Duboholic

Volkswagen will be touring America in an effort to educate Americans on how VW clean their modern engines are.

The company has prepared a traveling road show called the Dieselution Tour. Into a couple of tractor-trailers, VW has packed interactive exhibits extolling the virtues of diesels. One such exhibit is a calculator that figures how much fuel you would save and how much carbon dioxide you would not emit if you drove a VW diesel on a given road trip compared to a gasoline-powered car. For example, on the 1,802-mile trip from San Francisco to Vail, Colorado, one would save about $80.14 in fuel and about 348 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Also on display are a Touareg TDI, a 1977 Rabbit diesel (the oldest VW diesel in the U.S., apparently) and the 2009 Jetta TDI. The tour will make stops at various universities, environmental events, and also the Super Bowl.

read more on edmonds.com

Posted by at 10:52 PM | Permalink

Via the thecarlounge.net forums

2008 Volkswagen Jetta 4d Sdn 2.0T TDI SE MT MSRP: $21630 Base MSRP: $22530 w/ Sunroof

2008 Volkswagen Jetta 4d Sdn 2.0T TDI SE AT
MSRP: $22705 Base
MSRP: $23605 w/ Sunroof

2008 Volkswagen Jetta 4d Sdn 2.0T TDI SEL
MSRP: $25465 Base
MSRP: $27215 w/ Navigation

Posted by at 10:46 PM | Permalink

It seems that VW is slowly sheading the Noisy/Smelly diesel notion.

Read the full article here.

RAY: We havenÂ’t driven the newest VWs yet, but we stood in front of a new diesel Jetta recently, and we were impressed by how quiet it was. Even AFTER they started the engine. And we werenÂ’t even asphyxiated by the exhaust.

TOM: While diesels make up only a small percentage of the passenger-car market right now, their share is probably going to grow over the next decade as gasoline stays expensive and mileage becomes more important to car buyers. So IÂ’d say, go for it, Terry. And if weÂ’re wrong, weÂ’ll send you a free pair of combination Car Talk earplugs/nose plugs.

Posted by at 7:21 PM | Permalink

Be sure to check out www.vwvodcasts.com it's off the hook.

UBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. has set a new record with its Touareg V10 TDI driven by Ryan Arciero at the 2007 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) race.

Arciero’s time of 13:17:70 was officially declared the new record holder for the alternative fuel diesel truck high performance showroom stock division. The previous record for this division was set in 2000 with a time of 13:34:63.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized as the record holder at a historic race like Pikes Peak,” said Arciero. “The Touareg V10 TDI is the perfect vehicle for this race, giving the driver an abundance of torque, traction and stability. That’s a highly effective combination for the short straights, 156 corners and switchbacks of this race.”

Volkswagen raced three diesel powered Touareg’s in the High Performance Showroom Stock division at the 2007 PPIHC. Second place driver Mark Miller’s official time of 13:25:24 was also good enough to break the seven year-old division record for diesel vehicles by over nine seconds.

Video footage of the race from the Touaregs can be seen at www.vwvodcasts.com, providing a first-hand perspective of the 12.4 mile race to the summit of Pikes Peak, an elevation of over 14,100 feet.

Posted by at 9:12 PM | Permalink

Woot! From Car and Driver.

The Jetta SportWagen will go on sale in Europe this summer as the Golf Variant, and come to the U.S. this fall. Here in the New World, our SportWagens will be powered by the 2.5-liter inline-five familiar from the Rabbit, now up from 150 horsepower to 170. A few months later, the 200-hp 2.0-liter turbo four from the GTI will be available. In January of 2008, the SportWagen will also be available with the 140-hp 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder we told you about back in February. Pricing should start around $18,000 and reach into the mid- to high-20s as option boxes are checked.

Posted by at 7:47 PM | Permalink

From VW.com

With reference to the new Passat BlueMotion this means: an average of 5.1 liters of diesel over 100 kilometers. The Passat Estate BlueMotion needs 5.2 liters (137 g/km) – also a top value, even in comparison to vehicles worldwide. Both body versions have a driving range of up to 1,350 kilometers with a full tank!

Posted by at 9:25 PM | Permalink

Need/want more power for you're TDI? Only have $1000USD? No problem.

four 0.205 Injectors + one TDI Tuning Box + boost control module = 150 WHP!

Checkout the thread on TDICLUB.com.

