VW Testing Chinese Passat Lingyu fuel-cell vehicles in the States

Volkswagen of America announced today that it has 'imported' 16 Passat Lingyu fuel-cell vehicles from China to use in fleet demonstrations at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, California. These prototype fuel-cell vehicles that are based on the domestic version of the Passat were developed in China as part of a joint effort between VW Shanghai, Tongji University and Volkswagen Group Research. They were first revealed at last summer's 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

"These vehicles logged nearly 50,000 miles in Beijing - with zero harmful emissions. We can think of no better place to next exhibit this environmentally-friendly technology than at the California Fuel Cell Partnership," said John Tillman, program manager for Volkswagen's U.S. Advanced Powertrain Research Program.

The hydrogen fuel cells are located in the car floor of the Passat Lingyu. The fuel cell system develops a peak power of 55 kW. The energy obtained by converting hydrogen (H) into water (H2O) is fed into a lithium-ion battery which is located under the rear bench seat and has a capacity of eight Ampere-hours (Ah) at 376 Volt (V).

VW claims that the Passat Lingyu is capable of traveling at highway speeds up to 90 mph (145 km/h) and as far as 146 miles (235 km) on a single tank of fuel with the only byproduct released from the tailpipe being water and oxygen.

Source: www.carscoop.blogspot.com

VW Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid Announced for 2010

The Volkswagen Touareg already straddles both sides of the petrolium fuel fence, with gasoline and diesel-engined versions available. When the next-generation Touareg drops in 2010, VW plans to extend that powertrain flexibility to include a gas/electric hybrid as well.

Prototypes are already in testing. The Touareg hybrid will use an all-new 245 kW (333 hp) supercharged 3.0 liter direct-injection V6 gasoline engine connected to an electric motor. This engine produces 440 Nm (325 lb-ft) torque from 3000 rpm. The E-motor adds another 38 kW (52 hp), as well as a massive 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) torque.

The Touareg will be a parallel hybrid, with both gas and electric motors working together to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The electric motor can also power the Touareg alone for up to 50 km/h (30 mph), and Volkswagen plans to incorporate a switch that enables the driver to lock it in electric mode for gas-free travel. Power is routed to the wheels through a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Touareg hybrid will incorporate a stop-start system for fuel savings during city driving, as well as regenerative braking to charge the nickel metal-hydride battery that powers the E-motor.

The capabilities of the Touareg aren't lost with the transition to hybrid power, either. Volkswagen says the hybrid Touareg will still tow up to 3.5 metric tonnes, and that off-road and hill climbing ability are not affected. To offset the weight of the batteries and hybrid system, a lighter Torsen 4x4 differential and electronic power steering have been added.

Source: VW

VW Polo Unveiling Scheduled for Geneva - Bound for U.S.

Somehow Volkswagen has managed to evade the lenses of spy photographers who would have been busy taking pictures of its next-generation Polo. Therefore only this artist rendering accompanies these news that VW will reveal the next Polo at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show this March and begin US sales in 2011.

The Polo in its current form began selling in 2002 after a public reveal in 2001. It falls below the Golf (called the Rabbit in the US) in VW's hierarchy of models and comes in sedan or hatchback body styles, although not every market where it's sold carries both body types.

The US is the world's most important vehicle market and VW wants a piece of Uncle Sam's pie. It wants to push annual American sales up to 800,000 units by 2010 and expanding its list of choices available to consumers will contribute to that goal. The company is building a sedan slightly larger than a Jetta at its Chattanooga, Tennesee plant but the US-bound Polo would be built at the Puebla, Mexico plant.

Source: autoweek

VW Confirms Next generation Polo is Heading to the U.S.

For years it was said that American consumers wouldn't buy those puny hatches that were the mainstay of the European auto industry. Now, no automaker can wait to introduce yet another "fuel-efficient" vehicle into the US market.

VW has announced the Polo will be coming to America (Next-generation Polo GTi rendering in picture).

