IT’S OFFICIAL: Volkswagen Group of
America has sold more than 100,000 TDI® Clean Diesel vehicles in 2013
Herndon,
VA - Volkswagen Group of America reported today that it has sold
100,000 TDI® Clean Diesel vehicles from the Volkswagen and Audi brands this year.
This is the first time it has reached this milestone in a calendar year.
Volkswagen and Audi currently offer 12 different TDI Clean Diesel powered
models in the United States.
Audi and Volkswagen pioneered TDI® Clean Diesel engines and, as a result, the Volkswagen Group of America is the current market leader in Clean Diesel. Today’s Clean Diesel engines deliver more torque, better highway fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions compared with equivalent gasoline engines. As a result, Audi and Volkswagen deliver remarkable performance and impressive fuel economy.
“Selling more than100,000 TDI Clean Diesel vehicles is a significant milestone for Volkswagen Group of America,” said Mark McNabb, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America. “We’re excited to see the increasing numbers of customers able to enjoy the reliability, durability, fuel-efficiency and power of the clean diesel engine.”
“The past year has shown that American consumers clearly recognize the benefits of clean diesel TDI vehicles,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “They understand now more than ever that this is a technology delivering real answers to society’s concerns about fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without compromises.”
More than 75 percent of the diesel engines sold in the passenger car and SUV segments in the United States can be found under the hoods of Volkswagen and Audi models. Ever since 1977, when Volkswagen first offered a diesel in the Rabbit, the company has sold more than one million cars and SUVs powered by these engines in this market. High-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel Volkswagen models accounted for 21 percent of sales in November and 24 percent of sales year-to-date, the best year-to-date results on record.
In 2013, Audi showed it intends to remain at the forefront of clean diesel expansion in the U.S. by dramatically enhancing its lineup with the new Audi Q5 TDI, A6 TDI, A7 TDI and A8 TDI models. Those premium models joined the Audi Q7 SUV in the market, and next summer Audi will introduce its most fuel-efficient model, the all-new A3 TDI sedan.
The TDI models in the Audi and Volkswagen lineup deliver up to 30% better fuel economy and 12%-30% lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines and there is no need for driver behavior change except to move from one pump to the other and no need for big infrastructure changes.
Volkswagen offers Clean Diesel technology in seven different models, six of which get an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or more on the highway. The models include the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat and Touareg.
Audi and Volkswagen pioneered TDI® Clean Diesel engines and, as a result, the Volkswagen Group of America is the current market leader in Clean Diesel. Today’s Clean Diesel engines deliver more torque, better highway fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions compared with equivalent gasoline engines. As a result, Audi and Volkswagen deliver remarkable performance and impressive fuel economy.
“Selling more than100,000 TDI Clean Diesel vehicles is a significant milestone for Volkswagen Group of America,” said Mark McNabb, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America. “We’re excited to see the increasing numbers of customers able to enjoy the reliability, durability, fuel-efficiency and power of the clean diesel engine.”
“The past year has shown that American consumers clearly recognize the benefits of clean diesel TDI vehicles,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “They understand now more than ever that this is a technology delivering real answers to society’s concerns about fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without compromises.”
More than 75 percent of the diesel engines sold in the passenger car and SUV segments in the United States can be found under the hoods of Volkswagen and Audi models. Ever since 1977, when Volkswagen first offered a diesel in the Rabbit, the company has sold more than one million cars and SUVs powered by these engines in this market. High-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel Volkswagen models accounted for 21 percent of sales in November and 24 percent of sales year-to-date, the best year-to-date results on record.
In 2013, Audi showed it intends to remain at the forefront of clean diesel expansion in the U.S. by dramatically enhancing its lineup with the new Audi Q5 TDI, A6 TDI, A7 TDI and A8 TDI models. Those premium models joined the Audi Q7 SUV in the market, and next summer Audi will introduce its most fuel-efficient model, the all-new A3 TDI sedan.
The TDI models in the Audi and Volkswagen lineup deliver up to 30% better fuel economy and 12%-30% lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines and there is no need for driver behavior change except to move from one pump to the other and no need for big infrastructure changes.
Volkswagen offers Clean Diesel technology in seven different models, six of which get an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or more on the highway. The models include the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat and Touareg.
For years I have
raved about the TDI clean diesel engines. I asked other manufacturers when they
would resume or begin offering Diesels in their cars in North America. BOSCH
has been a major supplier in the Clean Diesel market. Some of the newest
players in the Diesel Vehicle world said they would not bring diesels to North
America. I expect in the next few years we will see a lot of clean diesels in Cars
and more trucks. Look at the Chevrolet Cruze’s success with their first diesel.
BMW and Mercedes have brought back diesels and they are selling well. Now this
year success is shown in small diesel engines in trucks and SUV’s from the
Fiat-Chrysler group. Their Jeep Grand Cherokee and the RAM 1500 have been
winning awards for the new diesel power vehicles. It was the Volkswagen Group
and Audi who began this.
I still remember
driving the first Volkswagen TDI
to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The power was impressive. Torque with a
diesel is so great. I met a young
student from Montana who had already owned two VW TDI’s. He stated the fuel
economy would allow him driving the long distances without taking all his
cash. My son wanted one but they
were so popular that we could not even find one in North America.
