Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/#comments
Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

As Audi begins to roll out the A3 TDI to its U.S. dealers in the coming weeks and the diesel version of the Q7 takes an ever larger share of sales, it's time to celebrate. This Fall marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the first ever TDI engine. TDI, for the uninitiated, stands for turbocharged-direct-injection, and refers to modern diesel engines from the Volkswagen group. Today's TDI technology has evolved from the 20 year-old 2.5-liter five-cylinder in the Audi 100.

Back then, the first TDI engines retained distributor type injector pumps, although the fuel was sprayed directly into the combustion chambers rather than a pre-chamber. Later, the company used something called Pumpe Düse - pump-injectors - for fuel delivery. This design integrated the high pressure pump and injector for each cylinder. These days, TDI uses common rail injection where a single pump pressurizes a single fuel rail that feeds all of the injectors. Regardless of the injector type, TDI has gone a long way towards improving the power output and reducing emissions of diesel engines. Audi and Volkswagen have built over five million TDI powerplants and remain committed to the technology. Congratulations on the double-decade milestone, guys.

Gallery: Review: Audi A3 TDI


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI

All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, we'd better get used to the sound of a rumbling internal combustion engine churning away in our automobiles, ingesting dead dinos as they continue to be the dominate source of power for our automobiles for at least the next 15-20 years. The German automaker has big plans to invest in technologies to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, but most of the efficiency increases will come from refinements made to gasoline and diesel-burning powerplants.

VW is hedging its bets for the future, though, having recently partnered up with Toshiba to develop high-tech electric drive systems for future automobile applications. That's great, but Winterkorn says their adoption is "very far away." In the meantime (and very conveniently), Volkswagen has got some excellent diesel engines in many varying wrappers that it would be happy to sell anyone looking to decrease their daily fuel spending bills.

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

VW CEO: Daily use of electric cars "very far away" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric carelectric carsElectricCarElectricCarsgreenvolkswagenvolkswagen electric carvolkswagen tdiVolkswagenElectricCarVolkswagenTdivwvw electric carvw tdiVwElectricCarVwTdiTue, 03 Mar 2009 18:32:00 EST<![CDATA[On Again, Off Again: Winterkorn suggests Bentley diesel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/24/on-again-off-again-winterkorn-suggests-bentley-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/24/on-again-off-again-winterkorn-suggests-bentley-diesel/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/24/on-again-off-again-winterkorn-suggests-bentley-diesel/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bentleys are known, among other things, for their train-like torque delivery. But while Bentley has toyed with the idea of an oil-burning engine for its big saloons, the idea was ultimately rejected by the luxury automaker due to low market interest. However, Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Bentley's parent Volkswagen Group, has now suggested that diesel engines could make it under the Flying B bonnet after all.

Although previous reports placed one of the group's big V10 or V12 turbodiesels in a potential Bentley model, Winterkorn suggests something decidedly more compact. Namely, a twin-turbo version of the company's 3.0-liter TDI V6, currently under development for sister-company Audi's range-topping new A8. That may be a far cry from the Jurassic-era 6.75-liter V8 pictured above and currently found in the Arnage/Azure/Brooklands or the twin-turbo W12 in the Continental range, but Winterkorn appears more eager to lead the market than follow it.

[Source: AutoCar via AutoblogGreen]

On Again, Off Again: Winterkorn suggests Bentley diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click on the image above for our high-res gallery of the Golf VI

Volkswagen officials gave Autoblog some insight into their new model roll-out plans when we met with them earlier this week at the media drive for the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. First into showrooms will be the 3.0-liter Touareg TDI, scheduled to start production in Mid-February 2009. It will followed by the MK VI GTI, based on the new Golf making its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The 2.5-liter Rabbit (gas) and 2.0-liter Rabbit TDI (diesel) will follow in the fall. Absent from VW's diesel lineup is the Tiguan. Larger and heavier than the compact cars currently utilizing the 2.0-liter TDI, the engine would need an urea injection to meet emission standards -- and the crossover wasn't designed with a storage tank in mind. Sorry diesel fans, the Tiguan will be sitting this one out for a while.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf VI

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

VW Rabbit TDI confirmed for next fall, no diesel Tiguan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Jetta TDIJettaTdiRabbit TDIRabbitTdiTDI RabbitTdiRabbitTiguanTiguan TDITiguanTditouaregtouareg 2touareg dieselTouareg2TouaregDieselVolkswagen TDIVolkswagenTdiThu, 18 Sep 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Jetta TDI = hotcakes, Tiguan, not so much]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/jetta-tdi-hotcakes-tiguan-not-so-much/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/jetta-tdi-hotcakes-tiguan-not-so-much/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/14/jetta-tdi-hotcakes-tiguan-not-so-much/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Despite the fact that Volkswagen's 2009 Jetta TDI sedan and Sportwagen cost more and have yet to get here, plus fuel prices in the five-dollar range, customer desire for the sparkless VeeDubs is running high. Perhaps buyers don't realize that these ain't the old Rabbit rattlers that cost three cents to run and would rack up a billion miles with five tanks of fuel. TDI maintenance costs are not insignificant, but the allure of inherent efficiency has folks putting their money where their mouths are and some dealers have sold out before even taking delivery. All in all, an auspicious start for the latest TDI Jetta.

Not faring as well is the Tiguan, VW's smallest 'ute. While we find the Tiguan delightful to drive and well executed besides the smallish cargo area (Jetta Wagon FTW), the launch hasn't gone as swimmingly as Wolfsburg had hoped. Maybe the TDI powertrain could add some sales sparkle to the Tiguan. It would fit, being on basically the same platform as the Golf.

[Source: Automotive News]

Jetta TDI = hotcakes, Tiguan, not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>volkswagenvolkswagen dieselvolkswagen jettavolkswagen jetta tdivolkswagen jetta wagonvolkswagen tdivolkswagen tiguanVolkswagenDieselVolkswagenJettaVolkswagenJettaTdiVolkswagenJettaWagonVolkswagenTdiVolkswagenTiguanMon, 14 Jul 2008 21:15:00 EST