So, how do you prove that your car saves a lot of fuel in real-life conditions? You drive it around and you publish the results. We've seen a few of these tests lately, like one driving a Skoda around Germany and Austria, or a Peugeot 308 around Australia or the 50-liter test in Canada. Now, Audi has decided to show off the new base powertrain for the Audi A4 TDI, the 2.0 liter, 120 HP, 6-speed manual.

Eleven A4s started a trip yesterday that will see them go for 1,650 kilometers (1,025.26 miles) around Germany, Switzerland and Austria to prove that the official consumption figures of 4.1 liters per 100 km (57.37 U.S. mpg) for the extra-urban cycle, 6.7 liters (35.11 U.S. mpg) for the urban cycle and 5.1 liters (46.12 U.S. mpg) combined are accurate. The A4s are fitted with a fuel consumption gauge to help the drivers will know when they're light on the foot and can maybe stretch a few more miles from the tank. Find the complete details after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

For Episode #22 of the AutoblogGreen podcast, Sam and Sebastian recap the AVFI show in Las Vegas, and enter into a discussion focusing on diesel. Still on the diesel tip, Sam talks excitedly about the Volkswagen TDI Cup racing series before moving on to the much more charged topic of EV infrastructure. Our interview this week isn't so much a one on one as it is a speech from T. Boone Pickens, he of oil magnate status, about how oil is not going to last forever. Thanks for listening, see you again soon!

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Skoda, the Czech marque that belongs to the VW group, has announced that its Octavia model will from now on use the latest iteration of TDI technology. TDI is based in the use of common-rail injection, and it phases out pump-injectors. The new Superb, due in two months, will also have the new engines installed.

The first powertrain will be installed in the sporty RS version, which gets 170 HP of diesel power from a 2-liter unit, while keeping fuel consumption at very low levels: 5.7 l/100 km for the sedan and 5.9 l/100 km for the station wagon version (42 and 41 mpg, U.S., respectively). A diesel particulate filter comes standard. DPFs can also be fitted to VW's double-clutch transmission for better performance. Prices start at € 28,050 in Germany.

[Source: Autoblog en Español]

At the International Vienna Motor Symposium, which starts today, Volkswagen is announcing that its next-generation turbo diesel engine, BlueTDI - developed especially for the North American market - will initially be available in the U.S. version of the Jetta. The Jetta BlueTDI will come to North America sometime in the middle of this year, followed at some point by the Touareg BlueTDI.

BlueTDI is the cleaner version of the already pretty clean TDI engine that VW uses in its European diesels (starting with the Tiguan last year). TDI meets the Euro-5 standard and BlueTDI is ready for the stricter Bin 5, Level 2 standards that are in force in five U.S. states, including California. Not only does the BlueTDI engine have the low emissions, but VW's director of powertrain development, Dr. Ing. Jens Hadler, said in a statement that the Jetta BlueTDI can get up to 60 mpg in highway driving. Perhaps that'll ease the pain of the Golf TDI hybrid's failure to launch. The BlueTDI displaces 2.0 liters and generates 103 kW/140 PS with 320 Nm of torque. More details after the break.

Diesel racers have had a lot of success in the recent past. But what happens when you have diesel racing diesel? We'll find out soon. For 2008, Volkswagen is replacing the current GTI cup with the Jetta TDI Cup. As the name implies, the new series will use the new Jetta TDI diesel sedan. For racing purposes, the 2.0L diesel will be rated at 170 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque pumping through the standard six-speed DSG gearbox. The suspension and brakes will be beefed up for track use and all the usual racing safety equipment will be included. Take a look at the schedule here and the complete list of contenders here. We'll be on-hand at one of these upcoming races, so expect to hear plenty more on this particular topic on our pages.

Ready for more? Here's Number 3.

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Golf TDI Hybrid Concept

Finally, we have the full, complete details on the Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid concept. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, lets get one thing out of the way. Volkswagen confirms that a version of this very car is likely to see production (in Europe, at least). Now, on to the details. The Golf TDI hybrid pairs a 74 hp/132 lb-ft 1.2L 3-cylinder diesel (not the 1.4L used in the Polo BlueMotion, as had been speculated) with a 26.6 hp/103 lb-ft electric motor. At low speeds, the car will run in EV-only mode, with the TDI joining in if/when necessary. The tandem should be good for for 69 US mpg and 89 g/km of CO2 emissions in the EU combined cycle. The electric motor replaces the starter motor and alternator, and it will also charge the car's 220v NiMH battery via regenerative braking. When stopped, the diesel cuts out entirely. This is behavior that hybrid drivers are accustomed to. Where this Golf concept veers from the norm somewhat is in its use of a 7-speed DSG instead of a CVT. According to VW, using the dual-clutch transmission helps maximize fuel economy. What's left unsaid, but is known to anyone who has driven a DSG-equipped VW or Audi, is that it should also make it much more engaging to drive, given that the operator can manually shift if he or she wants to.

