At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, VW showed this stunning little roadster, dubbed the BlueSport. It’s got all the stuff to make a gearhead’s heart flutter: 180HP engine, 6.6 seconds zero to 100 km/h, mid-engine/rear drive top speed is around 140, drop top, a 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission, the usual. But here’s the kicker: the BlueSport gets 57 miles to the gallon, because it’s got a diesel engine.
That’s right, the BlueSport is an oil burner.
bluesport_roadster
Not only will this help VW with increases in the CAFE, but there’s some serious enviro cred right there.
Now, anyone will tell you that running Bio-diesel in a new car is probably a bad idea, and most definitely is bad for your warranty … but you know, new cars become old cars, and if you wanted to have fun off the grid, six and a half second to sixty + nearly 60MPG fun, the BlueSport looks like a real good option.
Of course, VW is saying this is only a show car … no immediate plans for production … yadda-yadda-yadda - but c’mon! They’d be dumber than a bag of hammers not to bring this out. It’s production ready as any show car I’ve seen and apart from having a soft top, (rather than a now industry standard retractable hardtop) looks like a winner.
volkswagen is working on a plug-in hybrid version of the Golf/Rabbit, named Twin Drive, for introduction in 2011. A basic proof-of-concept version using a diesel engine is currently testing, in a 20-car fleet, in Berlin. But at the Golf 6 launch, VW engineers said the production version will be gasoline-powered because emission controls will soon get too expensive for a hybrid. The Golf Twin Drive’s electric-only range is targeted at 30 miles.
Although VW engineers talk of the Twin Drive’s gas engine as a range extender, the gasoline motor is clutched to the wheels. That’s quite unlike GM’s Volt, where the combustion engine never drives the wheels mechanically.
There is no conventional transmission in the Twin Drive, however, its absence helping to offset the weight of the electric motor. The single-gear ratio is equivalent to the top gear in a normal car. So the electric motor is needed to supply the low-end torque to get the car rolling to about 30 mph, when the combustion engine is clutched in and starts. The electric assist then rapidly fades, but is re-energized for acceleration boost.
2011 Volkswagen Golf
There’s 40 hp of regeneration braking. Reversing is electric-only. An “e-mode” button can be pressed in ZEV-only areas, which inhibits the gas engine completely.
The 350-lb battery pack is by Sanyo, with lithium-ion cells. Capacity is 12 KWh, though it is normally depleted only by 8 KWh. It is located in the trunk floor, so apart from an absence of spare tire this Rabbit has the same packaging as the base car.
The gas engine is a 1.4L turbo direct-injection four on experimental cars, but a production version would likely take a cylinder off that, producing a 1.05L triple of 100 hp, plus the electric boost when needed. This downsized-with-turbo concept gives high fuel efficiency and added flexibility to cope with the absence of intermediate gears.
The system controller is linked to the vehicle’s navigation system, so it calculates when best to use up the available battery charge — if the system knows an urban area is ahead, it will run longer on the gasoline engine. It will also ensure the car arrives at its destination with batteries depleted, ready to take on cheap electricity rather than expensive gasoline.
VW is setting up a partnership with German electric utility E.ON, which, according to the VW engineers, has spare night-power capacity to charge 10 million electric vehicles.
The 2009 Routan, Volkswagen’s all-new seven-passenger minivan, delivers the best of both worlds: a vehicle that combines German sensibilities in design, fit and finish and European ride and handling characteristics, together with market relevant features while still delivering an outstanding value.
The Volkswagen Routan comes with a standard six-speed automatic transmission mated to a 3.8L V6 with 197 horsepower and 230 lbs. ft. of torque or an available 4.0L V6 with 253 horsepower and 262 lbs. ft. of torque.
Prices for Volkswagen Routan 2009 starts from $24,700 for the S model, $29,600 for the SE model and $33,200 for the well equipped SEL model.
Coming to Grips With the BMW X3 and Honda CR-V in VW's All-Wheel-Drive Sport-Utility.
