Click above on the Ego concept for more images of VW's 2028 concepts

Apparently, Volkswagen thinks its time for another weird and wacky look into the future. This time, the German automaker is gazing just twenty years ahead. The results of its future look are three virtual concept cars. Yes, all three are capable of driving themselves, as you would likely imagine. As would be expected of any self-respecting gaze into the future, petroleum is not part of the picture. In its place are biofuels for those who simply must have liquid fuels and, of course, electricity. We feel pretty confident that these projections are possible, but that's right about where any semblance to reality ends.

After taking a leisurely stroll through the über clean park, a father and his son are reminded that it is time to leave by a hologram. What car to have delivered? The VW One wouldn't do, as it only seats a single occupant. The VW Room is overkill, as it is intended for an entire family. So, the son chooses to summon an Ego, a two-seater sportscar concept complete with user-defined green flames.

[Source: Volkswagen 2028]

Click above for more shots of the VW One-Liter concept

It has been so long since anything has been heard about Volkswagen's so-called one-liter car that we nearly forgot the concept had existed. It turns out that VeeDub has been quietly working away somewhere deep in Germany perfecting the design. Originally intended for a launch around 2012, rumors now indicate that the vehicle may indeed be ready by 2010. To refresh your memory, the vehicle gets its moniker due to its goal of achieving one liter of fuel consumption per 100 kilometers. The concept vehicle, with its single cylinder engine, was apparently capable of doing a bit better than that, as it was rated at a mind blowing 282 miles per gallon, or about .83 liters per 100 kilometers.

The production version of the carbon fiber vehicle may get a twin cylinder diesel engine along with a possible hybrid drive of some sort. For maximum compactness, the vehicle features the driver in the center of the car with one passenger sitting behind in a cockpit-like arrangement. No word as of yet on price, but it seems that VW is hoping that the government can step in to reduce the cost for purchasers.

[Source: Car Magazine Online]

The initial batch of Volkswagen Jetta TDIs have started to appear at Volkswagen dealers around the country and at least one dealer in Virginia is reporting a lot of interest. Jay Pichardo of Greenbrier Volkswagen posted a photo of the first demo vehicle and some initial stats. In the first 24 hours, thirteen people took the car out for test drives and ten people put down deposits on the new fifty-state legal diesel. According to Pichardo, the car has averaged 49mpg over the first 120 miles. Interestingly the car is emblazoned with graphics that emphasize the fact that the car is not a concept. We're waiting patiently for Volkswagen to send a Jetta over to the ABG Garage for our own evaluation of real world mileage. Keith, you know where to reach me.

[Source: Motive Mag]

Volkswagen has received an award for its latest powertrain combination of a TFSI engine with a DSG gearbox. The German car club Kraftfahrer-Schutz e. V. has given a "Golden Drop of Oil" prize to VW for the 120hp 1.4L TFSI paired up with the new 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox. The club jurors gave the award for the fuel consumption and emissions reductions that VW achieved with the this setup. In the Golf, this pairing achieves 39.9 mpg (U.S.) combined. That's a 20 percent reduction in consumption compared to the older, larger displacement engine combination with a conventional automatic transmission. The turbocharged and direct injected engine also offers 60 percent better mid-range torque.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Over the last year or so, Porsche has been grabbing chunks of Volkswagen, slowly but surely. It is clear what the German manufacturer of luxurious sportscars is attempting: a takeover of VW, which is the largest automaker in Germany. There are still laws and regulations standing it its way, but Porsche may have the backing of the European Union, which could have the power to change laws currently protecting Volkswagen from a takeover. It has long been assumed that Porsche's plan was to lump its products along with the more fuel efficient models from VW, which could allow the company to avoid paying large fines for not meeting carbon output regulations.

As it stands right now, Porsche seemingly has no choice but to offer more fuel efficient and lower emission models. To that end, it has announced hybrid versions of its Cayenne and upcoming Panamera sedan. Also possible is a diesel engine for its utility vehicle. By gobbling up Volkswagen, Porsche could dial back on these fuel-saving models and get back to its high performance ways without fear of excessive penalties.

