Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Volkswagen

Volkswagen still has yet to announce a production hybrid drivetrain of any sort, instead choosing to focus its efforts on clean diesel technology, and with good effect - the new Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year. Despite the lack of production plans, VeeDub has been testing some interesting hybrid concepts for the last few months, especially the Golf Twin Drive. Up until now, all of the Twin Drive models had been based on the previous fifth-generation Golf, but that has just been rectified as the German automaker has updated its concept with the latest chassis and sheetmetal.

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.

[Source: World Car Fans]

VW adds Twin Drive technology to sixth-gen Golf originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Trends, Economy, Green, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen, Rumormill

These days, when discussions turn towards the cars we’ll be driving a few years from now, efficiency and emissions are two unavoidable topics. Such is the case with the next-next generation of the VW Golf, following the sixth iteration that will hit European dealerships later this year. So, what will the seventh version have in store for us? Smaller engines and a smaller structure. For the last few decades, every succeeding redesign was just a bit bigger and more powerful that its predecessor. Expect that trend to end with the Mk VII Golf. You can bet that diesels will account for a larger percentage of sales too, possibly even in the States.

Just when are we likely to see Golf v7.0? Rumors point to 2012, but VeeDub is keeping quiet. What they do admit to, however, is working on it as you read this.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req’d]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen, USA

We’re here in Santa Monica, CA today for the first media drives of the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, so we did some asking around about additional diesel models for the lineup. VW of American Communications Director Steve Keyes filled in some details. First up, as expected, the next addition to the TDI lineup is the Touareg, which iscurrently scheduled to start production in mid-February 2009 at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. By the time the first Touaregs with the 3.0L V6 diesel roll off the boat onto U.S. shores it will be at least late March, more likely the first week or two of April. Later in the summer, the new VW product onslaught continues with the next-generation GTI based on the new MK VI Golf that is debuting at the Paris show next month. That will be followed by more pedestrian Rabbits with both the 2.5L five cylinder gas engine and the 2.0L TDI in the fall. VW has decided to continue with the Rabbit name for the U.S. since it seems to be selling well and Americans apparently like it.

One model that won’t be getting the TDI treatment for a while is the new Tiguan crossover. According to Keyes, the Tiguan’s extra size and weight mean extra load on the 2.0L TDI. As a result of working harder, the exhaust flow is greater and a urea injection system would be needed rather than the lean NOx trap used on the Jetta and Rabbit. Since the current Tiguan is not designed for a urea tank, it won’t be getting a U.S. diesel anytime soon.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Euro, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Click image to enlarge

The Golf lineup in the UK gets a slight reshuffling as Volkswagen consolidates two models — the Golf GT and the Golf Sport — into one, the new Golf GT Sport. The car gets a sporty outward look, with black headlight surrounds, a front end treatment that recalls the R32 and GTI, and a few other niceties like foglights and tinted glass. 17-inch alloys fill the wells and GT Sport badging identifies the car for what it is. Power comes either from the 1.4L TSI , or from a 2.0 TDI. Each engine is available in 140 hp and 170 hp configurations, and buyers can choose between six-speed manual or DSG transmissions. Both three-door and five-door bodies are available, and cars equipped with the stronger 170-horse mills get a pair of chrome exhaust tips out back.

There are more details after the jump in the VW UK press release. This GT Sport sounds like it stakes out the middle ground between the base Golf and the hopped-up GTI in fine fashion. We’d love to get our hands on one of the twin-charged TSI machines to get a driving impression. 170 horses from 1.4 liters sounds like fun to us.

[Source: VW]

PRESS RELEASE:
VOLKWAGEN INTRODUCES NEW GOLF GT SPORT TRIM

Volkswagen is set to replace the existing Golf Sport and GT trim levels with a single all-new model - the Golf GT Sport.

The Golf GT Sport debuts a purposeful new look as well as additional equipment over the models it replaces to deliver greater value. An all-new darkened grille section is intersected by a set of horizontal fins to forge a visual link with the other sporting models in the range - the potent GTI and R32 variants. Inset into the grille is a new ‘GT Sport’ badge. Framing the new nose are a pair of darkened headlights which visually separate the lenses into four, individual units. They sit above a set of fog lights mounted in the front air dams.

In profile the new GT Sport is distinguished by subtle tints to the rear windows and a set of 17-inch multi-spoke ‘ClassiXs’ alloy wheels fitted with 225/45 R17 tyres.