18 months after first signaling its intent to enter the growing market for compact SUVs with its fanciful Concept A showcar, Volkswagen has pulled the wraps off the definitive production version of the new four-wheel-drive 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Little brother to the Touareg, the new five-seater is aiming to lock horns with popular compact sport-utilities like the Acura RDX and Honda CR-V, while providing buyers with an affordable alternative to more prestigious entries such as the BMW X3 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK. Set to make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show before going on sale across Europe in November, the Tiguan should appear in North American showrooms next June. It will be positioned slightly above the Japanese competition but well below its more luxuriously equipped German rivals, and our sources at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, tell us it'll be priced at about $27,000.
Let's Get Practical Styled under the leadership of Murat Gunak, Volkswagen's former design boss, the Tiguan boasts a number of cues first established on the Concept A, including its bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment. But while the Concept A received a rather sporting, coupelike silhouette with a roof line that plunged to the rear, the production version of Volkswagen's new SUV is far more upright toward the rear in a move clearly aimed at providing it with greater practicality.
The overall look with its muscular body surfacing has been previewed by the preproduction Tiguan showcar wheeled out at last year's Los Angeles auto show. But while the showcar wore towering 19-inch wheels to give it a particularly sporty stance, the production version is far more conservatively equipped with 17-inch wheels likely to be made standard in North America. Those seeking to inject some added snap to the Tiguan's appearance can specify optional 18-inch wheels along with a panoramic glass roof that stretches the length of the new Volkswagen's cabin. Two versions are planned, each with its own distinct front end. The more road-friendly iteration to be sold in North America gets a deep front bumper that limits approach angles to 18 degrees. In other markets, including Europe, there will be an off-road version with a front bumper shaped to handle more severe approach angles of up to 28 degrees.
At 174.3 inches in length, 71.2 inches in width and 66.3 inches in height, the Tiguan is 3.7 inches shorter, 0.4 inch narrower and 5.0 inches lower than the CR-V. Nominal ground clearance is put at 7.4 inches for the American edition of the Tiguan.
Euro Architecture for the Interior If the interior of the new Volkswagen looks familiar, it's no coincidence. In a bid to keep development costs down, Volkswagen has provided its new SUV with the same basic cabin architecture as the European-market Golf Plus, a high-roof version of its perennial best-seller that first came to market in 2003.
The Tiguan and the Golf Plus share the same basic dashboard, switchgear and trims, but Volkswagen is using the Tiguan to launch a new entertainment system developed in cooperation with Siemens that features a 6.5-inch color touchscreen. Meanwhile, a 30-gigabyte hard disk delivers data to a comprehensive navigation system that includes an off-road mode to allow up to 500 route points to be recorded during a journey across the trackless waste. (VW has become known for its participation in the Dakar rally raid through North Africa, after all.)
Seating is for five, although the middle rear seat is compromised somewhat by a raised cushion. To extend rear legroom, the split rear seats can be manually adjusted fore and aft through a range of 6.3 inches. Trunk space, meanwhile, is put at a competitive but far from class-leading 16.6 cubic feet, some 1.9 cubic feet less than that offered by the CR-V.
Power From the Golf GTI Volkswagen will offer the Tiguan from the outset of sales with three different gasoline engines. For European markets, there will be updated 150-bhp and 170-bhp (DIN) versions of its award-winning 1.4-liter four-cylinder Twincharger engine, with its combination of supercharging and turbocharging. North America will get the 200-hp (SAE) turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from the VW GTI. Also planned to make its way into the Tiguan is the German carmaker's yet-to-be-revealed 2.0-liter four-cylinder common-rail diesel. It will feature low-emissions Bluetec technology when it comes to the U.S.
The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, although North American buyers will also be able to option the Tiguan initially with a six-speed automatic and, later on, a VW dual-shift gearbox (DSG) offering both manual and automatic modes. Two versions of the DSG are planned: a new seven-speed in combination with the Twincharger engines and an updated version of today's six-speed with the turbo 2.0-liter four.
Which Way to Dakar? Channeling drive to all four wheels is a multiplate Haldex center differential, essentially the same VW 4Motion hardware found in the new VW R32. The European-market version of the Tiguan will also be equipped with an electronically controlled differential, plus altered throttle mapping, hill-descent control and an automatic hill holder. In addition, the ABS antilock braking system will change its threshold of intervention to accommodate off-road driving.