Today VW and AUDI
have proven that the Diesels they sell are so good that the buyers are
demanding they offer even more vehicles with Diesel engines. Audi’s A8 with the
Diesel is amazing! All the myths about noisy are history. Smoke from diesel is
not true. In fact the clean diesel engines VW and AUDI produce develop less
pollution than the gasoline engines. A big benefit with diesel is the torque.
So quick starts are easy. In addition towing ability is the VW or AUDI vehicles
is higher then that of gasoline engines with similar horsepower. Then consider
(as Bosch executives have told me over and over) cost to maintain the diesel
engine is a lot less than that of gasoline engines. Longevity of the diesel
engine is well known. So for those who wish to own a vehicle for numerous years
with low maintenance cost the diesel is the way to go.
Volkswagen and
Audi have praised the Diesel engines for years.
I will itemize
why the DIESEL engine is a real plus:
Diesel Engines are More Efficient than Gas Engines
• Diesel fuel contains on the order of 15% more energy
content per volumetric unit than gasoline; diesel fuel has a higher energy
density.
• Turbocharged diesel engines produce less waste heat through the exhaust system. Think conservation of energy - heat that is expelled through the exhaust system is not converted into mechanical energy. A turbocharger converts wasted heat energy into useful mechanical energy.
• Diesels produce higher peak torque than gas engines and do so at lower operating speeds, even under light throttle inputs.
• Diesel engines can operate at a range of air-to-fuel ratios, while a gas engine is restricted to a stoichiometric ratio of 14.7:1. Running a leaner mixture at idle and low load driving conditions reduces fuel consumption.
• An comparitively sized diesel engine can be expected to achieve 20-30% better fuel economy than a gas engine, sometimes more when towing.
• Turbocharged diesel engines produce less waste heat through the exhaust system. Think conservation of energy - heat that is expelled through the exhaust system is not converted into mechanical energy. A turbocharger converts wasted heat energy into useful mechanical energy.
• Diesels produce higher peak torque than gas engines and do so at lower operating speeds, even under light throttle inputs.
• Diesel engines can operate at a range of air-to-fuel ratios, while a gas engine is restricted to a stoichiometric ratio of 14.7:1. Running a leaner mixture at idle and low load driving conditions reduces fuel consumption.
• An comparitively sized diesel engine can be expected to achieve 20-30% better fuel economy than a gas engine, sometimes more when towing.
Lower Cost of Ownership
Though diesel fuel is marginally more expensive, standard
service procedures are more costly, and diesel engines are obtained typically
obtained at a higher cost, diesel engines are cost effective to own in the long
run.
• Lack of ignition system, diesel engines use compression ignition. Ignition coils can run several hundred dollars for a set not including replacement labor, and are a common wear item.
• Diesels have long service intervals, greater than or equal to a comparable gas engine.
• Diesel provides lubrication to fuel system components. Unlike gasoline, which is a solvent, diesel fuel lubricates any item it comes into contact with.
• Diesel engines far outlive gas engines. A diesel should be expected to operate several hundred thousand miles before major repairs or overhaul is necessary. The robust design of a diesel engine means that the engine often outlasts the vehicle that it powers! At 150,000 miles, when you gas engine is started to tire, the diesel is finally broke in.
• Lack of ignition system, diesel engines use compression ignition. Ignition coils can run several hundred dollars for a set not including replacement labor, and are a common wear item.
• Diesels have long service intervals, greater than or equal to a comparable gas engine.
• Diesel provides lubrication to fuel system components. Unlike gasoline, which is a solvent, diesel fuel lubricates any item it comes into contact with.
• Diesel engines far outlive gas engines. A diesel should be expected to operate several hundred thousand miles before major repairs or overhaul is necessary. The robust design of a diesel engine means that the engine often outlasts the vehicle that it powers! At 150,000 miles, when you gas engine is started to tire, the diesel is finally broke in.
Longevity - Diesel Engines Last Longer
• Diesel engines are robust and rugged. The larger, stronger
engine components contribute to a longer engine life.
• Blow by is not of major concern to most diesels since fuel is not compressed in the cylinder, it is injected and instantly combusts. Fuel dilution is of greater concern for modern diesels, but has not proven to be as severe as in gas engines.
• Diesel engines operate at lower combustion temperatures.
• Diesel engines operate at lower engine speeds, which increases the life of reciprocating parts.
• Blow by is not of major concern to most diesels since fuel is not compressed in the cylinder, it is injected and instantly combusts. Fuel dilution is of greater concern for modern diesels, but has not proven to be as severe as in gas engines.
• Diesel engines operate at lower combustion temperatures.
• Diesel engines operate at lower engine speeds, which increases the life of reciprocating parts.
Diesel Engines Produce Peak Torque at Low RPMs
Diesel engines produce more torque than an equivalent
gasoline engine, and do so at lower RPMs. Not only does this contribute to
improved fuel economy, but makes the diesel engine the perfect towing machine.
High torque output at low RPMs is why diesels are the preferred engine for
construction, agriculture, and towing applications.
Diesel Engines Produce Emit Less CO2
Diesel engines produce very small amounts of carbon dioxide
(CO2), a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH
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