VW's Golf Diesel Hybrid Debuts. 71.4mpg
 

https://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/03/vws-golf-diesel.html

Volkswagen made it official and pulled the sheet off its awesome Golf TDI Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show, and even though we've already given you the lowdown on the car and shown you some pictures, we'll give you the official word from VW because it's clear you all love this car.

As expected, the hybrid has a 1.2 liter three-cylinder diesel engine and a 220V electric motor. The electric motor gets the car moving at low speeds, with the 73 horsepower diesel kicking in only when extra oomph is needed (or wanted) and when cruising at highway speeds. The car also can run either in full-electric or full internal combustion mode, according to VW. Power is transferred through a seven-speed DSG transmission to the front wheels. The car also has start/stop capability and regenerative braking.

Subtle styling tweaks, including a narrower grille and smaller front air intakes, improve aerodynamics. VW says the Golf TDI Hybrid consumes 3.4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, which by our math is 71.4 mpg. That's a tad higher than the 69.9 cited in earlier reports, but either figure beats the gas-electric Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid by better than 20 mpg.

This car has generated a huge response - our first post garnered 321 comments at last count, and the follow-up brought 45 - which makes us wonder:

Why do you love this car?

Why do I love that car? Maybe because it shows what a diesel/electric hybrid can do and how much more effecient it is than a compareable gas/electric hybrid.

Won't see the light of day in the US because the oil companies bribed the EPA to not allow all-electric because "you can't measure MPG accurately that way."

But yay for the rest of the world!

Agreed. EPA continues to smash up opportunities for diesel engines though.

This car is DOA. Its just a concept car that will never be put into production. Technically speaking even the concept doesn't work. Its just a regular rabbit dressed up with a body kit and an imaginary spec sheet.

3.4 L/100 km is what the diesel smart fortwo gets in European cycle testing. The old, one that is. The new one is at 3.3. On sale for 8 years....

I think the 1 litre diesel Lupo does similar in Europe, think there's also an audi model... but the Golf is a bigger car....

Remember the corporate priority of a car company is to sell you the biggest and most profitable car that they can.

In addition to selling cars that people buy.

Smart Car is cute, but I have kids. A Golf can hold more people and stuff, period.

So?
All I need is a factory "hybrid" badge for my present VW diesels and I can use the HOV lanes, get a government tax rebate, and pretend I'm doing something.
Why not? Mine start on electricity and then switch to a diesel engine...Doesn't that make them both "hybrid"?

Hate to harp on the Smart Car --but it gets much worse FE and is much smaller--which totally defies logic.

Mine gets 60+ US MPG.

Smaller is an asset in many places, maybe not on the freeway at 60+mph, but in the city (a real city, not some Pittsfield) it shines.

Smart be nice in the back of my trailer too, but, for only two people, I'd be better off with a couple bigger mopeds. I could get four people around with them.

Worse FE than a golf? Which golf? The imaginary diesel electric hybrid that will never reach production or the 2.5 liter gasoline powered lump they sell to teenagers?

My lump is up to 34.5 MPG, pretty decent for its heavy weight, relatively large-displacement, powercentric tune, and excessively low gearing.

The GTI, which for our purposes is the same lump with a different engine and transmission (2.0 turbo, 6 speed but no taller gearing) commonly gets 40mpg, and a hypermiler could surely get 45. Someone willing to change out one gear for something taller could easily get 55 from it, and 45 from the 2.5l Rabbit.

It's not designed for FE, but it's pretty close, and it's got a lot of other things going for it.

LOL, this from a Ford owner! :D

Hey now, you just wait--Pittsfield will be the cultural mecca of the Berkshires. Just you wait and see!! It's in the process of a face-lift.:thumbup:

Ships builders have finally realized that Diesel electric can be one of the most economical modes of transportation. Finally auto manuf. have seen the same power plants can be fit into smaller cars. A Diesel Elect hybird. ( not really DE's have been around for 50 years in ships and tugs.)
Dodge was talking about a DE Truck 6 years ago and it never made it off the drawing board. That was taking the Cummins engine that already boasts 20MPG for a 3/4 ton truck on avg and improving it 2 fold.
Question is what is not to love? Why has Detroit taken so long to embrace an idea that Euorpe and SW asia have jumped at?

I started another thread here about Mahindra planning to import a small diesel truck into the US in 2009. In 2010 they are planning on importing a diesel hybrid version of the truck.

Why is it a manfacturor from India is putting a truck like this through EPA testing and nothing from the Big, Slow Three? I did notice that Dodge has the new Challenger out now! That thing must be selling like crazy with todays gas prices :D

I know that was sarcasm, but...
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008c...f.jsp?id=24894
18/26 combined 21 beats large SUVs easily and still offers a desirable package that people will want to buy so they can look cool.

I was thinking of this model
 

https://www.dodge.com/en/2008/challenger/

All sarcasm aside, I'd love to see the US auto industry turn itself loose on really economical trucks and cars.

D'oh! I always get the Charger and Challenger confused. I'm so not a Mopar guy that I forget they're two different models with similar names.

13/18 combined 15. That's bad even for a big V8 modern muscle car.

If you have some real criticism of this design you should be specific and provide some facts. Your statement that, "Technically speaking even the concept doesn't work," is unsubstantiated.

I think tjts1 is an imaginary person, not a life form at all, more of an imaginary bonehead dressed up in a cynic's suit ;)