Posted by at 7:49 PM | Permalink

All right, big news: I personally was in the presence of a 2008-model Jetta TDI this afternoon! It was at the Boston "Altwheels" festival as a clean-diesel demonstrator car, and will be there tomorrow and Saturday as well for any who want to see it in person. The car was beautiful, and seemed to be set up in an unusual way. It had a 6-speed manual, a nav system, leatherette seats, GTI-style projector headlamps, really nice uplevel wheels, and of course the new-generation 2.0L Common Rail TDI, which they said is clean enough for 50-state certification.

I spoke extensively with the VW guys who brought the car there--one was an emissions chief in Michigan named Norbert, with a German accent, and the other was a government-relations honcho based in DC--and they were a little vague on the details, but at least they let me take some pictures. They said the engine has about 140hp and 240lb-ft, and would start out in Jettas but probably end up in at least the Rabbit as well, and maybe more models beyond that. From what I could tell looking at the engine (they wouldn't let me pull the plastic cover off), it has a timing belt arrangement like the old VE-pump cars, with what might be a high-pressure fuel supply/lift pump mounted where the rotary injection pump went on the older motors. Everything else looked like it does on a current-model Jetta PD. The redline looked to be at about 4500 rpm, so basically where it is now. I have to say, this engine was so quiet I literally had trouble believing it was a diesel. It was far quieter than the new Toyota Camry gasser idling next to it, for instance. They said there is extensive exhaust aftertreatment, including catalyst, particle filter, etc, but no urea injection (a good thing, I'd say).

Anyway, these guys seemed really supportive of increased diesel presence in the US, saying that the TDIs had been selling like hotcakes with demand well exceeding supply and prices/profits very high (like that's news to any of us).

Here's what it looked like:









There was also this kind of counterproductive garbage there, of course:



I'll be there tomorrow and Saturday, so if anyone shows up keep an eye out for me. There was also a guy with a '98 Beetle TDI that he'd put an Elsbett conversion into.

Posted by at 12:37 PM | Permalink

TDIclub has a thread about the many of the OEM+ types mods such as MFA, Autodimmiing mirror, etc.

Be sure to check it out here.

Posted by at 8:11 PM | Permalink

With Lincoln soon stopping production on the continental, vw seems to be in a perfect position to take over the North American limosine/taxi market with the Passat TDI. I see too many hybrids taxis where i live. Clearly TDI's get better milage than Prius'. VW lost/gave up on the van market, lets see them break into another market segment.

Posted by at 7:42 PM | Permalink

Insideline pits the A8 TDI against the A8 Gas.

Consider those for a moment. The diesel-powered Audi A8 4.2 TDI is not only more economical than the gasoline-powered A8 4.2, it also produces fewer greenhouse gases and, most importantly for readers of this Web site, it's also significantly quicker.

For the past few years, while the U.S. has been bemoaning ever increasing gas prices, the Europeans have been experiencing a quiet, bloodless diesel revolution. The introduction of multivalve, common-rail direct-injection and pre-ignition technology has transformed the diesel engine from a noisy agricultural workhorse into an ultrarefined, economical powerhouse worthy of the finest performance and luxury cars. Across Europe, more than a third of new cars now stop at the black pump and in some countries, diesel cars outsell petrol.

Posted by at 6:33 PM | Permalink

I read this post on the vwvortex. It's a very good writeup of what's going on with TDI's in 2007.

Continue reading "2007 TDI" »

Posted by at 11:02 PM | Permalink

VW is going to re-introduce the Toureg TDI!

Continue reading "2007 V10 Toureg Returns!" »

Posted by at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Forbes has an article on Diesel's in north america.

Continue reading "Forbes talks about Diesel" »

Posted by at 10:15 PM | Permalink

Wired.com's Autopia has an article on diesel additives.

Monday, 22 May 2006
Nanoparticles Clean Diesel

British company Oxonica is selling a nano-based diesel additive that reduces emissions and increases fuel efficiency in the U.K. and Asia and hopes to bring it to the U.S.

Envirox can increase fuel efficiency by 10 percent and reduce emissions by 15 percent. According to Oxonica CEO Kevin Matthews, the magic is in introducing 5 parts per million of cerium oxide into fuel to enhance the burn by reducing the fuel deposits on the pistons and cylinders. The 10 nanometer particles of cerium oxide are coated to prevent clumping, and the additive works with low and high levels of sulfur in the diesel.

The additive is being used in the Philippines, and by British bus company Stagecoach. Matthews said Envirox has been submitted to the EPA for testing, and approval isn't likely until at least next year.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory is also working on a cerium oxide additive to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

However, there are also concerns about cerium oxide being released into the air and inhaled.

