The Diesel Driver

Volkswagen to Offer Diesel Beetle Starting in August

Paul Riegler — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:13:32 +0000

Volkswagen, the current market leader in U.S. diesel sales, will offer a diesel model of the Beetle and will debut the Beetle TDI (which stands for “turbocharged direct injection”) at the Chicago Auto Show next week.

The Beetle TDI is expected to offer 29 mpg (8.11 l/100 km) in city driving and 39 mpg (6 l/100 km) on the highway.

It will be offered as a 2013 model and is the first diesel Beetle (Käfer in German) since 2006.

Buyers will have a choice of a six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG transmission as well as three trim levels.

Volkswagen offers diesel engines in its Golf, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, and Touareg models and more than 20% of buyers opt for the oilburner.

2011 United Kingdom Diesel Market Share Hits Record 51%

Paul Riegler — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:05:07 +0000

While the market share for diesel in the U.S. is roughly 3% and Germany’s is 49%, there is at least one country where more buyers choose diesel than anything else.

According to figures provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the market share for diesel-powered automobiles in the United Kingdom in 2011 was a record 50.6%. This represents a substantial increase over 2010, when the figure was 46.1%.

A total of 981,594 diesels were sold in 2011. Sales in 2010 were 936,406.

Alternate-fuel vehicles (AFV) also recorded record sales. Total sales of AFVs were 25,456, or 1.3%, up from 1.1% in 2010.

For the first time, sales of gasoline-powered cars dipped below the 50% mark to 47.6%

Another bright spot for eco conscious buyers: average new car CO₂ emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% from the 2010 level.

Overall, sales in the UK were down 4.4% but Paul Everitt, the SMMT’s chief executive, said that “significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies” should help the auto industry rebound by 2013.

The SMMT is the voice of the UK’s automobile industry, promotes the industry to government and media, and collects and distributes market data including new-car registrations

2012 BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition (F30) – First Drive and Review

Christian Stampfer — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:46:17 +0000

In 1975, BMW introduced the 3 Series, a model that has consistently set the standard for sports sedans. The 3er was introduced as the successor to the BMW Neue Klasse (BMW New Class), which included the BMW 1602 and 2002, among other models. Together with the 5 Series, which replaced the New Six (the 2500, 2800, and Bavaria models), a new era in the automobile history of the BMW Group had begun.

The BMW 3 Series became the backbone and heart of the BMW car production. Indeed, more than 12.5 million units have been sold since the market launch in 1975.

On 14 October 2011, the all-new 3 Series was unveiled and celebrated its world debut at the BMW plant in Munich. The official premiere was consciously held in Munich because, for the first time the BMW Munich plant is able to manufacture every possible configuration of the new 3er including right-hand drive cars. The experiences and the knowledge during the production process of the new car will be passed on to other production sites of the BMW Group, such as Rosslyn (South Africa) or Shenyang (China), where the new 3er will be manufactured or assembled as well.

At the end of the year, I had the opportunity to test drive a pre-production type of the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition. The only difference between a pre-production model and a standard model is the higher amount of manual labor performed by employees instead of robots.

Since I was only had time to drive the car for about 50 km (31 miles,) the driving experience was somewhat limited. But what I saw in terms of fuel consumption, ride comfort, and handling was very promising indeed.

After a drive on the Autobahn for 20 km (12.4 miles), where the 320d showed excellent pulling power, I switched onto a country road for the last 30 km (18.6 miles). After I left the Autobahn, I immediately changed the driving mode to ECO PRO (a new high-efficiency mode) for maximum fuel economy.

The new cabin continues the BMW tradition of a driver-oriented cockpit and was very comfortable. There was very little engine noise audible.

Fuel economy was excellent and the the new ZF eight-speed automatic plays a big role here. In my non-Autobahn driving, it selected the second highest gear while I was driving at a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). For my somewhat spirited 50 km drive, my fuel economy was very impressive 5.5 l/100 km (42 mpg).

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Engine and Drivetrain plus Infotainment and Safety Features

2011 Diesel Sales Report: Market Share in Germany Hit 49%

Christian Stampfer — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:30:31 +0000

It’s common knowledge that the market share for diesel is in the low single digits in the U.S. Currently, only four manufacturers, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen currently offer diesel-powered automobiles although there will be several automakers joining the diesel fold, including Jeep, Mazda, and Porsche, in the coming 18 months.

In Germany, the picture was quite different in 2011. Overall, looking at new car registration figures from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA or German Federal Motor and Transport Authority) and manufacturer-provided sales data covering Audi, BMW, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Škoda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo, diesel sales were 48.71% of total new car sales.

Complete charts with data by manufacturer and segment may be found on page two of this article.

Looking at specific categories, such as compact cars or SUVs, is even more interesting.

In compact car sales, the Volkswagen Golf/Jetta line was the diesel market leader with 105,786 units sold. Percentage wise, the Peugeot 308 (not sold in the U.S.) led with 60.24% of buyers choosing the oil burner. The Škoda Octavia was close behind, with 59.05% of buyers going diesel.     43.65% of buyers opted for diesel in this segment overall.

