Volkswagen's Hackenberg Welcomes GM's Diesel Cars To America
Hackenberg talks to reporters from SAE Magazine and Fortune …
“It is good for the future of diesel in the USA that a domestic producer also uses a diesel engine,” said Volkswagen’s R&D Chief Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg today. “If the volume of diesel engines is increasing, then it makes sense to produce diesel engines in the U.S.A. That would be great for us and the customer,” Hackenberg said.
… while the social media reporters peruse social media, or food, or nurture their jetlag.
Hackenberg spoke to a group of U.S. bloggers and traditional media reporters today in Wolfsburg.
Chevrolet puts a turbo diesel into a Chevrolet Cruze sold in America. The engine is used by Opel in Europe and is imported just like Volkswagen’s diesel engines.
Around 20 percent of Volkswagen cars sold in the US already have diesel engines. “With the Jetta Sportwagon, that rate is up to 80 percent.” At those volumes, it is beginning to make sense to buy components from a domestic supplier,” Hackenberg said. He thinks that adoption of diesel technologies by U.S. manufacturers would be positive for all involved.
Hackenberg is about to take the reins of Audi’s R&D. Hackenberg will also be chief R&D coordinator of the Volkswagen Group.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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I've had two of the early VW diesels...slow, smoky, clattery. My 2012 Golf TDi is none of those. At 25k miles, the inside of the exhaust pipe is cleaner than a gas car. There is zero soot or oil on the back of the hatch...that slime every diesel car used to have is gone. Diesel fuel varies a lot in price, more than gas, but can be had for the price of mid-grade in most areas. Torque...ahhh, torque. The TDi is like an old school two barrel V8. Massive pull off the line, runs out of steam up top. Short shift and plan in advance. It's not slow, like the old cars, just has everything at the bottom. I drove a 335d, and the seven (eight ?) speed autobox short shifted it like a motocross bike up and over the torque plateau. 100 mph and I never saw 4300 rpm ! I drove a Peugeot Diesel in Germany recently as well. Much the same as my TDi. A Diesel beats a hybrid for rural and suburban driving, which is 90% of the USA. I have 2000 rpm at 80 mph, and net 40 mpg.....
What Hackenburg doesn't understand is that diesels makes no sense in small cars in the US. Completely pointless. Put a 4 cylinder diesel in a 1/2 ton PU or Tahoe, something that can actually do some work towing/hauling and then you have something.