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

It has been said numerous times that German automakers are upset with European proposals which would limit CO₂ output to around 120 grams per kilometer. Perhaps we shouldn't be lumping Volkswagen or its subsidiaries into that category. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of VW, has admitted that the VW brands, including luxury carmaker Audi, can achieve those low carbon standards. In fact, Winterkorn believes that the standards are achievable today, not by 2015 as proposals would require. Technologies which would allow the low carbon output are already being used. Direct injection and turbocharging are quickly becoming a staple of automakers like Volkswagen and Audi since those technologies allow the production of more power and the reduction of fuel consumption.

Another interesting tidbit from Winterkorn is that he believes that plug-in electric vehicles will become the fuel-saving technology of choice in the coming years. As you may be aware, Germany gets the vast majority of its power from coal, which is an extremely dirty process. For this reason, the VeeDub leader suggests that the country take a look at nuclear for its power needs.

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

Volkswagen has seen fit to offer stop/start technology on the next generation of its little hatchback, the Golf... or the Rabbit if you happen to live in the United States. To go along with the gasoline and carbon-saving technology, Vee Dub will add a BlueMotion label to all Golfs so-equipped. Although the stop/start technology will be standard on the BlueMotion Golf, it will also be optional on other models, according to Automotive News. So far, we have no indication on what powertrains the half-hybrid systems will be offered with, but we do know, and have already written about, new small engine options for the sixth-generation of the Golf. Considering how close we are to the planned late 2008 or early 2009 launch of the new hatch, we're sure that this new small-bore engine won't be available right away.

Expect to see VW's new stop/start technology trickle upwards to other models in its range. As is usually the case, the cost of the associated hardware will surely go down as it is installed in more and more vehicles.

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

The issues that Porsche has had with legislation which would require it to meet the same strict fuel efficiency and emissions goals as economy car makers has been well documented. While Lamborghini has apparently decided that it should get a free pass considering how few vehicles it sells, Porsche would have a tough time with that argument now that it competes in so many market segments and makes so much profit. So, what options could the German purveyor of fine automobiles have to meet the demands of the governments? How about Porsche-fying smaller, more efficient vehicles from other manufacturers under the same umbrella? According to German mag Autobild, that may be exactly what Porsche is considering. Based on a Volkswagen Golf, the new Porsche hatchback would reportedly be ready for the 2012 model year. Perhaps a Porsche-tuned version of the Scirocco would be a better option. Remember, though, that VW and Porsche have worked together on other models in the past. We have no idea if this rumor is even remotely accurate, but we can hear the cries coming from Porsche-lovers already.

[Source: Motive Forums via German Car Blog]

Volkswagen has been one of the leaders in recent years in the area of downsizing engines. The German company was one of the first to start employing boosted and direct injected small displacement four cylinder engines to replace larger displacement equivalents. Yes, I know turbocharged engines have been used by the likes of Saab and others for years. I'm speaking specifically of the latest DI versions that are able to run higher boost and compression without pre-ignition. The same technology is being implemented by manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford, Mazda and many others.

The Golf, Jetta, Touran and other models have all introduced 1.4L TFSI engines in recent years to replace similarly-powered 1.8L units. Now, Volkswagen is preparing to go one better next year with new TFSI units of 1.0L or 1.2L sizes. Volkswagen has reportedly not yet decided whether to go with a three or four cylinder unit which is what will determine the displacement. The new engine should produce in the neighborhood of 75hp.

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

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

Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn has announced that the company will be partnering with Sanyo to further develop lithium ion batteries for automotive applications. Earlier this month, the group's Audi division announced that it would use Sanyo's nickel metal hydride batteries in upcoming Q7 hybrid. This agreement goes beyond that with the focus being on lithium for both hybrid and all electric vehicles. In the past nine months, VW has shown two concepts using lithium ion batteries, the A1 project Quattro and the Golf TDI Hybrid. Volkswagen's target is to get a lithium ion battery hybrid to market by 2010. That time line is also likely to be when the first VW/Audi hybrids start coming to the U.S. market. When I spoke to Audi engineers in Europe last month, they indicated that they didn't plan launch a U.S. market hybrid until they could do a lithium ion battery. Eventually the VW Group plans to introduce full battery electric vehicles, probably powered by Sanyo lithium batteries.

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is coming to VW dealers this summer as the first of the new batch of 50 state clean diesels and the official EPA fuel economy numbers are now out. The diesel has come in with ratings of 30mpg on the urban cycle and 41mpg on the highway cycle. Those numbers are a bit lower than expected, with Volkswagen having implied previously implied that 40mpg both city and highway were possible. More recently they have indicated that real world highway figures of up to 60mpg were possible.

Regardless of the expectations we might have had, these numbers are a huge improvement over the current 2.5L five cylinder and 2.0L turbo offerings. The 34mpg combined figure is a 41.7 percent improvement over the 2.5L and 36 percent boost over the 2.0L. The Prius is rated at 48/45mpg city/highway. We'll be looking forward to our chance to evaluate a new Jetta TDI to see how it does in the real world.

Update: We just talked to VW spokesman Keith Price about the EPA numbers and his response was that the VW TDIs typically do better in real world mileage performance than the official ratings. We'll reserve judgement until we get our hands on one in late June.


[Source: FuelEconomy.gov, thanks to Joseph for the tip]

Volkswagen is undoubtedly a big proponent of diesel engines, having introduced them to the U.S. market in the late 1970s and then continuing to offer them here on and off since then. The next big push starts this summer with the new Jetta TDI followed at the end of the year by the new Touareg TDI. Most manufacturers and analysts have been projecting that diesels would eventually capture about 10-15 percent of the U.S. market over the next decade. Volkswagen, however, is being significantly more bullish, at least with respect to their own lineup.

At the Automotive News Europe Congress in Turin, Italy VW director of powertrain research projected that over the next ten years diesel would account for 30 percent of the company's U.S. sales. This projection is actually not much of a stretch for VW. Historically when VW has offered diesels in the US, they have accounted for 15 percent of sales. The Jetta is VW's top selling nameplate in the U.S. and the TDI is projected to account for about 40 percent of those sales. As more diesels are added in the coming years, doubling the market share to 30 percent seems entirely plausible.

[Source: Autoweek]

Click David Jurca's Jetta for a high res gallery

The second Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race went into the books today with David Jurca taking the checkered flag at the Mosport track near Bowmanville, Ont. For the second straight race, Josh Hurley started from the number 1 position on the grid but failed to capitalize in the race. This time around he finished fifth in the thirty-minute race. This time around the weather wasn't as good as the first race at VIRginia International Raceway with intermittent rain causing issues for the drivers running on slick tires. Of the four Canadian drivers in the field, Chris Holman of Burlington Ontario had the best result, following Jurca home in second place. Unfortunately a coming together of cars in the first turn quickly brought out the yellow flag which lasted for almost half of the race leaving only 15 minutes of real racing. Hopefully, VW will succeed in getting other race organizers to extend the length of future races to 45 minutes allowing for more track time. Full results are after the jump.

Since winning the "Best New Engine of 2006" award from the International Engine of the Year committee, Volkswagen's Twincharger TSI engine has taken the 1.0 to 1.4 liter category by storm, taking the class victory last year and again for 2008. Cited reasons for the win include the engine's high power output and low gasoline consumption. Other awards have been given to the engine, including two in Japan, an Auto Environment Certificate from the ÖKO-TREND Institute for Environmental Research and the "TechnoBest" award from the 15-nation AutoBest jury in Istanbul. Not too shabby, if you ask us. These awards make us want to see this engine make its way from Europe to the states even more. Although the U.S. gets a turbocharged engine labeled TSI, it is unfortunately not the same as the turbo and supercharged engine that these awards have been given to. Volkswagen, if you're listening out there, we'll gladly take the 1.4 Twincharger TSI in the new CC. Thanks!

Huge demand in Great Britain for Volkswagen's BlueMotion variants of the Polo and Golf has prompted the company to restrict sales to fleet markets. Requirements for local councils and other agencies to meet efficiency and greenhouse gas standards has prompted many of them to opt for the fuel thrifty Germans. Unfortunately, fleet buyers could have absorbed the entire vehicle allotment for the country. Volkswagen also wants the cars available in dealer showrooms for retail sales as waiting times for the cars across Europe are three times that for conventional VW models. Volkswagen has also limited deliveries to car rental companies like Green Motion and car sharing clubs like Streetcar. The Polo BlueMotion is rated at only 99g/km for CO2 emissions while the larger Golf BlueMotion is under 120g/km.

[Source: BusinessCar]