World's Fastest Hybrid Returns! - The Downshift Episode 43

[@galaxyfz]

I'm interested in seeing more behind the scenes video of what went in to building a 1.4L Jetta Hybrid that can do 300KM/H and how that car would perform on the street

[@MotorTrendWatch]

We're so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting us know!

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many thanks!

[@doctorzaius4084]

Awesome car, awesome project!! I'd love to see all the really gritty details of this build.

[@39LW]

QUALITY VIDEO!! LOVED THE WAY THE ENDING WAS DONE!!!! GOOD WORK MOTOR TREND!!

[@Manguitas27]

I imagine myself going 299km/h in a car and i think: WOW. That's amazing. Well done Carlos and the Team of course.

[@Steel86Curtain]

0:33 Carlos got some serious No Shave November action right there.

[@gcavy1]

The only thing I didn't understand, and the same with the last episode about this, is how the hybrid powertrain actually played into the equation? Were they able to use the electric powertrain to gain speed in anyway? What tweaks did they make to it? Or was it basically dead weight in this situation?

[@CarKeysUKOfficial]

Love the presentation of this video - good work!

[@Hiluxtaco]

Congrats on breaking the record!

[@TonyTube407]

Carlos Lago, world record! Congratulations!!

[@Catrik]

It would have been interesting to know what all little modifications were done, for example to the aerodynamics. The ice cubes in the intercooler was interesting also :)

[@AHAUGHT]

Great editing on this episode. TV quality.

[@nerdlydood]

My gut reaction to a hybrid is "eww" but if you've got to replace the battery in a Prius, you've done something to seriously screw it up. It's one of the most reliable cars around these days, and even apart from the hybridness, it's just a great car - roomy for its size, tons of cargo room since it's a well-designed hatchback, comfortable, etc.

[@averagejoeusername]

I like Leiberman's reviews. He's a no nonsense, no BS kinda guy.

[@bisblue]

It's called the roadmap for evolution - without pushing stuff to the limits, technologies become stale and close the door for the next step.Proof of concept

[@Terraceview]

It's just the name, Lago even says "we cracked up the boost to try for 200mph".

[@2008calander]

Too much hugs and kisses and not enough tire smoke.

[@SpecialKLSX]

Did you not pay any attention to the midway mark of the vid where they were discussing aerodynamics? There's some serious R&D being done there on a very restrictive budget.

[@marvingreen8047]

Until you push the boundrys you truly don't know what the limits are. Makes a strong market statement!!!

[@Raptor50aus]

I wonder if the jetta burns oil like the golf and polo gti do and the twin clutch gearbox problem

[@Grotskii]

Because you can have both the electric motor and the engine running at the same time and add the power together to make it more powerful than just the engine.

[@Rob_Fe]

I'm pretty sure the ice to water intercooler will take care of some warmer weather

[@NeilParkerTX]

Congrats!

[@ncneeds]

Good thing you did not have that Sasquatch styled beard when driving. That thing weighs a ton and you would not have broken the speed record. Great video Chewbacca!

[@dOOmsterdam]

what was the final power output of the 1.4L engine?

[@williammurphy666]

the most impressive thing in the videi isnt the fact that you broke the record, or even if its a jetta beating some of the most expen cars in tghe world.... it the beard on Carlos... Good value. PS my cousin is in love with you Jonny

[@dpt4565]

If they did it in the heat of summer, they would have got at least a couple mph extra. Cold air increases drag by as much as 30%.

[@trefod]

How did the hybrid system contribute? Or was it just a very, very turbo charged 1.4 with a non-functional hybrid system carried along?

[@gregaburo]

Good promo for VW. They definitely want to catch Toyota in that segment

[@MBAMG65]

"and the driver is... Carlos LEGO, I believe is the name"

[@xBris]

Sure, and airplanes made that even earlier. And I suppose mother earth is flying around space quite quickly as well. It's not about the absolute speed, it's about what we can do with our technology. And in that respect, 200 mph is just spectacular.

