To date, Volkswagen has stayed out of the hybrid game, choosing to focus on bringing several new diesel-powered cars to the market. Still, with much superior fuel economy, diesels may not be enough to help VW get a bigger piece of the market, thus the automaker may have to try a different approach.
Enter the hybrid diesel Golf.
At the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, Volkswagen took the wraps off of a concept Golf that will feature a 1.4L 3-cylinder powerplant and an electric battery. This unusual diesel-electric configuration could give the car the world’s best fuel mileage, reportedly as much as 69.9 mpg.
Various bloggers and wire reports are suggesting that the car is more than a concept, that it will actually enter production perhaps early next year.
According to Autoblog, the car brings together a 74 HP 3-cylinder TDI, a 27 horsepower electric motor and a 7-speed DSG to average 69 mpg (3.4l/100km) in the European cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of just 90 g/km. The electric motor is powered by a trunk-mounted NiMH battery.
I don’t have a photograph of the concept yet, but I’ll post one when I find it on Volkswagen’s media site. I could swipe it from another site, but that isn’t the way that I do things.
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About Matt KeeganMatt Keegan is a freelance writer. His specialities include automotive, business, college and career, and inspirational articles. Matt founded Auto Trends in April 2008 and expanded it to reflect its current format and editorial policy as of Sept. 2010. Matt is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a contributor to various print and online media sources.
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