VW development chief Ulrich Hackenberg announced the decision to Automotive News at the Detroit auto show saying,"The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S.," and that American consumers had an "increasing enthusiasm for smaller, fuel-efficient cars."

When did that happen? Oh, yes, when the economy went into complete meltdown.

And even though the cost of oil is at a 5-year low and gas prices have come down sharply since the bubble last summer, it seems there has been a paradigm shift on the part of the US consumer and fuel-efficient cars are now what they want.

VW is obviously moving forward on that assumption and Hackenberg believes that oil prices will eventually rise again and drive up small-car sales even more.

US-bound Polos could possibly be produced at VW's production plant in Pueblo, Mexico, Hackenberg said too.

The next-generation Polo will be unveiled by VW at the Geneva motor show in March.

VW has not set a date for the Polo to make it to US showrooms.

Source: Volkswagen

VW Concept BlueSport roadster needs Audi and SEAT to make it into production

Volkswagen's Concept Bluesport, one of the stars of the Detroit auto show, is a Mazda MX-5 rival based on a new group platform.

At the moment there's about a 70 percent chance of the mid-engine rear wheel drive roadster making it into production, according to VW.

The decision will depend on whether SEAT and Audi can also develop their own versions to give VW Group the right economies of scale.

There is no fancy technology - the 1200 kilo roadster has a steel body and uses existing Group components with the front suspension, for example, from the new Golf. Everything about the car is production ready.

The engine for the Detroit show car is a 2.0 TDi with 180PS mated to a 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission; CO2 emissions are just 113g/km with 0-62mph acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 142mph. It has an automatic start-stop system.

A 1.4 TSI version is in the pipeline for the Geneva motor show in March and if reaction here in Detroit and again in Geneva is positive, then the chance of the car being built will increase considerably.

Source: headlineauto.co.uk

VW Concept BlueSport

Volkswagen has released a new promotional video featuring the Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster. The 90-second video gives the viewer an opportunity to see the car at every angle, and alternately with the top up or down.

The lightweight ragtop concept comes in at under 1200 kg. If that could be held on for production, it would be about 100 kg heavier than a Mazda Miata MX-5, but over 50 kg lighter than a Honda S2000.

VW's new concept is powered by a 180hp 2.0-liter TDI that pushes out up to 250 Nm of Torque. The company claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.6 seconds, on its way to a 226 km/h (140 mph) top speed. The engine would be mated to a six-speed DSG transmission controlled by a knob in the cabin. Concept BlueSport also features a mix of xenon and LED lights at the front, a touchscreen inside, and a top that can be taken down in a matter of seconds. A simple, old-school digital speedo, climate control, and push button engine start also greet the driver.

Extremely fuel efficient (55mpg in U.S. terms), and not terribly poisonous to the environment (113 g/km of CO2), Volkswagen may bet long on their vehicle. The Volkswagen Concept BlueSport roadster is now at the Detroit Auto Show, and will likely tour the auto show circuit this year.

Source: VW

VW Touareg Lux Limited edition launched at NAIAS

Volkswagen is releasing a special edition SUV just for the US market. The Volkswagen Touareg Lux Limited is a stepped up trim with the same three engine choices as the standard Touareg.

The clean diesel Touareg gets 25 mpg on the highway and 221 hp from a V6 TDI. A V6 and V8 FSI produce 276 and 345 hp.

Included in the Lux lineup is a two-tone leather interior with a main color of either "latte macchiato" or "anthracite." Either choice gets "St. Tropez white" door inserts. The Latte option keeps center seat inserts in white, with accenting in "Poplar grain." "Engine spin dark" metallic accenting is used with the anthracite. 12-way front power seats are also included.

Outside, the Touareg Lux Limited rides on new 20-inch alloys wrapped in all-season tires. Side skirts, front and rear aprons, and a choice of four colors comes with the package. One color "Biscay Blue" is new to the Touareg.

The Volkswagen Touareg Lux Limited is on display now at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Source: VW