Visually, the Golf TDI Hybrid is lowered, has smaller intakes, sports a unique grille design, and wears aerodynamic wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires -- all lessons VW has learned with its various Euro-market BlueMotion offerings. The front splitter is the same one used on the GTI Edition 30, and occupants will find a uniquely-trimmed interior waiting for them. Overall, this is a very attractive package that pairs a popular, practical body style with a compelling drivetrain that should not struggle in any normal driving situation. 100+ horses and 235 lb-ft of combined power ensure that the Golf TDI Hybrid can merge and pass with ease, and its hybrid operation should make it excel in local/urban runabout duty. They may be late to the party, but VW looks to have brought something good for the guests to try.


[Source: Volkswagen]

Click image for photo gallery

When Volkswagen introduced the Phaeton luxury sedan to the US market in 2004, onlookers were left scratching their heads. Who did Volkswagen think they were trying to sell an $85,000 car to compete with Mercedes-Benz? Apparently, most of the car-buying public felt the same way. After only two years of decidedly uninspiring sales, the Phaeton was dropped from the US lineup. During a speech at the Automotive News World Congress, VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby said that he didn't think the Phaeton should have been discontinued here and opened the door for its return.

If it does happen (and that is a very big if) it would probably be the next-generation Phaeton that comes here. According to VW spokesman Keith Price, if the Phaeton reappears in American VW stores, it would be the short-wheelbase model and it would likely have the 3.0L TDI V6 underhood. However, Keith made it very clear that any discussion of the Phaeton's return is purely speculative. The problem the first time around was a reluctance to consider a "people's car" at such a high price point. Perhaps what the company needs is something unique enough that people will look beyond that. How about a Phaeton with the same V12 TDI that appeared in the R8 concept last month in Detroit? That would make for a very interesting alternative to the Lexus LS600h, don't you think?


[Sources: Automotive News, Volkswagen]

Following the meeting of the Audi Dealer Council at last weekend's National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention, Audi dealer Joel Weinberger spilled some product beans to Automotive News. First up is information we already know, a diesel version of the big Q7 SUV is coming around the end of this year. The Q7 is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Touareg, and production of the Touareg TDI with a 3.0L V-6 diesel kicks off in November. The Q7 diesel should launch around the same time. A hybrid version of the Q7 will follow at an undetermined date, thought to be in the first half of 2009. Later this year Q7 will get a little sibling in the shape of the VW Tiguan based Q5. The powertrain sequence for the Q5 will be reversed, with a hybrid launching first. A diesel will come later, with timing perhaps based on the market acceptance of other diesel models in the VW/Audi lineup. Weinberger didn't say anything about hybrid pricing but indicated that the diesel would command the same $2,000 premium that VW will be asking for its diesel models.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

The V6 now averages 9.6 liters of diesel per 100 km (24.5 mpg) while putting out increased torque and power (550 Nm or 405 lb/ft and 240 HP respectively). All this power and torque increase, according to VW, accounts for 0.8 liters less on the highway and even 1.4 liters to 100 km during the Euro urban cycle. The Touareg can make the jump form 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds, one second quicker than before.

The press release doesn't make any reference to CO₂ emission figures, which in the older model weren't that impressive: 283 g/km. Press release after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

I won't go in depth telling you all the specifications of the new diesel engine that is going into various VW's with the TDI moniker starting early in 2008, if you are interested in knowing more about them, click here. What I will mention is that these vehicles will mark the first Jetta's sold with diesel engines in all 50 states since '99. And it will be available in a wagon body style! Woo hoo! Could these vehicles be exactly what the middle-class green market is looking for? Could be, and I am looking forward to seeing how they drive. Stay tuned!

[Source: Autoblog]

Driving to work on Thursday, i did a double-take when I spotted a smallish grey minivan several car lengths ahead of me as I cruised (if you can call 20 - 25 mph "cruising") in the right lane of Connecticut's charming-but-congested Merritt Parkway. "That looks like a Touran," I thought. The Touran, if you're unfamiliar with it, is a Mazda5-sized MPV offered in other markets by Volkswagen. Naturally, I worked on catching up to it. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper when I first eyeballed it, however, so this feat would take some time.

Ultimately, after what seemed like an eternity of cat-and-mouse, I came up behind the car, and sure enough, it was a last-gen ('03 - '06) Touran TDI (it's been facelifted for 2007). Seeing one was surprising enough. Even more surprising was the fact that it appeared to be privately owned. With apologies for the lousy cameraphone shot, you'll notice the oval decal on the left side of the rear glass (it was one of those things that symbolized Nantucket or Block Island or wherever). The tag, which is obscured by glare, was from New Hampshire. Apparently, living free includes scoring forbidden-fruit automotive machinery from the other side of the Atlantic.

