All About the Volkswagen Golf Diesel TDI
September 28th, 2009

Volkswagen Golf MKVII, Spy Shot?

Many claim these to be spy shots of the next Golf MKVII. Is it? Take a look below, and you be the judge. We write our verdict below.

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If you’re looking at the same pictures we are, you may think, "this doesn’t look any different!" And you’re mostly correct. But look closer. It appears that while the MKVI got a nice facelift and basically no internal changes, the MKVII will get heavy internal changes.

These spy shots would seem to be evidence that Volkwagen is now in development of new architecture for the Golf VII to accommodate future powerplants and drivetrains, as well as improved suspension hardware.

Alternative powertrains are reportedly a key component of VW’s plans for the Golf, and the seventh-gen model is expected to be offered in diesel-electric hybrid form within the first half of next decade.

The hybrid system will be derived from Volkswagen’s Twin Drive plug-in technology concept, and Golf VI-based test mules are currently conducting trials in Europe.

Aside from the ability to house a hybrid powertrain, the Golf VII’s track width will increase (as evidenced by the prominent over-fenders on this prototype), and the repositioned fuel filler suggests the body itself will be slightly wider.

The Golf VI is expected to end its production run at the end of 2011, meaning its comprehensively re-engineered successor should arrive in early 2012.

Further details on the next-gen Golf are still scant, but bank on the seventh-generation Golf being a yet more eco-friendly model than the car it will replace.

September 27th, 2009

2010 Golf Diesel Gets The New DSG Transmission

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The new Golf diesel MKVI will be getting the new edition of the DSG transmission. This is the new seven speed (7-speed) automatic tranny! Which should make higher speeds (not that we can travel them here in the US in most places) a more fuel-efficient and enjoyable drive.

This is matched up of course to the awesome new ultra clean diesel engine. Should make for a marvelous drive when they arrive in showrooms in just a couple more weeks!

More details on them as they arrive…

September 25th, 2009

2010 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion Diesel

As if the Golf TDI wasn’t good enough gas mileage, Volkswagen unveils a new model — the Bluemotion diesel Golf.  With a lower carbon footprint, 62mpg, and about 900 miles (!!) on a tank, this is one incredible car!

As usual, the unfortunate news is that the car will not be available in the US this fall.

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It will, however, go on sale this fall in European showrooms. Oh dear Volkswagen, don’t forget about us!

August 31st, 2009

When will the 2010 Golf TDi diesel arrive at dealerships?

Good news! The 2010 Golf TDi diesel will be arriving at your dealership soon! Here’s the release schedule from Volkswagen:

  • 2010 GTI market intro between 10/1 – 10/15 approximately
  • 2010 Golf will follow about 2 weeks later
  • 2010 Golf Diesels will arrive about 2 weeks after the gas models (exact to be determined)

And, as another update, the tentative pricing has been released at $21,990 for the diesel model Golf. So you’ll be looking forward to a nice new diesel Volkswagen in your driveway at an affordable price!

July 1st, 2009

Dead Deal: VW Golf Diesel-Electric Hybrid

VW Golf Turbo Diesel Hybrid photo

Dead Deal: VW Golf Diesel-Electric Hybrid too Expensive to Make

Volkswagen introduced a turbo-diesel hybrid-electric Golf concept car at the Geneva Motor Show with some very impressive numbers: 70 miles per gallon, 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with a twin-clutch, some minor modifications to reduce drag, CO2 emissions of 89 g/km (lower than a Toyota Prius hybrid), and Tier 2 Bin 5 tailpipe emissions. And, naturally, the ability to run on biodiesel (waste cooking oil or algae, preferably).

Alas, it was too good to be true. Contrary to what Volkswagen had said in the March 27 issue of Auto, Motor und Sport Volkswagen now says the Golf turbo-diesel hybrid would be too expensive, so they’re not going to make it (or at least, not as specified above). It’s stillborn, in other words.

