Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Green, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen
Frankfurt Preview: VW Golf BlueMotion gets over 52 mpg
click above image for gallery
Fresh from ditching its collaboration with Mercedes-Benz on BLUETEC diesel technology, Volkswagen will be showing its newest economical diesel offering at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month – the Golf BlueMotion. BlueMotion is VW's own line of ultra fuel-efficient cars, and the Golf qualifies by achieving 52.26 mpg, or sipping 4.5L of diesel fuel every 100 kilometers. The darn thing can go 745 miles on a single tank of diesel!
The miserly and super clean Golf is powered by a VW TDI engine producing 103 horsepower and 184 ft-lbs. of torque, specs that, while hardly inspiring, ensure it's not a danger while passing. As a BlueMotion vehicle, this new Golf incorporates many interesting tech touches to help it save gas, including a lower engine idle speed; longer gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth; and a sculpted underbody to decrease drag. The car will retail for €20,615 or the equivalent of $28,236 USD.
As mentioned, VW will officially unveil the Golf BlueMotion in Frankfurt and will have five other BlueMotion models on hand, as well.
[Source: VW]
Gallery: Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion
PRESS RELEASE:
First Facts on the Golf BlueMotion:
- World premiere of the most economical Golf at the IAA
- 4.5 liter fuel consumption and 119 g/km CO2: New Golf BlueMotion sets environmentally-friendly benchmarks in the compact class
Wolfsburg, 13 August 2007 - Volkswagen will be firing off the next salvo of its BlueMotion initiative at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. In total, six new models with technology that is as economical as it is environmentally friendly, will debut at the world's largest car show. One of the highlights there: The new Golf BlueMotion. At just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers, its fuel consumption has been reduced by a full 0.6 liters compared to the original model. Similarly, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 135 g/km to 119 g/km. Actions taken on the BlueMotion make it so efficient that now distances of more than 1,200 kilometers are possible on just one Golf tank of fuel (55 liter). Market introduction of the Golf BlueMotion in Germany is scheduled for the end of this year.
Details of the new Golf BlueMotion: After the Polo, Passat and Passat Variant, the Golf is now the fourth Volkswagen to wear the new BlueMotion environmental badge on its radiator grille and rear hatch that identifies it as the most economical model of the car series. The Golf BlueMotion is driven by a TDI with 77 kW / 105 PS and a hefty 250 Newton-meter of torque that has already achieved recognition as an efficient engine.
A software intervention in engine management reduces the idling speed of this diesel combined with a particulate filter and simultaneously improves its emission behavior. With longer gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth gears, engine speed levels are also lower while driving. These actions alone reduce consumption by about 0.2 liter.
Less apparent but no less necessary for a plus in economy are the thoroughly trimmed and thereby flow-optimized underbody as well as the nearly enclosed radiator grille. To ensure that the TDI engine still gets enough cooling air, the Golf BlueMotion has an effective dual fan. Thanks to aerodynamic design measures, including lowering of the chassis, the cW value of 0.32, which in itself is a good value, was further improved to 0.30.
In the hunt for every gram of CO2 Volkswagen is also relying on light-running tires, size 195 / 65 R 15, optimized for low rolling resistance; they are driven at higher air pressure, increased by 0.3 bar. When all of the modifications come together in the end product, the top speed of the Golf rises from 187 km/h to an electronically limited 190 km/h.
When it comes to equipment options, the Golf BlueMotion customer can choose between the Trendline and Comfortline. In addition to basic equipment, special Blue Motion specification is also on board. The base price of the Golf BlueMotion Trendline is 20,615 euro and this makes it just 315 euro more than the base price of a Golf 1.9 TDI Trendline. When adjustments are made for equipment options, the BlueMotion is even more economical than previous TDI versions with 105 PS and soot particulate filter. Besides the aerodynamic modifications already mentioned, standard equipment includes the Multifunctional Display Plus (MFA Plus) with gear recommendation arrow and a sports chassis. Thanks to its attractive price positioning, the purchase of a Golf BlueMotion already pays off from the first kilometer – and not just for the environment, but also for customers' budgets.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:44PM (8/13/2007)
This is great. Even with the increased hydrocarbon content in Diesel, this is similar to 45mpg in a gas car.
Of course, a Geo Metro XFi gets 58mpg highway on gas. But then again, it only had 49 HP.
Making cars fuel efficient is not magic, it's not even new. But you have to start by giving up on performance. For example, check out the narrow, high-pressure tires on the Golf above.
It'd be great if car companies would make more fuel-efficient regular cars. Although I have nothing against hybrids, there is a market for economical cars at a lower price than hybrids currently can meet. It's time for the return of the econo-box.
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Mike 1:15PM (8/13/2007)
Maybe I'm missing something (happens all the time).
I would think that with pretty much every car being controlled by computer and drive-by-wire systems becoming more popular that it should be pretty easy to release a fuel map that prevents jack-rabbit starts and contains an "econ" mode.
You would likely want full HP on tap for merging or emergencies (just make a WOT map that ignores MPG). You're not going to get diesel or hybid numbers, but I'm pretty confident that you'd be able to get a 10% increase. All this with pretty much zero cost.
Of course people will say the car doesn't drive like they want it to. So add a second fuel map and a switch (the Audi and VW guys do this all the time with GAIC chips) that way the auto makers can give you the option. Many automatics used to come with a performance shift/econ shift mode. This is just taking it a bit further.