Although the Tiguan relies on the same basic mechanical setup as the Golf, with a transversely mounted engine, it has a unique 102.5-inch wheelbase and slightly wider 61.8-inch track front and rear. Other significant changes concern the steering, which features a new speed-sensitive electrohydraulic setup that is claimed to provide greater feel than the Golf's ZF system while filtering out steering kickback from off-road impacts.
In its lightest European-spec form, the Tiguan weighs 3,411 pounds, so America can expect at least another 100 pounds of metal.
Tested in the Land of Sand Dunes and Elephants We recently drove prototypes of the VW Tiguan on some of the world's most rugged roads in the former German colony of Namibia in Africa, and it seemed remarkably similar in character to a Golf on the bitumen — no coincidence, given their similar underpinnings.
Despite its taller build, this new Volkswagen four-wheel-drive quasi-truck displayed progressive handling with confidence-building response when pushed hard in corners. At high speed, it had excellent stability. The ride was nicely compliant on pockmarked roads and the steering seemed as linear as that of the Golf and unmolested by off-road priorities. It's an easy vehicle to settle into, requiring little effort from the driver.
Even more impressive is its off-road ability. For something conceived primarily for the road, the Tiguan makes a good fist of the rough stuff. We managed to traverse steep grades and rocky trails without too much trouble in the Euro-spec off-road version, compromised only by a lack of real ground clearance. All of which makes Volkswagen's decision not to sell the more rugged version of its new entry-level SUV in North America rather puzzling.
Built in Wolfsburg The Tiguan will be assembled at Volkswagen's traditional Wolfsburg-based factory in Germany alongside the European-market Touran. VW plans to build a lot of them, some 120,000 per year with about 40,000 headed to North America. It's a big number, but comparable to sales of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Volkswagen figures that fuel-economy concerns in the U.S. won't be enough to squash the interest of Americans in the sport-utility package and instead will shift attention to compact sport-utilities. The 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan will try to ride the same wave of enthusiasm that's making the BMW X3 and Honda CR-V more familiar sights on American highways.'s All-Wheel-Drive Sport-Utility.
Yes, after B,B+ and B++ yet another Hatchback segment is going to evolve in India. Fiat has officially confirmed that it will launch its two door lifestyle car Fiat 500 Cinquecento and Bravo in India soon. “These cars (Cinquecento and Bravo) will pave the way for two of our mainstream launches, the Fiat Linea sedan and the Grande Punto hatchback which will be launched in September and December 2008 respectively,” said a Fiat spokesperson. “We expect to sell the Fiat 500 to people who want to make an automotive statement but don’t want to show-off with another big limousine,” the Fiat spokesperson added. “We expect it to be a hit with the celebrity circuit and trendsetters in the metros since they are aware of the value a genuine lifestyle statement the 500 makes.” An 1.4L petrol engine developing 100bhp will power the Fiat 500 Cinquecento.
BMW which has been conducting a feasibility study for the introduction of Mini in India seems to made up its mind. “We are now finalising the details and we think there is a small yet definite market for Mini in India. But do not expect it to be cheap,” said Peter Kronschnabl, President of BMW India.
European ‘people’s car,’ Volkswagen’s Beetle will hit Indian roads by the middle of this year. “Volkswagen is known as Beetle in India. We have studied the market and feel that there is space for Beetle. We are planning to make it available in the middle of this year through imports,” Prinz said. Volkswagen Beetle will be available in 1.9 litre TDI diesel variant as early as April-May this year.
These cars is sure to push Indian’s love on hatchback to a new extent. But there will be only few takers as these cars will be priced upwards Rs15 lakhs
Volkswagen group which has made great strides with Audi,Skoda and Volkswagen in the passenger car segment is now eyeing commercial vehicles segment in India. Volkswagen will launch two mini vans - caravelle and crafter in India by November - December. These two vans will be primary targeting the business class and will be imported from Germany as completely built units (CBU). Caravelle is a 6-9 seater passenger carrier and the 3.5 tonne crafter is 15 seater which can be converted into a cargo carrier.
