Volkswagen's Hyper MPG Golf

by Cammy Corrigan

September 8th, 2008 11:54 AM

Volkswagen’s march to push diesels in favour of hybrids continues with the new VW Golf Bluemotion concept. The engine will develop 105BHP and 184lbs/ft of torque at 2000rpm, go from 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds and have a top speed of 117mph. As with all Bluemotion cars, the Golf Bluemotion will be fitted with low rolling resistance tyres, optimised aerodynamics, a diesel particulate filter and revised ratios for the gearbox. All of this would supposedly add up to 74.3 UK mpg (or about 62 mpg in US miles per gallon). Except maybe not. These numbers are from the ultra-optimistic (and generally unrealiable) European mileage testing. Consider that the Volkswagen Bluemotion Polo claimed to do 74.3mpg (61.86 mpg on the American scale) but Channel 4 (U.K)* were getting nowhere near that level – in the real world, they observed 47.5mpg (or about 40 US mpg). Not nearly as hot as you’d have though. In short, it’ll be a well engineered, unreliable, dearer, German version of a hybrid fighter. Except that with those numbers, probably not so much.

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M1EK on Sep 10, 2008
The Diesel cars beated it everywhere in terms of fuel consumption, even in the city and especially out of town. That's funny, because every time we actually see an article which promises something like that, it ends up being that a very small diesel beats the midsize Prius at high-speed highway driving only; roughly ties it at moderate speed highway; and gets depantsed in the city.

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Psarhjinian on Sep 10, 2008
Diesel engines are far simpler than gasoline engines. Fewer parts on an order of magnitude since there is no ignition system and related timing There is, however, an extremely high-pressure fuel rail, a strengthened block, a complex emissions system and--lest we forget--a friggin' turbocharger and fairly complex ECU. Why have they been the ICE of choice for long-life/demanding jobs such as ships, trains, pumps, construction equipment, etc? Because Diesels are simple and reliable. The diesel engine in a train, ship, pump, truck, generator or eighties-vintage Mercedes 300D is not the same as a modern common-rail turbodiesel that has to meet Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions. Not even close. Diesel fans seem to forget this. Go ahead, try running a Mercedes E320 CDI or BMW EfficientDynamics engine on either straight veggie oil or the bunker fuel that powers diesel trains. Go ahead, I dare you. Call me when your injectors die.

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Psarhjinian on Sep 10, 2008
Yeah, it seems there are larger differences in fuel prices even in the EU than I realized. Somewhere diesel is more expensive, in other places it’s still cheaper It's cheaper in every country that hosts a company with either headquarters and/or a significant local stake in the manufacture of diesel engines. Why, what a coincidence!

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Capeplates on Sep 12, 2008

Drovew diesels for years but the latest trend of rising prices with diesel outstripping petrol has forced me into a switch- diesel is now a no no in the UK

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