopping at a single charging or gas station along the way. Set to launch in the second half of next year, the Passat GTE will be available in both sedan and wagon forms. But since this is based on the European model, we're not holding our breath for its transatlantic voyage to North American showrooms. Hypermilers will just have to hope that VW will offer a model with a similar system Stateside in the near future.

Ducati Scrambler finally makes its official debut

After months of teasing, Ducati is finally premiering the 2015 Scrambler at the Intermot 2014 motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany, but this reinterpreted retro bike doesn't actually hit the streets until January of 2015, so there's still some waiting to do. It will be offered in four trims that are each slightly tweaked to appeal to those looking for vintage style, modern usability or a mix of both. Ducati Scrambler IconThe latest Scrambler harkens back to the simple, single-cylinder Ducati models of the '60s and '70s, before the brand absolutely cemented its focus on performance. Unlike a superbike, this is supposed to be very easy to ride with wide handle bars, a long seat and upright riding position. The company calls the new design "post-heritage" because it marries the original shape with modern execution. The styling features an exposed, trellis frame and intricately bundled exhaust pipes from Ducati's current range. However, the single big headlight (now LED powered) and teardrop fuel tank scream old-school. Depending on how buyers want that styling, there are four trims to choose from. Icon is the basic layout mixing old and new cues. Urban Enduro goes for a dirt bike look with a big front fender over the tire. The Full Throttle is simple and unadorned, and the Classic goes fully towards the vintage. Power for all of them comes from a fuel-injected, 803cc, oil- and air-cooled L-twin engine with two valves per cylinder rated at 74 horsepower and 50 pound-feet of torque. That's linked up to a six-speed gearbox and a chain drives the rear wheel. The whole bike weighs in at 375 pounds dry or 410 pounds with fluids and fuel. ABS is standard. The Icon is launching first in January in red for $8,495 in the US (add an extra $100 for yellow). The Full Throttle, Urban Enduro and Classic trims will all go on sale later for $9,995. Scroll down to read the full release about the latest Ducati, and check out the gallery to see all of the models, including the complete specs.