I suppose the testing for MPG already includes slow steady starts etc. But with the new "real world" MPG ratings this might give some of that back for CAFE standards. Since people are really concerned with their ACTUAL mpg this could be a way improve with limited expense.
You could also do the same thing by gluing a wooden block to the back of your gas pedel.
Any thoughts on this type of solution? You can still get your 250 hp, but in a way that will encourage you to save a bit more gas, while still giving you all the HP you need.
Guenther 5:36PM (8/13/2007)
Mike- cars with automatics (overwhelming majority in the US) are already mapped in that fashion to perform well in EPA testing. While in the bounds of whats needed to run the FTP cycle, the car will obediently up-shift and act as frugal as it can with the given hardware. This is part of the reason why most people never see "EPA ratings" for mileage. New, more aggressive tests are coming to shake up this practice a bit.
Don 8:58PM (8/13/2007)
Who the hell wants one for $28,236 USD?
Bugger 12:46PM (8/13/2007)
Yet another Jewel we probably will not see in the US.
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Mr. Oak 1:20PM (8/13/2007)
Jewel? While no one needs 500hp, who wants to drive this thing. Look, I'll just keep my big assed car, with it's smooth assed Hi-Po V6 and my 1.5 mile drive to the train station and ride "Mass Transit" to work.
Ultra high MPG = Ultra shitty cars. I am a grown man with a family to haul around, sometimes their friends tag along.
Here is a list of cars that I will never buy.
Prius
Fit
Golf/Rabbit - Also because it's a Volkswagen.
Just about any car with a 4 cylinder engine that not a:
Mazdaspeed3, Lotus Elise, Mazda Mx5/Miata, Solstice, S2000.
Juan 2:06PM (8/13/2007)
I'd like to know how Mr. Oak plans on fitting his family into the Lotus Elise, Mazda Mx5/Miata, Solstice, or S2000.
Mr. Oak 4:36PM (8/13/2007)
Juan: those cars mentioned are toys for pleasure driving. Afraid u can't get that from a this lowly diesel wabbit.
Jorge 8:06PM (8/13/2007)
one man trash is another man treasure
it is not Mr.Oak right to criticize the people who is willing to give up some power to keep money in the pocket and also sleep better knowing that you are helping the environment.
mdm-adph 12:56PM (8/14/2007)
I'll never understand some people...
184 ft/lbs of torque in a car this size hauls ass (I drive a TDI myself). Remember -- you buy horsepower, you drive torque.
frank 12:55PM (8/13/2007)
0 to 60 in 1:45 seconds
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Jim in Tampa 1:05PM (8/13/2007)
$28,236 USD for a Golf? I'll take the Civic EX for $10K less with 30/40 mpg and ULEV engine!
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Peter 1:07PM (8/13/2007)
And the civic will be lighter with more HP and better performance as well.
This shows why diesel is not going to take off.
Olivier 1:16PM (8/13/2007)
Stop comparing EUR prices with US prices, they don't match!
This is the equivalent price of the basic 1.9TDI Golf without any extras. It's cheaper than the European price of the petrol 2.0 FSI (150hp).
Yeah, it's cheap. And it runs high MPG. You can run 5 Golf instead of one Range Rover for the same distance nad the same amount of Fuel. Amazing!
And while doing so you didn't sacrifice security or comfort
Gregg 1:23PM (8/13/2007)
Those are European prices. All German cars cost much more there than they do here. Even the Rolls Royce at $325K+ here is a relative bargain when you have to pay up to $700K for the same model in some other countries. Europeans pay at least a third more for the smart car than we will when it is introduced here next spring. You can bet the Rabbit TDI will be far less than $28K when it arrives here. And with a bigger engine too.
Mike G 1:13PM (8/13/2007)
Yes 52 mpg is nice but can it overcompensate for my tiny penis??
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captain underpants and the bringdown gang 11:16PM (8/14/2007)
Well it depends on how you compensate for your tiny penis if you compensate by getting something that is GIGANTIC or maybe you compensate by having something tiny.
On another thought perhaps you could further increase the gas milage by making it a hybrid? get in the realm of the honda hybrid you know the little tin can that even a miata laughs at.
toronado455 1:19PM (8/13/2007)
I like the Golf. But $28K? The 2008 Prius starts at $21K.
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Louis Duran 3:57PM (8/13/2007)
"I like the Golf. But $28K? The 2008 Prius starts at $21K."
Right after someone else posted that American priced German cars won't match a simple exchange rate conversion, we get this genius' comment. And hybrids will require a $5-10K battery at around 10 years. Hybrids are overhyped. Clean diesels will dominate in the medium term future. Honda is likely going to eliminate all hybrids and start selling diesels in the US. (my speculation, since they dropped the Impact and Accord Hybrid)
Autoblog writers. Please stop speculating about prices by just doing a currency conversion. That never works.
The Jetta TDI expected next year is expected to cost roughly $1-2K more than the gas powered Jetta. This will probably be the same for the Rabbit if and when it is sold with a diesel motor.
gouzizi 1:20PM (8/13/2007)
Why the hell, there is always someone who is still trying to compare US and EU price with a simple currency calculation!!
There is a dozen of taxes US buyers do not pay.
A Golf GTI start at 22 000$ in US and start at 27 000 € in EU
27 000 € does 36 000$ with the stupid currency calculation!!
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