VW Polo BlueMotion concept, 87 g/km CO2!
March 8, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The new BlueMotion is the most efficient five passenger internal combustion car on the road. Volkswagen revealed the all-new Polo concept, expected to come to the US market in the next couple of years. This new B-segment car comes in three- and five-door hatchback flavors with a range of gas and diesel engines, but the leader of the pack is the BlueMotion model with 96 g/km of CO2 emissions. More importantly, VW showed a concept for the next-gen. BlueMotion model that will launch in 2010. Read more
VW To Use Heat Recovery Systems
Volkswagen has shown a prototype vehicle equipped with a thermoelectric generator according to the International Thermoelectric Society website. The system recovers the dissipated heat energy and converts it into electricity. The prototype has been shown at the “Thermoelektrik - Eine Chance Für Die Atomobillindustrie?” meeting held in Berlin in October 2008.
The thermoelectric generator is reportedly able to gain about 600W from a car running on a highway, meeting about 30% of the car’s electrical consumption requirements. For the moment, the thermoelectric generators haven’t been embedded in a hybrid car, although VW says with the current setup it can save about 5% of your fuel consumption Read more
Worlds Longest Range Electric Car Conversion Goes 300 Km
January 28, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Electric Cars Europe (ECE) have finished the first gas-to-electric conversion of 200 Volkswagen Golfs for the Dutch energy supplier, ENEXIS (formerly known as Essent).
The fleet is to be used in the testing of the Euro version of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) dubbed the “Mobile Smart Grid” (PDF). We don’t have any spec information about the electric Golf, but it is reported to have enough lithium ion batteries to travel 300 Km (186 miles) on one charge. That would make the longest range electric car conversion ever built. Read more
New generation Golf get BiFuel LPG system factory installed
December 6, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Volkswagen has decided to expand its lineup of LPG powered cars, in Germany and Italy, two major markets for these vehicles. VW took the opportunity of the Bologna Motor Show to show off its new Golf BiFuel. The most remarkable feature of this new model is that the LPG option is factory installed, so there’s no need for an aftermarket conversion or bringing the car in for a special procedure (like Ford uses).
The Golf Bifuel uses volkswagens 1.6-liter gasoline engine as a base and, when running on LPG, it produces 98hp and CO2 emissions of 149 g/km at 9.2l/100 km (25.5 mpg US). Running on unleaded, consumption is down to 7.2 l/100 km (33 mpg US) and CO2 emissions are down to 169 g/km. The LPG reservoir gets placed in the location of the emergency wheel, and can store 41 liters.
Twin Drive Technology for Sixth-Gen Golf
November 27, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Up until now, all of the Twin Drive models had been based on the previous fifth-generation Golf, but that has just changed as the German automaker has updated its concept with the latest chassis and body style.
Twenty Golf Twin Drive cars currently exist and are undergoing testing. Independent tests of the Twin Drive indicate that it can achieve over 90 miles per gallon (US). Three electric motors are used, one up front with the 1.5L diesel engine and one for each rear wheel, making this an all-wheel drive car. Despite its excellent efficiency, there is a high monetary cost to pay for this much technology, so don’t expect a production version any time soon.
VW Shows Off Fuel-Cell Prototypes: LA 2008
November 19, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Volkswagen showed off two of it’s fuel cell prototypes at the LA show: the Tiguan, a compact SUV; and the Touran, a compact minivan. In Germany, the Tiguan and Touran are the most successful cars in their class.
The Tiguan HyMotion fuel cell prototype is VW’s first fuel cell-powered SUV. Compared to earlier prototypes, VW has delivered further performance gains in the fuel cell drive, and its efficiency is better. Read more
LA Auto Show: Shanghai VW Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Passat Lingyu
November 17, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Shanghai VW will introduce the hydrogen fuel-cell Volkswagen Passat Lingyu sedan at the upcoming 2008 Los Angeles auto show, according to a report in Shanghai Securities News.
The car, based on the Passat, uses a fuel cell powertrain jointly developed by SAIC (Shanghai VW’s parent); Tongji University and Shanghai Shen-Li High Tech Co., Ltd. Read more
2008 LA Auto Show Green Car Preview
November 11, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
We will be covering the LA Auto Show during the press days on November 19-20. Until then we have lined up preview of some of the Hybrid and Electric cars that will be on display.
This years show could prove to be a real turning point in the future of the automobile as electric cars, hybrid cars and other high mpg designs become the showstopping stars. Pointing the way towards a clean-tech future that enables cars to remain as part of the personal transport solution.
Volkswagen CC Eco performance: SEMA 2008
November 6, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Volkswagen, like most others, is showing off modified versions of its everyday products at SEMA 2008. The Performance CC is based on the new four door coupe-sedan that debuted a few months ago. Starting with the base engine, a 2.0L four cylinder TSI with direct injection and turbo charging, APR added a new turbo system with driver selectable performance levels. The engine goes from a stock 200 hp to 222 hp in Eco mode, to 252 hp in GT mode and up to 311 hp in Full Power mode.
Volkswagen collaborated with APR on the turbocharger and exhaust systems and claims that even with the increased power levels fuel efficiency is improved across the board. The standard 2.0L CC is rated at 19/28 mpg city/hwy. In Eco mode, the car is claimed to get 27/33 mpg city/hwy. A 47 percent boost in efficiency combined with 11 percent more power is pretty impressive. The question that remains unanswered is whether the car can pass an emissions test in this form. Let’s hope so as this a great example of a good looking, efficient, high performance car.
VW Jetta TDI Street concept from SEMA 2008
November 6, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
This is the Jetta TDI Street concept. There are no powertrain changes of note, just some mechanical changes to the underpinnings, with brakes and sway bars from the sporty GLI model and the wheels are alloys. On the bodywork front, a large opening at the front makes the cars look like their racing stablemates as do the extended rocker panels and rear valance.
Volkswagen hasn’t decided for sure whether to offer the concept for production. The German automaker will be polling for consumer reaction. We think it looks great, especially in the blue from the GLI, but just how close to $30K is the automaker planning to sell it for?