However the owner came to posses the vehicle, a tip of the cap is deserved. It's a nice little van, and figure on it getting at least 40 mpg highway with the 2.0L TDI. It looked nicely-appointed, too with a large sunroof that was open, bathing the driver in light. Morst importantly (to me, at least), finding it and checking it out broke up the monotony of yet another brutal morning commute.

For better shots of what the last-gen Touran looks like, see below.

Click image for hi-res photo gallery

While it's still not going to set any new fuel economy records, Audi's newly-launched Q7 4.2 TDI is an impressive machine nonetheless. Here's a large SUV that comes well-equipped with creature comforts to begin with, has the automaker's vaunted quattro all-wheel-drive system, and can be optioned to a level of near opulence with baubles like the astoundingly good (we've heard it firsthand) Bang & Olufsen audio system, the iPod-friendly Audi Music Interface, and techo-features like a lane departure monitoring system. The occupants are cocooned in an environment full of leather, wood, Alcantara (the headliner) and aluminum trim. Short version: it's damned nice. (It's also predictably expensive, with a base price in Germany of €70,500.)

All the luxury stuff comes as part of the territory, however. The real story here is the 4.2-liter TDI lurking behind the familiar shield grille. The 90-degree 32-valve V8 features a pair of variable-geometry turbochargers and delivers 326 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, which is available starting at just 1,800 RPM. That power is channeled to the quattro drive via a six-speed Tiptronic. Performance is noteworthy, as the sizeable SUV makes the rush to 62 mph in just 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 146 mph. Despite all this, the Q7 4.2 TDI delivers over 21 mpg of fuel economy in the combined cycle. Try getting that in an Escalade or any of the other big, V8-powered luxo-utes, and get back to us. We won't wait up for you, okay?



[Source: Audi AG]

When Volkswagen introduced their Mercedes pretender the Phaeton here in the US a few years ago it landed with a resounding thud. For some reason the idea of an $80,000+ VW went over so poorly that VW of America dropped it after barely two years on the market. The Phaeton however lives on in Europe and has recently gotten some updates.

This week at the Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig is adding the 230hp 3.0L V6 TDI diesel to the Phaeton. The noteworthy aspect of this is that the new engine already meets the new Euro 5 emissions standards two years before they go into effect. Under the new standards, particulate emissions have to be eighty percent lower than the current Euro 4 standards.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Audi's best selling A4 2.0 TDI diesel car has been presented with the coveted "Auto-Umwelt-Zertifikat" (car environment certificate) by the ÖKO-TREND institute in Wuppertal, Germany. The award was given for the A4's eco-friendliness, for the high environmental standards in its production processes and for Audi's noteworthy recycling measures.

The institute has been independently evaluating the environmental properties of vehicles since 1997. The certificate is awarded to vehicles that achieve a rating of at least 90 percent on the detailed evaluation criteria which includes not only fuel consumption, noise and pollutant emissions, but also ecological criteria such as production, procurement, logistics and recycling as well as the manufacturer's environmental management. The A4 2.0 TDI has excellent fuel economy of 6.0 L per 100 km / 39.2 mpg and comes standard with a diesel particulate filter.

Analysis: Recognition for excellent environmental performance is exactly what the major auto companies need as it allows them to leverage the recognition through their marketing efforts. Good work Audi.

Related:

• Audi launches diesel-specific web site
• Geneva Preview: Audi A5 to debut with TDi V6
• Audi offers economical new A3 and A4 models

[Source: Audi]

Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat.

This is the second part of a review of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat TDI. Yesterday we covered the Passat's pricing, appearance and some of its many features. Click here to read part one.

Today we cover the interior, safety, economy and on-road performance.

Probably the first thing you'll notice if you hop in and go to turn the car on though is the key fob itself. Instead of a traditional key, the entire key fob slots into the dash for push-button electronic on / off operation. VW thought of everything though because hidden inside the key fob is a "conventional", plastic key which can gain you access to the vehicle but will not start it up. This allows you to leave the (expensive - $500!) key fob locked in the car while you go surfing and just take the plastic key into the water.



Like the on / off control, the parking brake is also a push-button job located close to the ignition switch, and must be engaged for the car to be turned off. An associated feature is the Auto Hold function which neatly answers the question, "I'm on the side of a hill and I don't have a hand brake to stop me rolling back down, what do I do?" Again a push-button operated feature, this time flanking the transmission, Auto Hold automatically activates the electronic parking brake for painless hill starts. Eliminating the hand brake has the added benefit of freeing up room around centre console, resulting in a simple, uncluttered layout.

Continue reading part two of the review after the jump.