In the smaller mid-sized segment, the Volkswagen Passat (the European model, which differs from the U.S.-specific Passat) led in volume in diesel sales with 86,291 sold. In terms of the diesel take rate, the low-volume Volvo V50 led the way, with 95% of buyers going diesel. The overall take rate for this group, which includes the Audi A4/A5, BMW 3er, and Peugeot 508, was an impressive 74.58%.

In the larger mid-sized segment, the BMW 5 Series was the diesel take-rate leader at 89.86%. It was also the volume leader in a group that includes the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This category’s overall take rate was 85.83%.

For large luxury sedans, the BMW 7er was the diesel volume leader with 4,242 units sold. The Volkswagen Phaeton (not currently available in the U.S.) was the take-rate leader, with 89..03% of buyers choosing compression ignition. The overall diesel take rate for luxury sedans was 67.22%.

Finally, in the SUV category, the Volkswagen Tiguan (not available as a diesel in the U.S.) led the pack with 31,271 units sold. Two low-volume Land Rovers, the Discovery and Freelander, led in diesel take rate with 99.7% and 99.54% respectively. All three Mercedes-Benz SUVs (the GLK, ML-Class, and R-Class, as well as two BMW SUVs (the BMW X3 and X5), also had take rates in the 90s, as did the Ford Kuga and the Volvo XC60.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Charts and Data By Manufacturer and Segment

Mazda Confirms Plans to Offer Diesels in U.S.

Paul Riegler — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:12:41 +0000

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mazda announced it will offer an unspecified diesel passenger car in the U.S. and that it will use its new Skyactiv-D 2.2L diesel engine in that model, mated to the Sky-Drive transmission (pictured).

The Skyactiv-D 2.2 is the first diesel-powered automobile to meet Japan’s stringent new emissions standards without requiring urea after-treatment technology to reduce nitrogen oxide, which can add significantly to the cost of a diesel automobile.

Mazda is expected to offer the engine in the new CX-5 crossover in Japan and this model is likely to be the automaker’s first U.S. diesel as well The 2.2-liter I-4 develops 310 pound-feet of torque and it used 5.34 l/100 km (44 mpg) in the Japanese JC08 fuel economy testing cycle.

Mazda has been planning to bring in diesels to the U.S. for several years. At the 2010 New York Auto Show, Takashi Yamanouchi, CEO of the automaker, pointed out that the Skyactive-D engine provides fuel economy “better than today’s mid-sized hybrids.”

BMW M Performance Diesel Automobiles Announced

Christian Stampfer — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:13:41 +0000

BMW announced a new model category for the forthcoming M diesel cars. The BMW M Performance Automobiles is closely attached to the BMW M GmbH and will offer a selection of performance oriented cars. “We are targeting our efforts at customers looking for more emotionality and more performance, but who don’t want to lose the everyday usability of their cars,” said Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH.

The history of the BMW M Performance Automobiles can be found in the BMW M535i and M635i which were unveiled in the 1980s. BMW intends to revive and to continue the success of these models. Diesel and petrol variants are both on the roadmap and the intelligent BMW xDrive will play a key role in the new car segment according to BMW.

The launch of the first M Performance car is scheduled for the International Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. The BMW X6 M550d is likely to be the star at the BMW exhibition floor. First details and a video of the car were leaked at the beginning of December. The 3.0-liter diesel engine is equipped with three turbochargers and develops a total power output of 375 hp (280 kW) and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque. Figures on fuel economy and CO2 emissions are not yet available.

Further models for every single category of the BMW brand could be possible. In the BMW community, BMW M550d, M135i, M750d and M650ds are rumored to be on the horizon.

BMW Delivers First ActiveE Electric Vehicle

Paul Riegler — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:44:12 +0000

In 2009, Tom and Meredith Moloughney took delivery of a Mini E, an electric car that is part of BMW’s Project i program and that was available to private owners in a field trial that started in 2009. Today, at BMW’s U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, they became the firs retail customer to take delivery of the all-electric BMW ActiveE coupe, also a part of the Project i program under which BMW is developing urban- and eco-friendly vehicles..

The BMW ActiveE is outwardly similar to the BMW 1 Series Coupe and is built at the BMW Werk Leipzig.    The heart of the ActiveE is a permanent-magnet synchronous motor that develops 170 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. It can go from zero to 60 mph in under nine seconds and its range is 100 miles (160 km) on a full charge of its newly-developed lithium-ion batteries. The entire power pack – including power electronics and transmission with differential – is integrated into the car’s modified rear-axle support.

BMW refers to its ActiveE customers as Electronauts and BMW will deliver ActiveEs to 699 additional Electronauts in the coming weeks. The ActiveE is being offered in Boston, Hartford, Los Angeles, New York City, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco for $499 per month for a 24-month lease, with a down payment of $2,250.

