Posted on 03/05/2008 10:45:17 AM PST by Red Badger
The Golf TDI Hybrid concept (earlier post) introduced by Volkswagen at the Geneva Motor Show combines an advanced diesel engine with an electric motor and the latest generation of VW’s seven-speed DSG gearbox. The hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 3.4 L/100km (69 mpg US) of fuel consumption.
At the core of the new Golf TDI Hybrid is a 1.2-liter three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine developing 55 kW (74 hp) and 179 Nm (132 lb-ft) of torque. Working either in tandem with the diesel engine or, if required, on its own in all-electric mode, is an electric motor developing 20 kW and 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque. The electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging.
The motor can also operate as a generator, recovering kinetic energy from the car during braking to charge the 220 volt, 45 kg nickel metal hydride battery which has a capacity of 1.4 kWh.
In practice the electric motor powers the vehicle from standstill with the diesel engine only engaging should additional acceleration be required or at higher speeds. In these situations the diesel engine takes over with the electric motor only working if required to supplement the combustion engine – for example, during overtaking manoeuvres. When at a standstill the diesel engine shuts down completely to conserve fuel and increase efficiency. The energy split is relayed to the driver and passengers through a graphic display accessed through the touchscreen satellite navigation screen.
Drive on the concept car is channeled through the new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox. This features a pair of dry clutches as opposed to wet clutches.
Visual changes which differentiate the Golf TDI Hybrid include a new, unique grille design, smaller front air intakes to reduce aerodynamic drag and ‘TDI-Hybrid’ badging. The Golf TDI Hybrid also sits lower than the standard Golf on revised suspension and adopts the front splitter from the Golf GTI Edition 30 to help further reduce aerodynamic drag.
The Golf TDI Hybrid is currently a concept vehicle, but Volkswagen says that a version of this vehicle is likely to go into production in the future.
This study follows the recent launch of the efficient new Golf BlueMotion. Adopting an optimized 1.9-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine linked to a revised gearbox and more efficient aerodynamics the Golf BlueMotion can achieve a combined 4.5 L/100km (52.3 mpg US) while emitting just 119 g/km of CO2.
Actually, a 2008. It’ll come in first as the Jetta, then the SedanSportwagen, along with a smaller SUV called the Tiguan. There’s no official introduction date, but VW’s already included the cars in the latest brochure, and on their website. On the dealer website, there’s a model code designation, so I suspect actual cars are 30-90 days away. Expected mileage is in the 50s.
Seems that 14 MPG improvement is not much in 30 years.
Except that thirty years later the New Golf is heavier and much faster that the wabbit of ‘79
Lurking’
Tell ya what... talk to me when whatever it is you are driving at the present time gets past 424,000 miles... (or even 300,000 miles... every one of my last 4 VW's had over that amount when I let them go. Gave one to my son. He drove it at least another 100,000 miles and probably would still be driving it if some idiot hadn't run a stop sign and T-boned him in the passenger door...) And by the way, I just changed the (original) clutch in my current VW 2000 miles ago.. (that would be 422,000 miles on the original clutch..)
Oh, and 46 mpg and enough guts to tromp those silly Civics with that stupid muffler while leaving then in a cloud of diesel particulates is just downright fun...
Maybe my car can't read consumption reports...
I’ll stick with Toyotas, no V-dubs for me, thanx anyway.
Consumer Reports rates anything non-Japanese as bad. Really anything non-Toyota/Honda.
That's fine. Over half of those dings I have no clue what they could be talking about. Elictrical is probably the alternator. I know of two that have given up the ghost in cars less than 6 years old.
Drive system..early turbo models are clogging up. Should have used synthetic but I don't think VW mandated it. Fuel system...no. Climate System.. no idea. Brakes, nope. Body hardware - glove box, rear hatch lock on Beetles. Power equipment - POS window regulators.
I've purchased 6 new VWs over the past 9 years and have never had any major issues. Three have been turbo diesels, one 1.8L gasser, one 1.8Turbo and now a 2.5L gasser.
That'll piss some folks off.
When I was in there last week they said they had been delayed from now to this Fall.
I told my dealer he wouldn't see me in there again unless it's to see a Polo diesel or a diesel/hybrid car.
check out what people are getting in mpg improvements at protiumfuelsystems.com...50-100% are common using a simple hydrogen gas generator and pulling the 02 sensor out of the exhaust stream so it won’t increase the fuel ratio due to more oxygen from the hydrogen. The car makers have to know about this technology which many people are using now but they are aligned with the oil companies and aggree with one and other to artificially keep the mpg’s down. Check it out, talk to some customers who are using them...ebay has many good hydrogen generator sellers that provide great increases in mpg’s. But the 02 sensor has to be dealt with because it is actually designed to screw up better combustion and high mpg’s by reading it as a lean burn and dumping extra fuel into the engine. The cost of the average hydrogen supplement system is aroung $250...the protium one being about $690.