"Studies of cerium injected systemically have shown that, once in the circulation, cerium can cause liver toxicity with a NOAEL of 1 mg/kg after a single intravenous injection and a LOAEL of 2 mg/kg for effects on liver detoxifying enzymes..." says a report of an animal study from the Health Effects Institute.

While nanotech has potential to greatly improve the quality of life, there is still much to be learned about what happens if the teeny bits get into our air, water and food.

Posted by at 6:30 PM | Permalink

2007 TDI's do not meet US EPA emissions regulations with higher sulfer diesel that was availble at the time of emissions testing.

So in order to meet demand, VW is making TDI's up until Week 39 of a calender year which is September of 2006. Which means, a 2007 Gasser will be made right beside a 2006 TDI.

Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is expecting to hit the scene in the US September-October of 2006 and will allow the VW to meet emission standards in North America.

VW can resubmit for EPA testing December 1, 2006 which means a 2007.5 could be released, as typically done in the spring.

So no NEW TDI's will be availble in the winter 2006-2007.

Posted by at 10:34 PM | Permalink

CanadianDriver: Test Drive - 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDIDiesel-powered passenger cars have been a tough sell in North America, saddled as they are with the tired old stigma of being noisy, slow and smelly. Never mind that nearly 50% of all new cars sold in Europe are oil burners. Never mind that modern diesel engines are increasingly cleaner, quieter and more powerful t"

Posted by at 9:42 PM | Permalink

Woot! Woot!

WRAL.com - Consumer - Consumer Reports Looks At Pros, Cons Of Going Diesel

Officials claim diesel engines are up to 30-percent more efficient than gas engines. Consumer Reports recently tested the diesel version of the Volkswagen Jetta and has the pros and cons of going diesel.
When most people think 'diesel', they think of big trucks. Trucks use diesel because it has more pulling power per gallon than regular gas. Now, more manufacturers will offer diesel passenger cars in the near future. Consumer Reports tested the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and found that diesel cars do offer great fuel economy.
'You'll go further on a tank of diesel fuel t"

Posted by at 9:40 PM | Permalink

There is speculation that this summer will have the highest gas prices ever. With the new fears of price increases comes more alternative fuel articles.

Read more a 1997 Passat powered on vegetable oil.

Continue reading "1997 Passat biodiesel" »

Posted by at 7:37 PM | Permalink

One lesser-known movement in green car technology is converting diesels to run on SVO, or Straight Vegetable Oil. Unlike biodiesel, which is produced by chemically modifying vegetable oil so that it can be used in a diesel vehicle with no modifications, SVO requires a second fuel system for the vegetable oil in addition to the standard diesel fuel system. Also, one doesn’t operate and fill up an SVO vehicle like a normal petrol or diesel car. It sounds like a lot of work, so why are more and more people kicking up the veggie quotient of their diesels’ diet? We decided to look into it.

No automaker offers an SVO-powered vehicle in its line-up, so tapping a press fleet for a quick evaluation was out of the question. Fortunately we stumbled upon Chuck and Tom Norton, a pair of sibs who run Turtle Plastics, an eco-friendly plastics business in Lorain, OH. The Norton boys recently had a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDi converted to run on SVO. Though Tom’s the primary driver, Chuck was happy to hand over the keys to their “Vega Jet” for a spin last week and helped us understand what it’s like to own and operate a vehicle that eats out of a dumpster. Let us explain…

Posted by at 6:57 PM | Permalink

PETE 'N' PAM reviewThe 2007 Jetta TDI

Target audience: Youngish, techie men and women seem to love the VW diesels, but VW's TDI marketing casts a wide net.

Highs: Pete – Fuel efficiency, driving dynamics, ergonomics. Pam – Personality, spunk.

Lows: Pete – Styling, price, diesel fuel mess, untested reliability. Pam – Diesel image, exterior design, engine sound.

Bottom line: Pete – Friendly European diesel hopes to win over skeptical Americans. Pam – Who cares if diesel is $5 a gallon?

Posted by at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There is a discussion on TDIClub.com about whether Audi show come out with TDI versions of the RS and S versions of their cars.

I'm all for it. Audi/VW may not have the engine building capacity and that's probably the reason we don't see diesel RS and S cars.

Oh yea, if you own or thinking of owning a diesel, checkout TDIclub FAQ it will save you money.

