By most accounts, the Volkswagen GTI GTE is a neat little car. You can't buy it in America, but a plug-in hybrid that's fun to drive is always a good idea. Seeing it offered in the U.S. would be great, especially since it's doubtful a GTD will be coming over any time soon.

An even better idea is the Volkswagen GTE Sport concept, first seen at Wörthersee in May. The GTE Sport is making its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, and it's only reminding us of just how much we'd like to see this car go into actual production.

Even if plug-in hybrids aren't what you're into, one that makes 395 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque is something everyone can get behind. All that gusto comes from a 1.6-liter engine that makes 295 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque supplemented by two 113-hp electric motors—a rear one that makes 199 lb-ft, and a front one that's good for 243 lb-ft.

Instead of operating at maximum power all the time, the system changes horsepower and torque distribution based on driving conditions and the driving mode. Under full acceleration, Volkswagen says the GTE Sport can hit 60 mph in a tick over four seconds, and if you don't drive it like a bat out of hell, it's good for an estimated 118 mpg. The best of both worlds.

So why can't we have this? Seriously.

Volkswagen

We know the interior design, the gullwing doors, and the carbon-fiber construction will probably never see a real Golf, but why not the powertrain? Imagine if Volkswagen used the GTE Sport as the base for a production hot hatch. Imagine being able to buy a car with Ford Focus RS-beating performance, Volkswagen Golf R levels of refinement, and Chevrolet Volt-like fuel economy. It wouldn't be cheap, but it would definitely be amazing.

A production Golf GTE Sport also has the potential to start something new in the hot-hatch segment. Part of the appeal of a hot hatch is that it's a perfect marriage of performance and practicality. Performance has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years or so, but what about the practicality part?

Cheap gas can only last so long, and a scorching-hot version of a plug-in hybrid hatchback would be the ultimate combination performance and practicality. With the Golf GTE Sport's 31-mile all-electric range, you could plausibly do most of your commuting without using any gas, but you could also beat a Ford Focus RS in a race.

A future full of mandated fuel-efficient cars has the potential to be hard on car enthusiasts, but why not face that future from behind the wheel of a near-400-horsepower plug-in hybrid hot hatch?

Come on, Volkswagen.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io