VW Dieselution Pushes Clean Diesel Technology

Anthony Fontanelle
September 28, 2007

Clean diesel technology is a quantum leap for the auto industry. As global warming issues become hotter and hotter, clean fuel alternatives should be sustained. This is why Volkswagen AG is launching its Dieselution Tour which aims to educate American shoppers about modern green technology.

The German automaker intends to impart know-how about diesels with emphasis on their environment-friendly aspect. To spread the word, VW has started it Dieselution Tour yesterday at Auburn Hills. The automaker pulled an educational trailer around the country and set up shop at environmental events.

Inside the trailer, computer screens and displays showcased the benefits of diesels. After watching, the company asked visitors to take a "sustainability quiz" or measure their car's carbon footprint. The message is of the automaker is clear-cut: Clean diesels can help the environment and save you money.

"We want to show Americans that today's clean diesel technology is a quantum leap from the powerplants introduced nearly 30 years ago," said Stefan Jacoby, the CEO of Volkswagen of America.

This weekend the tour stops at Boston's Alt Wheels, an alternative fuels event, and at New York City's Ecofest, touted as the largest environmental gathering on the East Coast. The nationwide tour will end at the 2008 Chicago auto show, said Nick Price, a VW spokesman.

Whether the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company can get Americans to drive diesels remains to be seen. Time will tell. The automaker’s Dieselution trailer rolls along with the VW's 2009 Jetta TDI, which heads to American dealerships next spring. According to VW executives, clean diesel sedan should get more than 40 miles per gallon in city driving and top 50 mpg on the highway, VW executives said. "In America, diesels are currently only found on light duty trucks," Jacoby said. "We are the company that can make diesels accessible in vehicles that are efficient and fun to drive."

Featured on the third generation Jetta is VW’s 1.9 L TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) 67 kilowatt diesel engine producing 90 horsepower. Fuel economy was rated at 5.7 L/100 km urban cycle and 4.8 L/100 km extra urban.

The new VW Jetta TDI will come with a 2-liter Common Rail Diesel that engineers have redesigned from the piston head on out. Significant changes to the engine's fuel injection system, its exhaust and the addition of a particulates trap will make the Jetta the first 50-state diesel, said Stuart Johnson, a manager for VW's engineering and environmental office. According to VW, the new variant will be more powerful, more efficient and much cleaner than comparable engines.

California has essentially blocked diesel cars from being sold in the Golden State because of tough air quality standards, reported Detroit News. New York and other states have adopted California's emission laws, limiting the places VW could sell its previous diesel models, the report continued.

Diesels continue to improve their reputation with consumers looking for more efficient vehicles without sacrificing power or performance, Jacoby said. "According to our research, 30 percent of people looking at vehicles in VW's segments consider a diesel," he said.

VW expects nearly one-third of its Jetta shoppers to choose a diesel over the comparable gas-powered model, Jacoby added. Should it prove booming, the automaker will consider locating an assembly plant in the United States. But Jacoby did not go into details.

Aside from Volkswagen, other automakers have intimated their commitment to green technology. As a fact, green vehicles are now all over. And the roads will be much greener soon. Shoppers are also expecting that parts accessories such as Koni shocks will complement the dieselution.

Source:  Amazines.com