Posted by at 7:48 PM | Permalink

So, are you or a friend of yours is thinking of buying a new or used VW TDI. Do you own or a friend of yours own a Volkswagen TDI?

Got questions about your TDI? Do you want save money?

Be sure to checkout the TDI Club FAQ. It will save you money.

Posted by at 9:31 PM | Permalink

Posted by at 8:26 PM | Permalink

From February 1, 2006 to April 31, 2006 Audi's Museum in Ingolstadt will be featuring their concept cars of the past 40 years.

1971 Audi NSU Ro80 Pininfarina Quarz


1991 Audi Quattro Spyder



1991 Audi Avus Quattro... Yes is has a w12.


Audi Rosemeyer


Audi Nuvolari


Audi RSQ

I can't find pictures for the following Audi's:

Audi Student, a small-car idea for Audi dating back to 1970
1976 Audi motorcycle with its four-cylinder engine from the Audi 50.
1993 forerunner of the A8, the Audi Space Frame(ASF) with a V8 TDI


You will have to go and visit the museum.

Posted by at 7:00 PM | Permalink

Posted by at 8:57 PM | Permalink

Audi has confirmed that they are going to Lemans this year with a TDI. The 5.5L 650hp TDI engine found a home in the Audi R10 racecar.

(Via speedtv.com.)

Audi Confirms Diesel Le Mans Contender Written by: Adam CooperParis, France – 12/13/2005

The R10's V12 turbocharged engine generates 650 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque. (Audi photo)

Audi has finally confirmed its long-rumored plans to rejuvenate its sports car program by introducing a diesel engine.

The aluminum, 5.5-liter V12 TDI unit, said to be capable of 650hp and producing 800 pound-feet of torque, will be mated to the all-new R10 chassis. It will make its debut at Sebring in March, prior to an assault on Le Mans in June with the crack Joest team. Tested on the track last month, the R10 was unveiled in Paris on Tuesday, and was given a brief outing on a closed section of public street by Tom Kristensen.

Taking the diesel route represents a marketing coup for the German company. Diesel engines are an extremely popular passenger car option in most of Europe, not least because the fuel costs less than standard gasoline. Audi is in fierce comp"

Posted by at 8:42 PM | Permalink

Hybrids, which typically claim to get 32 to 60 miles per gallon, ended up delivering an average of 19 miles per gallon less than their EPA ratings under real-world driving conditions (which reflect more stop-and-go traffic and Americans' penchant for heavy accelerating) according to a Consumer Reports investigation in October 2005. For example, a 2004 Toyota Prius got 35 miles per gallon in city driving, off 42 percent from its EPA rating of 60 mpg. The 2003 Honda Civic averaged 26 mpg, off 46 percent from its advertised 48 mpg. And the Ford Escape small sport utility vehicle managed 22 mpg, falling 33 percent short of its 33 mpg rating.

Posted by at 7:34 PM | Permalink

Volkswagen has been pushing their FSI, TSI and TDI for International Green Week.

"Volkswagen's innovative drive concepts are already capable of using an up to ten percent volume blend of bioethanol in petrol (E10) within the specifications of a future fuel standard. Volkswagen is promoting the increasing spread of biogenic fuels with its modern engine technology that is prepared for the use of ethanol blend fuels. This is an important element in our future-oriented fuel strategy."

More information on TSI, TDI and FSI after the jump.

Continue reading "TSI, FSI and TDI" »

Posted by at 8:53 PM | Permalink

The BBC's Top Gear reviews the 2006 Audi RS4.

A 4.2L V8 that rev's up to 8250RPM!

Listen the exhaust note it's so sweet!

Continue reading "Audi RS4 Exhaust Note!" »

Posted by at 5:47 PM | Permalink

According to this autoblog article, the US is importing soy beans from central america.

That has US farmers pretty pissed off.

“Why would we want to trade our farmers, our jobs, our communities, our tax dollars and our energy security for another dependence on foreign ethanol or biofuels?” said Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson.

Posted by at 7:16 PM | Permalink

Japanese scientists have discovered a better way to convert vegetable oil into biodiesel. With a cheaper catalyst (up to 50 times cheaper) than what is currently used.

According to an Article from the National Geographic

Any vegetable oil can become fuel, but not until its fatty acids are converted to chemical compounds known as esters. Currently the acids used to convert the fatty acids are prohibitively expensive. Michikazu Hara, of the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Yokohama, Japan, and his colleagues have used common, inexpensive sugars to form a recyclable solid acid that does the job on the cheap.

Posted by at 7:10 PM | Permalink