Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion in Frankfurt Motor Show
Frankfurt Motor Show is an auto show used by car manufacturers when launching for new models. The Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the largest and most important international auto shows in Europe. It happens annually and alternates between passenger vehicles in one year and commercial vehicles for the next. Because of this, the Frankfurt auto show swaps positions with the biannual Paris International Motor Show as Europe’s most important auto show.
This coming Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen will be showing six of their high-mileage, low-emissions BlueMotionmodels. For now, they have just released some details on the new Golf BlueMotion. Cutting right to the chase, the new Golf will be rated 52.3mpg (US) with CO2 emissions dropping to just 119g/km. Those figures match up to to the standard Golf TDI’s 46.1mpg and 135g/km of CO2. The Golf BlueMotion has a range of 745 miles and will start at $28,151 when it debuts in Germany later this year. A gradual European rollout is considered. United Kingdom will get the latest member of the VW BlueMotion lineup in early 2008.
Volkswagen accomplished the new Golf by modifying the engine management calibrations to reduce the idle speed, adding a particulate filter, and changing the gear ratios to lower the engine speed in third, fourth and fifth gears. The grille has been closed off, the underbody of the car has also been cleaned up and the whole body was lowered to reduce drag. Low rolling resistance and high pressure tires finish off the new configuration. The BlueMotion’s base price of 20,615 euro is just a 315 euro premium over a comparable Golf TDI and German drivers will be able to pick one up before the end of the year. In the hunt for every gram of CO2 Volkswagen is also relying on light-running tires, size 195 / 65 R 15, optimized for low rolling resistance; they are driven at higher air pressure, increased by 0.3 bar. Combining all the modifications and enhancements will produce the top speed of the Golf rising from 187 km/h to an electronically limited 190 km/h. The BlueMotion models will be more economical because all are thoroughly trimmed that would give flow-optimized underbody as well as having nearly enclosed radiator grille. To ensure that the TDI engine still gets the sufficient amount of cooling air, the Golf BlueMotion has an effective dual fan. Because of the aerodynamic design measures, including lowering of the chassis, the cW value of 0.32, which in itself is a good value, was further improved to 0.30.
A software involvement in engine management decreases the idling speed of this diesel combined with a particulate filter and simultaneously improves its emission behavior. Engine speed levels are also lower while driving since there is a longer gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth gears. These actions alone reduce consumption by about 0.2 liter.
The Golf BlueMotion customer can choose between the Trendline and Comfortline, depending on the equipment options. Aside from basic equipment, special Blue Motion specification and aerodynamic modifications are also made. Since adjustments are prepared for equipment options, it is more economical than previous TDI versions with 105 PS and soot particulate filter. The standard equipment includes the Multifunctional Display Plus (MFA Plus) with gear recommendation arrow and a sports chassis.