Topic: VW Golf Twin Drive. (113 MPG)

[Cortina]

First Hybrid diesel.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/225891/vw_golf_twin_drive.html

Here’s the Golf’s not-so-evil twin! This is the Twin Drive – Volkswagen’s late, late ticket to the electric hybrid party. But it’s got a trick up its sleeve. The car is the first-ever hybrid to feature a diesel engine – and Auto Express has driven it!

[rrocket]

Now we're talking!!!

[The Mighty Duck]

So it drives well, seats four adults like any other Golf and has incredible economy. It’s just a pity VW isn’t putting it into production for seven years.

  Why the hell not?  They're going to miss the boat big time on this one unless they hurry it up...

for hybrid diesel, though.  All the advantadges of a hybrid in the city, and the advantadges of a diesel on the highway.  Win-win.

[2JDM]

Sign me up!! I want one!

But VW electrical problem reputation + hybrid...? 

[rrocket]

^^^^Yea...true true....


Until then (7 year wait) might have to be content with Ford Fiesta diesel 75+ MPG...

[tpl]

I wonder why they are driving the rear wheels as well. Especially with electric motors at each wheel. One sincerely hopes that the motors will have a decent lifespan ( like 10 years and 250,000 km)

[johngenx]

During the next seven years Toyota will introduce a plug-in hybrid and maybe a diesel-hybrid, Honda will have diesels, Subaru might, and VW will be long left in the dust.

[Wolfe]

I wonder why they are driving the rear wheels as well. Especially with electric motors at each wheel.

Remember that this is the company that builds three different W-configuration engines and also builds a car that has 11 radiators. When they set out to design something simplicity is not exactly the highest priority.

[Cortina]

Sign me up!! I want one!

But VW electrical problem reputation + hybrid...? 

Ummmm with VW that not the case in Euroland they pretty robust cars.

[Wolverine]

113 mpg??? that freaking insane.

What the sticker with a black heart on the engine bay means?? You can't fall in love for that engine or something??

[Cortina]

113 mpg??? that freaking insane.

What the sticker with a black heart on the engine bay means?? You can't fall in love for that engine or something??

I wonder about that too. 

[mrthompson]

Don't work around the engine if you have a pacemaker? 

[EV Dan]

kewl. its like finding a barrel of free diesel, every month or so 

[EV Dan]

Its actually a PHev. Under 31 MPH it can go only on electric motors. Recharges in 4.5 hours. Sounds like a Volt killer to me 

[rrocket]

Don't work around the engine if you have a pacemaker? 

Exactly right.  Because of the excess current. 

[Mitlov]

During the next seven years Toyota will introduce a plug-in hybrid and maybe a diesel-hybrid, Honda will have diesels, Subaru might, and VW will be long left in the dust.

In seven years, Honda will have a diesel in North America.  TODAY, VW sells a clean diesel Jetta in North America.  Who is left in the dust on the diesel front?

[G35X]

“All the advantages of a hybrid in the city, and the advantages of a diesel on the highway…” - Demosthenes X

When Honda and Toyota introduced gas ICE/electric hybrid cars, German automakers sneezed at them.  Instead they spent a lot of money in developing cleaner diesel ICE.  At that time the question was EITHER gas/electric hybrid OR diesel.  Now, after looking at the success of the Prius, they belatedly are trying to join the party.

Is the diesel/electric hybrid a good idea? Not so much as for gas/electric.  For a given power a clean diesel engine is more expensive to make, and possibly heavier.  Another point is that you do not get much benefit by shutting off the diesel engine at stop signals in the city, since it is already a fuel sipper when idling (very lean burning).   The parallel hybrid is more suitable for gas/electric combination because the high torque nature of the electric motor complements very well to the weak torque of the gas ICE at low rpm, thereby allowing the use of high-efficiency design like Atkinson cycle. 

113mpg (100km/2.5 litre)? That’s amazing!  Does VW take fully charged Li-ion cells (by the plug-in feature) into this number?  A 1500cc TDI alone won’t give this kind of mileage even on highways.

[Mitlov]

When Honda and Toyota introduced gas ICE/electric hybrid cars, German automakers sneezed at them.  Instead they spent a lot of money in developing cleaner diesel ICE.  At that time the question was EITHER gas/electric hybrid OR diesel.  Now, after looking at the success of the Prius, they belatedly are trying to join the party.

One could just as easily say that the Japanese manufacturers are belatedly trying to join the diesel party with the upcoming diesel TSX and diesel Legacy.  Germans have been selling diesel passenger cars here for years.  Japanese have been selling hybrids here for years.  Now, both countries are exploring the other option.  But that doesn't mean either country is "behind the curve" or "trying to join the party."

[Triple Bob]

113mpg (100km/2.5 litre)? That’s amazing!  Does VW take fully charged Li-ion cells (by the plug-in feature) into this number?  A 1500cc TDI alone won’t give this kind of mileage even on highways.

So they take the fuel into account, what about the cost and/or polution created when generating the electricity?  Or is that made from unicorn's tears?

[tpl]

When Honda and Toyota introduced gas ICE/electric hybrid cars, German automakers sneezed at them.  Instead they spent a lot of money in developing cleaner diesel ICE.  At that time the question was EITHER gas/electric hybrid OR diesel.  Now, after looking at the success of the Prius, they belatedly are trying to join the party.

One could just as easily say that the Japanese manufacturers are belatedly trying to join the diesel party with the upcoming diesel TSX and diesel Legacy.  Germans have been selling diesel passenger cars here for years.  Japanese have been selling hybrids here for years.  Now, both countries are exploring the other option.  But that doesn't mean either country is "behind the curve" or "trying to join the party."

But. The Japanese manufacturers  have been selling diesels in the rest of the world for years.The Germans have not be selling Hybrids anywhere.