VW Golf Turbo Diesel Hybrid photo

So What Instead of a Turbo-Diesel Hybrid
A gasoline hybrid, according to the German magzine. Equipped with a 1.4 liter TSI gas engine powered by both a supercharger and a turbocharger. The ‘twincharged’ TSI engine can be downsized and still produce as much power as a bigger displacement engine while using less fuel, so it is a good candidate for coupling with a hybrid drivetrain.

VW TSI gasoline engine image

But it still probably won’t reach the fuel economy achieved by the turbo-diesel hybrid Golf concept. According to Green Car Congress, the 1.4 TSI engine in the Golf gets 32.7 MPG, which comparitively speaking, isn’t that great for such a small car. Further downsizing would certainly give better results (the 1.4 liter TSI produces 168-horsepower, so a 1.2 or 1.1 liter model would still have decent power).

Volkswagen’s Fuel Efficiency Strategy
While waiting for the hybrid to come out, VW said that it would rely on more downsizing and use of the anti-idling stop/start technology (which shuts down the engine when the car comes to a stop, reducing wasted fuel) to meet its fuel efficiency targets.

R.I.P. Golf Turbo-Diesel Hybrid. We hardly knew ya.

June 30th, 2009

70 MPG Electric-Diesel Golf Update

VW Golf Diesel Hybrid at Geneva Motor show

If you saw our post on the VW diesel-electric hybrid Golf, now we have more details as announced at the Geneva auto Show: We now know that the car will have a 1.2-liter three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine (55 kW/74 hp and 179 Nm/132 lb-ft of torque) coupled with an electric motor (20 kW and 140 Nm/103 lb-ft of torque). Both diesel engines and electric motors produce lots of torque, so the car should be fun to drive, especially in the city.

Fuel economy is still rated at 69 miles per US gallon, and CO2 emissions are pretty low. In comparison, they’re 14% cleaner than that of the Toyota Prius, though emissions of NOx and particulate matter are lower than the Tier 2 Bin 5 Golf diesel-electric hybrid.

One interesting difference with most other hybrids is that the Golf TDI hybrid does not use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Instead, VW decided to go with a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with a twin-clutch, which is basically a manual transmission that is electronically controlled, so you lose the clutch and can let it shift in automatic mode, or shift yourself in semi-automatic. Not a new transmission to VW, though, they use it in the current Jetta TDI to improve fuel mileage, and in the Audi TT to improve fun. It’s more efficient than traditional automatic transmissions, and – some say – more fun to drive than CVTs.

VW Golf Diesel Hybrid at Geneva Motor show

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 electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging.”

VW Golf Diesel Hybrid at Geneva Motor show

The electric motor is powered by a 220 volt, 45 kg nickel metal hydride battery which has a capacity of 1.4 kWh (the Toyota Prius has a 1.2kWh battery).

VW Golf Diesel Hybrid at Geneva Motor show

Now we just have to wait and hope that VW will deliver. A diesel-electric hybrid Golf certainly wouldn’t be completely clean, but with decent emissions (Tier 2 Bin 5), good fuel economy and the ability to use biodiesel (made from used restaurant cooking oil or algae, preferably), it would be an improvement on most of what is currently on the road, including the VW Touareg which ranks as the “meanest” car on the road according to the ACEEE.

June 30th, 2009

70 MPG Golf diesel-electric hybrid !!!

VW Golf/Rabbit Diesel Hybrid

Volkswagen will uncover a diesel-electric hybrid Golf hatchback version at the Geneva Motor Show. Currently the car is available in Europe in a petrol gas and diesel version, and in the US just as a gas model in the “Rabbit.” The information that has filtered out so far is promising: Fuel economy of 69.9 mpg US, and 14% cleaner emissions than the Toyota Prius hybrid!!! Talk about green baby ;-)

Remarkably, the diesel engine used in the Golf Electric-Diesel Hybrid has been developed specifically with the American market in mind, and California in particular,  and will meet all Euro 5 emissions criteria and also pass the stringent Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards. Combine this with biodiesel made from algae, and you get a much greener car than what is currently on the road.

VW Golf/Rabbit Diesel Hybrid

Supposedly they will also use the technology in the Jetta, which is more popular in the US, and the Audi A3. Exciting news!!!














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