Volkswagen is going in an interesting direction with the new Golf and has created a high-performance diesel car. Instead of GTI, this one will be called the GTD. It should get much of the appearance and suspension packages that comes on the GTI, but it will just have to fuel up at a different pump.
Powering the GTD will be a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine making 170 hp. While this is the quickest diesel Golf, the 0 - 60 mph time of 8.2 seconds put it a least a second behind the 207 hp GTI. But fuel economy is the GTD’s savior. It’s 40 mpg will be a noticeable increase over the GTI’s 31 mpg.
We’ll get out first official glimpse at this performance oil burner at the Auto Mobil International (AMI) show in Leipzig, Germany (March 28 to April 5) and sales should begin in Europe later this summer. Because VW is choosing the very European AMI show to debut the GTD, it may be a clear indication that the North America will not get a version.
It was only a matter for time before the in-house tuner division at Mini got tired of twiddling its thumbs. The people at John Cooper Works have already finished
thier work on the new gasoline-powered versions of the Mini coupe and convertible, so now the team may be crossing over into diesel engines.
The high-performance diesel could raise the power of the Mini D’s 1.6-liter engine by almost a third. That translates into going from 110 hp to around 160 hp, without taking the MPGs out of the mid 40s range. The only problem: the diesel Mini is not currently sold in the U.S.
Since the folks at JCW are already stepping outside their usual box, they may just try to take over the whole Mini lineup. Although it was preciously reported that John Cooper Works wouldn’t touch the Crossover, they may just try to cure their boredom again by working their magic on the production version of little SUV.
Audi loves its oil burner racers and for a good reason. The diesel powered R10 car has given Audi three consecutive wins at Le Mans. Now we’re starting to get information on the R10 replacement, the R15.
Audi didn’t just lobb off a few cylinders from its passenger cars, but also from its racers. The R10 used a turbo V12, and the R15 has a turbo V10 that makes "more than 600 hp." Audi says the real benefit of the engine is that its more compact and lighter than its predecessor.
We could bore you with all the aerodynamic details, and all the small tweaks the super-brain engineers over at Audi used to make the R15 a competitor, but it’s a lot to digest. We’ll wait and see how the car competes at Sebring on March 21 and Le Mans in June before we get all tech heavy on this car. Those who want to know all the details now can read the press release after the jump.
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The diesel engine’s frugal nature and the fuel’s lower price (in some markets) make it popular choice in Europe. With the rest of the world pinching our pennies, we’re going to start seeing a lot more diesel engines in the U.S.
Unfortunately for the companies bringing these new diesel cars, it may take a little education to get the U.S. to understand the new definition of a diesel engine. Gone are the days of black smoke and high-polluting; in its place is the best fuel economy going. Also gone is the loud rumbling engine; leaving almost no noise in its place. What remains from the old diesel image is the toughness. Diesel engines have fewer moving parts, operate at lower RPMs, and are historically the most reliable kind of engine out there.
One of the great places to have these torque-happy engines are trucks and SUVs. That’s why we’re taking a look at a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 with a 3.0-liter diesel engine.
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Honda Has been making hot versions on its standard cars and slapping a "Type-S’ badge on them for years (civics,TLs, etc.). But now Honda has decided that the latest European Accord (known as the Acura TSX in the U.S.) to get the "S" treatment will be a diesel.
We’ll get out first view at the speedy oil burner in Geneva. The 2.2-liter engine should make 177 hp, which is 29 more than the standard Accord diesel, but 24 hp less than a North American Acura TSX. Other features include 18-inch alloy wheels, clear indicator covers, a Type S badging, and exclusive new paint colors known as "Premium White Pearl" and "Basque Red".
Press release after the jump.
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Pure sportiness and powerful performance, combined with sensational efficiency: the Audi TT Coupé 2.0 TDI quattro and the Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TDI quattro are Audi’s proof that performance and economy can be combined together.
The two-liter engine generates dynamic propulsion with 170 hp and 258.15 lbs-ft of torque, yet the TT Coupe and TT Roadster consume an average of only 5.3 liters and 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 km (44.38 mpg and 42.77 mpg) respectively—unparalleled in the sports car segment.
The TT Coupe quattro with the 2.0 TDI sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of 226 km/h (140.43 mph).
The Audi TT Roadster, likewise equipped with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, requires only an extra tenth of a second for the standard sprint, and continues up to a top speed of 223 km/h (138.57 mph). Both versions serve as outstanding examples of the success of the Audi efficiency strategy, thanks to their fuel efficiency ratings of 5.5 liters per 100 km (42.77 mpg), a figure that corresponds to CO2 emissions of only 145 grams/km.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Jaguar revealed today the new XF Diesel S powered by the 3.0-litrer AJ-V6D Gen III diesel that delivers 240 hp or 275 hp for the S trim. This engine is currently not available in the U.S., nor have there been any announced plans for Jaguar to bring its diesel line to the U.S.
The new 3.0-liter engines meet the forthcoming EU5 regulations, due to come into force at the start of 2011. And these great performance leaps are achieved with combined average fuel consumption in both models of 42.0mpg – an improvement on the 2.7-litre engine of 12 percent.
The Diesel S accelerates from 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds, 1.8 seconds quicker than the excellent 2.7-litre model. In-gear acceleration is equally impressive, with a 50-70mph time of just 3.2 seconds. Maximum speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
Press release after the jump.
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Porsche revealed today the diesel version of the Cayenne luxury SUV. It will go on sale in February 2009 at a price of EUR 47,250 ($59,500 at the current exchange rates).
The Cayenne Diesel is powered by a three-liter V6 turbo diesel engine with 240 hp and a peak torque of 550 NM. It has a fuel consumption of 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers, with CO2 at 244 grams per kilometer.
The new Cayenne model will initially be offered in Europe, with other markets to come after.
Press release after the jump.
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Volkswagen will continue the US diesel offensive with the launch of the Touareg TDI model in early 2009 (it will be available in all 50 states).
The Touareg V6 TDI clean diesel is powered by a 3.0L, turbocharged six cylinder engine capable of producing 221 hp and an impressive 407 lbs-ft. of torque. The fuel economony is: fuel economy of 18 mpg (City) and 25 mpg highway.
The Touareg V6 TDI – shifted by a six-speed automatic – accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.5 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph.
One of the most important technologies in the new Touareg is the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter. This system converts nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Diesel seems to be the future of German performance. BMW is going to be making many of its cars available, including M models, with oil burners, and Audi has taken what it has learned with the R10 TDI LeMans racer and will make the R10 diesel performance car next year. Now AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg announced the company is planning to unveil first diesel model in the next three years. The Mercedes performance arm will likely use the first fast diesel in an update to the AMG Hammer - a gas-powered E-class from 1986 that had a 177 hp 3.0-liter V6. "This car will be the Super Hammer," said Mornhinweg.
This new car will likely use a small lightweight C-Class sedan for a base. Once that is launched, the AMG diesel treatment may find its way into larger cars like the upcoming E-class (pictured above.)
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