Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, Volkswagen, Geneva Motor Show, Europe/EU
Auto Bild reveals the VW Golf TDI Hybrid ahead of Geneva!
Click image for a gallery of the Golf TDI Hybrid
German buff mag Auto Bild has spilled the beans on the Geneva-bound Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid concept. As we reported earlier, the car will average 69 US mpg in the European cycle and emit just 90 g/km of carbon dioxide, but we now know more details on the powertrain itself.
According to the Google Translation, the diesel engine is a 75 PS (74 HP) 3-cylinder TDI, presumably the 1.4L unit used in the Polo BlueMotion (thanks to commenter Eddy for that reminder). It's augmented by a 27-horsepower electric motor what's powered by a trunk-mounted NiMH battery back. As previously reported, a 7-speed DSG is used in lieu of the CVTs commonly employed by other hybrids, which should make for a more engaging experience behind the wheel. The Golf TDI Hybrid is a full hybrid, so it can run on diesel, electric, or a combination of the two. It also employs regenerative braking ad a stop/start system. The driver can keep an eye on the powertrain's goings-on via an Energy Monitor screen on the instrument panel. Visually, the car wears a new paint color called Vivid Blue and sports a lowered suspension, a narrower grille opening, and low-rolling-resistance tires, all in the interests of improved aerodynamics and fuel economy. We'll bring you more on the Golf TDI Hybrid when it makes its formal debut next week.
Gallery: VW Golf TDI Hybrid Concept
[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Snowdog 11:25AM (3/01/2008)
It looks like it has solid hub caps with painted on spokes.
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eddy 12:02PM (3/01/2008)
Release date is around the end of 2009.
The motor is a 1.4 3-cylinder Common-Rail-Diesel.
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Smog 12:27PM (3/01/2008)
my dream car
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mike 12:31PM (3/01/2008)
Very Cool. EU only or US availability?
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Mike Z 12:32PM (3/01/2008)
I'm guessing the mileage is based on the EU cycle? So that would put the EPA number like a little less...
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Snowdog 2:10PM (3/01/2008)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/18/vw-polo-bluemotion-is-now-down-to-99g-km-co2/
Same engine in the Polo without Hybrid, good for 60mpg.
It will be interesting to see if any of this comes to North America.
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TheRookie 4:56PM (3/01/2008)
According to Autoexpress (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/217908/volkswagon_golf.html) it'll have 2.0 TDI engine and will emit 89g/km of CO2. Such emission will put it into Band A in the UK, which means owners won't pay a penny as Road Tax.
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Snowdog 9:30AM (3/02/2008)
Autobild is the source of the leak and I trust their info more and it makes more sense that this will be the 1.4L 3cyl diesel than the 2.0L four in a hybrid application.
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Emil 9:53AM (3/02/2008)
Those are really good news !
1. The news about the parallel hybrid in production lay waste the argument whether "a hybrid car is better that a diesel one". Here is the answer !
2. According to Wikipedia, all VW TDI vehicles can run on 100% biodiesel ! ( Eliminates the "hybrid vs. biofuel" )
3. At my place, the overwhelming magority of taxis are VW group ( VW, SEAT, Skoda )
Especially it would be nice to compare the price premium vs. fuel economy, but I guess the hybrid premium will recover itself in less than 200,000 km - a win-win option for taxi drivers.
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TheRookie 2:03PM (3/02/2008)
Autobild and Autoexpress both belong to the same Auto Bild Group, the difference is in language.
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roz 7:23PM (3/02/2008)
what a cool car!
I guess with only 27 hp on the electric side it is not that good a candidate for a plug-in conversion. I like the Golf so much more than a Prius. And why not diesel hybrid? There is nothing about diesel that says it would not benefit from regeneration. Its all about cost, and really not cost but economies of scale.
We are on a path to the series diesel plug-in hybrid. I am glad to see movement here, though I wish we could hurry it up...
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Matthijs 10:12AM (3/03/2008)
Eventuell ein Aggregat für den im Herbst 2008 startenden Golf VI.
So this car will be a one of a kind. I hope the new Golf model will have better aerodynamics and won't be allot heavier. And I hope they can eliminate the price premium. This is one of the best selling cars in Europe so then we will see allot of hybrids!
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Stan Peterson 1:30PM (3/14/2008)
Hmmmn... A dirty, polluting, sooty, diesel that would probably get in real ife around 45-50 mpg, in a compact car. Wonder what a cleaned up version of the diesel might achieve?
I suspect we will find out by the 2010 model year, a mere 18 months or so away, here in America.
I feel sorry for the EU citizens who will have to endure these pollution pigs until the EU politicians can create and promulagate a T2B5 like regulation. Maybe 2030 ?
Its about all that you can expect from HEV vehicles, without resort to HCCI. Better than a stick in the eye, but nowhere near enought to wean humankind from fossil and/or provide enough for all the world who wish for a car.
We need a new substitute fuel, and its coming, electricity. These partial steps like thsi vehicle, will lower the component prices for all the components of a PHEV, save the bigger batteries.
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