At the rear twin chrome exhausts on the 170 PS models are joined by discreet ‘GT Sport’ badges.

The subtle, sporting look continues inside. A leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake are fitted along with front sports seats, automatic light sensing headlights and rain sensing windscreen wipers. This is in addition to Climatic air conditioning, a CD stereo system with eight speakers and electric windows. Six airbags, ABS and Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) round off the high levels of standard equipment.

The purposeful exterior is backed up by dynamic underpinnings. The innovative 1.4-litre TSI engine which utilises both a supercharger and a turbocharger to generate high power outputs from a modest engine capacity while retaining high levels of economy is available in 140 PS and 170 PS guises. A single 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine is also available in 140 PS and 170 PS outputs. Both petrol and diesel engines are available mated to a choice of six-speed manual or DSG transmissions.

The new Golf GT Sport will be available in both three- and five-door bodystyles when deliveries start later in the summer. It joins the existing S and Match trim levels in the Golf model range. Prices are set to start at £17,422 for the entry-level three-door variant specified with a 1.4-litre TSI 140 PS engine, rising to £21,352 for the five-door model fitted with the 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS engine with DSG transmission.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Euro, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Click for more speculative renderings of the next Golf/Rabbit

The next-generation Golf/Rabbit will take many of its key design themes from the forthcoming Scirocco, according to enthusiast website InfoMotori. The Scirocco, as you know by now, is the name the production version of the IROC concept car introduced last year will wear when it heads to showrooms. To illustrate what this could translate into visually, they contracted designer Andrea Rosati to create renderings of a Golf sporting the IROCized design language. InfoMotori was kind enough to permit us to reproduce the images here for you.

Obviously, there’s nothing final about any of this. Whether or not you like the possible new look will have a lot to do with how much you like the IROC. We still think that new face makes the car look like some sort of Pokemon critter. But that’s just us.

Tell us what you think. For visual help, we’ve attached a gallery of the IROC as well.

[Source: InfoMotori]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen

This isn’t officially official, but hearsay confirmation has the Jetta Wagon (Golf Variant) bowing at the Geneva show. The Jetta Wagon is expected to land in the US later this year, and we hope it’ll drive a surge in wagon interest. We’ve seen a preview of the basic shape in the form of the Skoda Octavia Scout. We think the Jetta/Golf has a smoother, more attractive face, and without the heavy plastic cladding, the car looks much lighter on its feet. We wouldn’t mind the addition of a GLI Wagon to the model range, either. That would make the MkV platform attractive to folks who want a little spice in their ride, but need even more cargo versatility.

Speaking of versatility, a Jetta Wagon is the perfect size for buyers currently opting for soft-roaders like the CR-V or RAV-4, though both of those have grown considerably in their last refresh. We’re not sure where the wagon stigma came from, as some of our favorite cars are wagons (a Volvo Turbo wagon, for example, is a thing to behold), and they’re far more useful and practical than the sedan versions of the same car. We await the arrival of the Jetta wagon and hope that it will appeal to the fuel-economy geeks among us with an available diesel powertrain, as well as lighting the fires of those who like to round corners quickly with a more sprightly version like the GLI. Combining the two would be a nice touch.

[Source: Carscoop]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Concept Cars, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Euro, Green, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Debuting in concept form today is the most fuel efficient and cleanest version of Volkswagen’s sixth-generation Golf. Wearing the BlueMotion badge, as is common for VeeDubs with fuel-saving tweaks, the new Golf is able to complete the European driving cycle mileage tests with a rather epic 74 miles per gallon (around 62 mpg in the U.S. if conversions can be trusted). For those who like to keep track of such things, that’s just 99g/km of carbon emissions and an excellent score by any measure. In order to achieve such low fuel consumption and emissions, the Golf BlueMotion is bestowed with a miserly 1.6-liter TDI common rail diesel engine that kicks out 105 horses and 184 lbs.-ft. of torque at a low 2,000 rpm. Low rolling resistance tires, aero tweaks and revised gearing all help the cause. Though still just a concept, there is little doubt that this model or one very similar will debut a few months after the the standard Golf in Europe next year. In the U.S.? Don’t hold your breath, though a Golf TDI sold in the States may happen eventually.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VW unveils 74 mpg Golf BlueMotion Concept

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »