Hybrid and Diesel Alternative...... - GreenHybrid

Archslater · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 06:18 AM

From my new Car and driver...... Don't have it in front of me so this is from memory.

Volkswagon is selling a "Golf GT" in Europe with a 1.4 cylinder gas engine that is both supercharged AND turbocharged. The car has around 170 hp and 170 ft/lbs of torgue and is rated at 46 mpg highway and I think around 28 mpg city. Can't remember the specifics, but there are not current plans to import it into the U.S. They say that it gets mileage similar to their diesels, and yet is cheaper to produce than diesel engines.....

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars...&engine_id=909

Sounds promising.....

Lilarienne · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 06:51 AM

My husband drives a TDI Jetta and told me the other day that VW is not going to offer new TDI's in the US for 2007. I wonder when/if they will again.

gonavy · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 07:08 AM

They are stopping sales because new diesels will fall under new emisisons requirements that cannot be achieved using ultra-low sulphur fuel alone. VW is taking 07 to retweak the engine and bring it back to the US in 08 in-spec.

Archslater · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonavy

They are stopping sales because new diesels will fall under new emisisons requirements that cannot be achieved using ultra-low sulphur fuel alone. VW is taking 07 to retweak the engine and bring it back to the US in 08 in-spec.

Car and Driver speculated that the new TSI turbocharged/supercharged engine could be signaling a shift away from diesel for VW. They said that to get a diesel as clean as a comparable gas engine in Europe, the diesel engine had to be very complicated.

clett · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 04:38 PM

VW and Mercedes are actually moving into a more "central" position" with regards to gasoline and diesel!

Both claim to be developing generic engines using compression ignition that can run equally well on gasoline or diesel or any mixture in between. They cite the advantages in efficiency of the diesel cycle, and roughly halving future development costs by having to manufacture only one type of engine for all markets.

PS Edited to say that the mpg figures in the linked page are UK gallons, not US (divide by 1.2 to convert). The pulldown menu above the data shows that the equivalent diesel Golf gets 30% more mpgs than the TSi.

Archslater · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2006, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clett

VW and Mercedes are actually moving into a more "central" position" with regards to gasoline and diesel!

Both claim to be developing generic engines using compression ignition that can run equally well on gasoline or diesel or any mixture in between. They cite the advantages in efficiency of the diesel cycle, and roughly halving future development costs by having to manufacture only one type of engine for all markets.

PS Edited to say that the mpg figures in the linked page are UK gallons, not US (divide by 1.2 to convert). The pulldown menu above the data shows that the equivalent diesel Golf gets 30% more mpgs than the TSi.

The diesel Golf GT gets better mileage but has 30 less horsepower and accelerates to 60 mph 1.5 seconds slower. I wouldn't say that it is equivalent to the TSI engine.