The ActiveE has a special Eco Pro Mode that provides increased range. By throwing a switch, the vehicle’s characteristics are changed. The accelerator will deliver less power and the heating and air conditioning systems will use less energy. The system also provides the driver with additional tips on how to drive in the most energy-efficient manner.

The eDrive display replaces the tachometer on the instrument cluster and displays the amount of energy being taken from the battery or the current amount being supplied to it through recuperation. The needle will rest in the middle position when the car is not moving, indicating that the vehicle is ready to drive, presuming the battery is charged sufficiently. The car’s on-board computer displays the remaining vehicle range.

On the car’s Central Information Display (CID), eDrive displays vehicle energy flow using an active schematic representation of the vehicle to do so. The driver can view the CID in split-screen mode with route guidance or infotainment information on one side.

The Moloughneys drove their Mini E over 72,500 miles in 30 months. “Calling the Moloughneys ‘Pioneers’ is very appropriate because they have shown the world that an electric vehicle can absolutely serve one’s daily driving needs without compromise,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America. “We are pleased that Tom and Meredith have agreed to stay with us on this journey.”

Kia Introduces Two New Electric Cars at CES

Eva Leonard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:48:57 +0000

Bypassing the Detroit Motor Show, Kia Motors introduced the Ray production Electric Vehicle (EV) and Naimo EV Concept Car to the North American market at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

New features on the zero emissions Naimo include a large heads-up digital touch-screen display, and air jets rather than windshield wipers. Designed for urban markets, the Naimo can travel up to 124 miles per charge and takes 25 minutes to recharge to 80 % of capacity.

The electric motor- and lithium-battery-powered Ray EV can travel up to 86 miles on one charge and features a top speed of 81 miles an hour. Although the Ray EV has been designed for the Korean market, Kia is looking at its potential for the U.S. as well.

First Look: Toyota’s 53 mpg City Prius c Hatchback

Paul Riegler — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00:03 +0000

The new Toyota Prius c gets an astounding 53 mpg (4.43 l/100 km) in city driving, a figure that is the highest fuel economy rating for any non plug-in vehicle. The Prius c is the fourth member of the Prius family, which includes the Prius, the new Prius v, and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will become available at dealerships early this year.

Toyota sees the “c” as its city car both in size and fuel economy. Its fuel economy is actually better in urban areas than on the highway, where it gets 46 mpg (5.11 l/100 km).   The “c” is 157.3” long versus 176.4” for the 2012 Prius.

To fit the Hybrid Synergy Drive from the Prius into the smaller c platform, Toyota had to redesign the system’s major components to reduce both weight and size.

Toyota plans a list price of under $19,000 and this includes a standard 3.5” color TFT multi-information display, Bluetooth telephony, and a USB port with iPod connectivity. A Display Audio system with navigation and Entune is optional. A multi-function steering wheel controls audio, telephone, and climate systems. Keyless start-stop allows the driver open the door and start the vehicle without having to take the key out of his pocket.

The Prius c is powered by a 1.5-liter I-4 that develops 73 hp and 82 pound-feet of torque in combination with an electric motor for a total of 99 hp. The Hybrid Synergy Drive integrates the engine, motor, a 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery, an inverter, a DC-DC converter, a step-up converter, a hybrid control computer, and a continuously variable transmission.

Three driving modes are available, normal, eco, and EV (electric vehicle). The c can go up to one mile on electric power alone.

Audi Adds A8 TDI Diesel To U.S. Lineup

Paul Riegler — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:58:54 +0000

Audi will offer an A8 diesel sedan later this year, the company announced at the North American International Motor Show in Detroit. The Ingoldstadt-based automaker also announced a supercharged V-6 petrol model, the A8 3.0T.

The 2013 Audi A8 TDI will come with the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that develops 225 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque in the Audi Q7.

The A8 will become the second full-sized luxury sedan available in the U.S., alongside the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec, and leaves BMW as the only premium German automaker without a full-sized diesel sedan.

The A8 diesel will have similar standard and optional equipment to the current V-8 powered A8 4.2, which starts at $78,750. The Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec starts at $92,550.

EPA fuel economy for the S-Klasse is 20 mpg (11.76 l/100 km) in the city and 31 mpg (7.58 l/100 km) on the highway.

It will be interesting to see what the EPA rating for the Audi A8 TDI will be. In the EU cycle, the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec sold in Germany used 10.1 l/100 km (23.28 mpg) in the city and 5.9 l/100 km (39.86 mpg) on the highway. The German Audi A8 TDI used 7.4 l/100 km (31.78 mpg) in the city and 6.0 l/100 km (39.2 mpg) on the highway. While the two cars are comparable in highway fuel economy, the Audi used roughly 25% less fuel in town.

Start-stop technology will be standard on the new Audi diesel and it will be available with the optional Audi connect infotainment system which incorporates Google Earth maps and real-time SiriusXM traffic information, localized weather, news, real-time fuel prices, Google Local Search, support for Google Send to Car via the myAudi Destination feature, and an in-vehicle hotspot that supports up to eight Wi-Fi devices.