[@zzwildcat73zz]

was the electric motor still in the vehicle?

[@MrSwift05]

Great video and a great team :-)

[@waveman1500]

Why do you need brakes? You have a low grip surface, smooth tyres, a parachute on the back and a couple of miles to slow down in.

[@invicta1313]

Indeed. They definitely should have set this video to "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors.

[@Ivannos92]

@Venim850 are you trying to say the jetta is better than the F40?

[@Films4Fun96]

Wow Carlos, looks like you definetely went for the no shave November :D

[@MrShNiTzE]

The battery is used for extra power. When he says boost, he means the electric system

[@MurderSTi]

I've experienced header wrap burning off. It's scary your first time.

[@TheLiquidKnight]

300km/h from a 1.4? Well done guys. :-)

[@39LW]

What a fantastic video!!!!!!!

[@MrMrabaunza]

You have to push the limits of technology if you ever want it to advance.

[@ndinadis]

it has an electric drive system just like any other, its just not used at high speeds, they outlined this in the first part

[@u_solutions_lv]

And what was fuel economy on that run? I guess it was about 20-25 liters per hundred KM

[@sshhaassaamm]

Nice job MT!

[@wsbill14224]

Sure it is. I don't think we disagree. They used good engineering to maximize a bad situation. My point is why not find a good situation and maximize that?

[@MLuddyJr]

They would have had no trouble hitting 200mph if Lago had grown out his beard before this event.

[@toyotaprius79]

Very impressive for a 1.4l engine! I want to know what's happening with the drivetrain at that speed, especially the motor. An electric motor with an output of over 20bhp isn't going to do much at over 180mph.

[@wsbill14224]

Last I read the batteries outlast the payment book by a couple years, so when you want a car that isn't costing you thousands, it does again.

[@droidrazor873]

Was that a geo metro @1:40?

[@jameshartley95]

what else do VW own? sorry for random question :P i just heard they own alot of car companies

[@n3rdbear]

I guess it was chilly over there because a lot of people were wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants. O_o

[@lfsracer79]

5:19 "Driver is Carlos LEGO" LMAO

[@angelocardoc]

Hybrid race to 200MPH. Did any one else race a hybrid???

[@D00FY]

Carlos the Epic beard man.

[@BadAssEngineering]

No Shave November Carlos?? :D

[@xXLONGBOARDINGXx]

you get the speed without having a terrible gas milage like a Gumpert Apollo, it has like 8 mpg i think and that goes like 206 mph tops

[@jezwah]

I don't disagree with you but I also didn't hear them say the mpg on the VW hybrid .... I did hear 30psi boost - thats gonna need alot of fuel !

[@mister0ldschool]

its a hybrid but it only used the combustion engine for the runs? why does it matter if it was a hybrid then? how fast can we go if we weigh the car down with another engine and a bunch of batteries?

[@ZedMan1996]

Did you know the Bugatti isn't a Hybrid.

[@TurkiyeCumhurbaskani]

can I get those headlights for my 2012 GLI??

[@antonclaeys]

what's the purpose of having a hybrid when racing straight lines without stops? is it just the added wheight of the electric motor that's the problem?

[@SpecRB]

how many HP?

[@ARTaken007]

The finger boys, Vettel look what you started!

[@dbauernf]

The point is seeing if it can be done.

[@Neville1]

thats very true but im sure that was done tarmac not on salt flats, traction you get on the surfaces is very different, give the car 10 more miles of salt flats and yeah maybe it might have done it rather then the 180mph but i do get where your coming from :)

[@austinjwolf]

What about this volkswagon is a hybrid exactly?

[@mattng06]

Did u notice the parachute?