Yeah, it's called a Tesla Roadster, now all I need is $90,000.
It must be! With our 5.4L gas engine, we will never get that kind of mileage.
Carolyn
Of course, as just about everyone with a calculator or a spreadsheet has already pointed out, the dollars per mile is still better with diesel.
I do recall that diesel used to be considerably cheaper than gasoline, and gasoline was and is more readily available.
It is my understanding (perhaps mistaken) that diesel is inherently cheaper than gasoline in that it requires fewer refining steps. However, a barrel of crude will yeild only a certain number of gallons of crude and a certain number of gallons of gasoline, there is only so much flexibility in adjusting the yeilds of either product. The demand for each product relative to supply will determine price.
That being said, I've been wondering where the diesel hybrids are? Hybrid technology seems to overcome the most obvious disadvantage of diesels, sluggish acceleration. And clearly, they would be unrivaled in mileage, or kilometrage. I suspect that the image of diesels as dirty has slowed market acceptance.
Based on 2008 model year prices, 12,500 miles/year and an eight year economic life and 8%/annum cost of money, you cannot amortize the differential investment cost of a Prius over a Corolla in fuel savings over the life of the vehicles at less than $6.00/Gal. (Assuming maintenance and insurance costs are equal.) The appeal of the Prius is clearly not based on a rational calculation of price. A four cycle Prius might stroke the vanity of the purchaser in a way that a diesel does not.
I can see hybrids and especially diesel hybrids becoming much more widely produced in response to new federal fleet fuel ecomony standards.
Of course, in the day, in response to the 1979 gas crisis, manufacturers were touting "cruising range", since you literally could go days without finding an open filling station in the days of the Carter horror.
“It must be! With our 5.4L gas engine, we will never get that kind of mileage.”
I understand.
That said, I think that diesels are going to become a lot more popular in the US over the next few years. My car doesn't produce the old-fashioned diesel “smog,” nor is it overly loud. As well, although the horsepower is relatively modest, the high torque makes the car run like a little pocket rocket.
I anticipate that our monthly fuel bill will fall from almost $500 to closer to $300. When one combines all that with the fact that a diesel engine lasts a much longer time, it makes a diesel-powered car very attractive.
sitetest
Those reliability reports are compiled from reports that almost 1.3 million subscribers have filled out and sent in. It's not from some road tests or some editor's particular bias. Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, so there are no advertisers toes to avoid stepping on.
And as far as them not saying anything bad about Toyota/Honda, definitely not true. Note this recent statement from Consumer Reports:
"Toyota’s previously sterling reliability has slipped a bit, and two Toyota models, the V6 Camry and the four-wheel-drive, V8 version of the Tundra, have below-average reliability in their 2007 redesign. The all-wheel-drive version of the Lexus GS also dropped below average. We now predict below-average reliability for all three models and can no longer recommend them."
Carolyn
Sounds like y’all need more snow plows! LOL! Are there no 2000 Accords in your neck of the woods?
I moved to the area with a 1994 Saturn SL2 and 1996 SW2. My house is on a cul-de-sac that is too narrow for the snow plow to access. Once the snow reached 6", the Saturn cars were trapped in my driveway. My SW2 was broadsided in late June 2003 by a drunk hispanic teenager in San Diego. We used the insurance settlement as down payment on a 1999 Ford F150 4x4. That solved the problem with getting out of the driveway and out of the cul-de-sac. Subsequently, we purchased a 2003 Escape 4x4. That was replaced by the 2008 Mariner Hybrid. I'm very pleased with the F150 and Mariner for negotiating snowy streets.
My city, Chubbuck, usually has the streets plowed by 7 AM on most snow days. Pocatello sold off most of their plows, so they do a terrible job in comparison.
I lived in Federal Way, WA when I was in 3rd grade. I love the geography, but loathe the politics. The weather and limited government funding tends to discourage the "urban outdoorsmen" in our area. They head south for the winter. Snow on the yard means I don't have to water or cut the grass most of the year. That leaves more time to enjoy my weekends.
My 99 F150 wasn't purchased to be a snow plow. It had 22500 miles on it when purchased in August 2003. It just turned over 29,000 miles last month. There are plenty of folks in the neighborhood with "beaters" that are suitable for use as snow plows.
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