At first sight, the Golf TwinDrive looks like any other Golf. Only at second glance does one detect the recessed plug sockets in the front and rear skirts that are used to connect the car's battery to a standard outlet. An interior eye-catcher is a button used to switch between all-electric and hybrid drive modes, a battery level indicator and a power gauge instead of a rev meter. Even more surprises await the keen observer under the hood, as the 102 hp 1.5 liter diesel engine shares the engine bay with a 30 kW electric motor, a single-gear clutch and a barrage of control electronics. Another two 30 kW electric hub motors are fitted to each of the rear wheels. The cars used in the fleet trial are equipped with an 85 kW electric motor and a standard TSI internal combustion engine putting out 90 kW. Various battery options are being tested.

Electricity is stored in the TwinDrive prototype's lithium-ion battery weighing in at 160 kilograms and accommodated in the trunk. The car's range is about 50 kilometers in electric-only mode, after which the diesel engine kicks in. The internal combustion engine recharges the battery or powers the car. All of this is managed by the control electronics-and the driver. The navigation system keeps the driver informed of the location of the next power outlet. This enables the optimal use of the battery. Average fuel consumption by the test car is approximately 2.5 liters of diesel and eight kilowatt hours of electricity every 100 kilometers.