69 MPG Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid Concept
Volkswagen is experimenting with hybrid diesel technology and is seeming to be having some success. On display at the Geneva Auto Show right now is what looks like a nearly highway ready version of the Golf TDI Hybrid.
The big news of course is the great fuel economy and low carbon emissions, less than 90 g/km of CO2. It is powered by a 27 horsepower electric motor, a 74 horsepower 1.2 liter three cylinder turbodiesel engine. Horsepower may seem low but the 132 pound-feet of torque of the diesel engine combined with the 103 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor tell a more accurate story of the power that should propel this little car into respectable performance numbers.
To top off all that it also has a stop/start system that shuts the diesel engine off when the car isn’t moving, like when you’re at a stop light or in a fast food line. No worries about waiting for the engine to get going though, the electric motor can propel the car by itself at low speeds.
I love to see cars like this from major auto makers because it signals good things to come. This care for example could in fact be perfect for plug-in conversions or for all we know Volkswagen may offer this as an option with a bigger batter pack than the nickel metal hydride one already installed. It also means that other major auto makers will need to respond with cars that can compete at these super efficient levels.
This car also represents yet another reason why waiting to buy your next new car until auto makers can deliver better fuel efficiency. It looks like these cars are just around the corner.
Similar Posts
- Plug-In Hybrid Ford!? – The presentation of 100 miles per gallon concept cars from independent auto makers at the recent Det
- Volkswagen Twin Drive Plug-In Hybrid – Volkswagen has announced it is developing a plug-in hybrid and will be road testing 20 cars by 2010
- Subaru Stella & R1e Concept Cars – Subaru is bringing four of their electric Stella concepts to the G8 summit in Hokkaido Toyako this
- Velozzi Multi-Fuel Plug-In Hybrid – Velozzi is one of the fifty Automotive X PRIZE contendors. They are entering two cars, one to the m
- 150 MPG Technology Here Today – AFS Trinity, a small company headquartered in Bellevue Washington has developed a system that can t
[...] Renting Guide wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Volkswagen is experimenting with hybrid diesel technology and is seeming to be having some success. On display at the Geneva Auto Show right now is what looks like a nearly highway ready version of the Golf TDI Hybrid. The big news of course is the great fuel economy and low carbon emissions, less than 90 g/km of CO2. It is powered by a 27 horsepower electric motor, a 74 horsepower 1.2 liter three cylinder turbodiesel engine. Horsepower may seem low but the 132 pound-feet of torque of the d [...]