Caravelle:
The caravelle is actually not a van but a MPV based on the van. Caravelle is essentially a plusher, passenger version of the Transporter van and sold through Volkswagn’s car dealership in Europe. In Europe Caravelle is offered in three engine options: - 1.9 TDI PD (104bhp), 2.5 TDI PD (130bhp) and 2.5 TDI PD (174bhp). This 6-9 seater gives you the luxury of folding the middle seats. It can also be slide and removed but they also swivel round to face backwards, converting the back of the car into a mobile boardroom. If you wish, you can place a table in the middle.
Caravelle’s spacious interiors, luxurious and sophiscated cabin makes it ideal for every CEOs to work at run. Volkswagen Caravelle will be priced around Rs45 lakhs and will compete with Mercedes Viano. To know more about caravelle visit http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/caravelle/
Crafter:
Crafter a multi utility van which can be converted into a cargo carrier is built by Volkswagen jointly with Mercedes. Infact Crafter shares few mechanicals with Mercedes cargo carrier the sprinter. Crafter is available with a choice of three wheelbases, three roof heights and four load lengths in western markets. If Volkswagen brings the crafter with these much number of variants, I can bet that you will find a Crafter that suits your needs. Crafter will be available with a 2.5L common rail engine.
Crafter is equipped with host of safety features which includes front airbags (standard), and side and curtain airbags (optional), anti-lock braking system (ABS), Load Adapting Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti Slip Regulation (traction control) (ASR), and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL).
However, unlike previously believed, the Volkswagen Jetta is not priced to take on Honda City and Maruti SX4 in India. The cheapest Jetta 1.6L starts at 12.97 lakhs (petrol, Delhi), the Jetta Trendline diesel is priced at 13.22 lakh while the high end version, the 1.9 diesel TDI Comfortline model with DSG automatic transmission will cost as much at Rs 17 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).
The Volkswagen Jetta comes with three variants and 2 engines in India. The first is a 1.6 litre petrol and the second a 1.9 litre diesel pump deuse engine. At the current price, Volkswagen Jetta will compete with the Honda Civic, the lower models of the Skoda and the Camry.
The Volkswagen Jetta can reach a top speed of 187 kmph, which we think is a bit slow when compared to other cars which can attain nearly the same speed for a few lakhs less. The Jetta will come in 2 versions Trendline and Comfortline. The petrol Trendline Jetta comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox while the higher version - diesel Comfortline - will sport a six-speed automatic gearshift. The petrol Jetta, claims Volkswagen, can accelerate from standstill to 100 kmph in just 12.2 seconds, while the diesel Jetta will reach the same speed in 11.8 seconds.
Airbags are standard in the Volkswagen Jetta, though the full set of eight airbags are reserved for the higher diesel Comfortline model only. There are arm rests in the front as well as the rear, a quiet comfort while you go on long drives. The retractable armrests have thoughtfully-integrated storage space and cupholders. The Jetta has 2 AC vents at the rear too, besides 2-zone climate control. For added convenience, the Jetta incorporates coming-home and leaving-home lighting and rain sensors on windshields.
For safety, Volkswagen has loaded the Jetta with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the Electronic Stabilisation Program with steering assist. The car comes with a built-in anti-theft system.
The design of the Jetta mostly sticks to the model being sold abroad. The Jetta has a sporty radiator grille, elegant chrome trim on the side windows (Comfortline) and colour-keyed bumpers, door handles and door mirror housings with integral twin signals.
Functions like opening and closing windows, boot etc can be done with a remote control in the Jetta. The interiors are spacious and the glove box come with a cooling facility. The VW Jetta’s digital display gives information about average speed, fuel consumption and range. The Jetta boot can hold a total of 527 litres.
Though a good car in many respects, we feel the Volkswagen Jetta is overpriced. The high price has more to do with the fact that components of Jetta are imported from Mexico and assembled at Skoda’s Aurangabad factory. Once Volkswagen completes its Chakan plant and start sourcing spares from Indian suppliers, as it has promised, we feel the Jetta can be priced lower to offer strong competition in the Rs 9 lakh- Rs 11 lakh segment. It’s a good car, which deserves to be sold to a lot more people.
Delhi).