[@revrend2]

Does no one understand a random observation? Yes. Parachute. Yes. Smooth surface and low drag tires. Just a random thing I noticed as I have been fixing brakes and suspension for 10 years. Sheesh. Lol

[@invicta1313]

Yeah..$10K..IN MODIFICATIONS. But when was the last time you even saw a running 2JZ Supra for less than $10K? I believe the book value on one of those is about $15K. So, yeah...you're 20, 25 into the thing to hit 200. I wouldn't call that "cheap." Not when I've personally hit over 190 in a $6,000, nitrous'd, small block 91 Camaro. And I've done 185 in a $5,000, 500 Caddy-engined 80 Buick Regal, no nitrous. So, by those standards? Nooo...a 2JZ Supra is a HELL of a long way from "cheap."

[@TheJustin574]

A Bugatti wouldn't be the best example in this case referring to aerodynamics. Even though it does have 1003 horse power :P

[@XXmcpepeXX]

so its the same as the octavia 300km/h???

[@halo1234dog]

Carlos did you do no shave November lol? :P

[@kevin71127]

Saw this car at the LA auto show.

[@ZagatoZee]

and reduces turbo efficiency by about the same... so perhaps not. It would however be nice to see them return and tick off the 300km/h.

[@weed46]

If you daily drive it, yes, they will fail after a few km, but for a few runs at the drag strip, or these high speed runs, they will do the job for a good bunch of runs...of course, past 500-600whp, if you want a reliable machine, you have to get a lot of money... but like I said, for less than 10k dollars, you can get pretty reliable 600whp+ supra, and that does 200mph no problem. Supra or other car

[@amitbagdi123]

I want to see a drag race in the next head 2 head

[@Thtblkbrit]

Supras are nice bang for the buck... but do you know how much stock TT's go for these days man??

[@rh1n01]

I didn't even recognize Carlos Lago!

[@wash94rh]

well now we know where carlos has been since he hasnt been on ingnition

[@Phoenix0M]

I enjoy your videos. =)

[@revrend2]

Am I the only one who noticed the damn near totally stock brakes?

[@the4thgen_tfl]

"..mike works there too."

[@OmarB43]

Audi,Bugatti,Lamborghini,Seat,Skoda etc Srry if forgot something.

[@Marticus518]

it looks like an audi from behind, looks good overall though!

[@chongwong]

it's not as yet done an official high speed run

[@Nozyr]

it's to prove that it can be done. i dont get how you dont get it

[@Zwank36]

wait for the new porche hybrid :P

[@Alecks1990]

next time guys ;) .... nice video !....

[@VlEWR]

Mods list? 😅

[@wsbill14224]

I've been a fan of alternative vehicles for over 30 years but only if the technology is scientifically, economically, and environmentally sound. The jury is still out on hybrid cars. Lotsa money up front, save gas down the line, replace $3500 battery packs full of heavy metals after 7 years... I think a Corolla is better.

[@mattng06]

I guess Carlos did no shave november!

[@nerdlydood]

Yes but the Corolla is a sedan and is therefore automatically inferior. :D

[@118Shadow118]

It is amazing, if you do it in a Jetta 1.4 :D

[@n9athan]

Obviously Carlos Lago participated in no shave November and didn't shave after.

[@weed46]

O know they do... a auto supra could be cheaper... when I say a supra, say for example a mustang, or some platform with good tuning potential... just get some LS block made of iron and you can do what you want with it.

[@nerdlydood]

Because it can be done. Why jump out of a plane with nothing but a glorified shopping bag to survive? Why climb mountains with nothing but your bare hands? Why try for a speed record in a jet-powered car that can't be driven on a road without roasting the car behind you? Because we're humans. This is just how we operate.

[@ShayneWolfe]

Those opening shots are horrendous. Either someone doesn't know how to white balance cameras, bad lighting, or your color corrector is color blind. Great video though!

[@weed46]

Anything worng with that? 2JZ can hold 600-700hp without opening the engine... There are a bunch of company's that will do you a 200mph supra for less than 10k bucks. When I say a supra I say a corvette, or a mustang, and others...