Volkswagen Golf and Polo hybrids could be ready by 2009
It looks like Volkswagen may have hybrid versions of the both the Polo and Golf on the market by 2009. In an interview with German magazine AutoBild, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn seems to indicate that following the introduction of downsized engines like the TSI models and the BlueMotion diesels, they are working on hybrid drivetrains. The Google and BabelFish translations are pretty rough but it appears that both mild and full hybrid versions are under test. It looks like they are taking advantage of some regenerative braking and electrically driven accessories, much like the Efficient Dynamics systems BMW is adding to the 1-Series this year. If your grasp of the German language is better than Google's please feel to enlighten us further in the comments.
[Source: AutoBild via GermanCarBlog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
twinstick 10:30PM (2/29/2008)
No need for a plug. Just turn the key and go. A plug just means that there will have to be more nuclear plants to supply the electricity. Not for the greenies. Or, perhaps, it all depends on who's car somebody with an overinflated sense of self-worth wants to foist upon the rest of us.
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Clifford 5:12AM (8/23/2009)
I have no doubt that when gasoline prices hit close to $4 / gallon, the Prius Hybrid saves people money over the ordinary Chevy. And, the Prius prices are coming down.
However, the Prius gets about 45 MPG.
My 1981 VW also gets about 45 MPG, without the hybrid gizmos.
The current Polo BlueMotion gets 48 mpg city, 73 mpg highway, and 62 mpg combined (in US MPG)
The current Golf BlueMotion gets 45 mpg city, 67 mpg highway, 57 mpg combined (in US MPG)
Seeing an estimate of the Golf Hybrid Diesel getting about 71 MPG... not too different from the highway mileage of the Golf and Polo. I assume the city (and thus combined) mileage will be bumped up a bit.
So, will the payoff be enough not between your typical Chevy but between the Polo BlueMotion and the Polo BlueMotion Hybrid?
And, I'm seeing that VW may only offer a gasoline version which will likely get much worse mileage than their current European Diesels.
It will be a tough sell.
Of course, that would be dependent on the USA actually getting the more fuel efficient European cars.
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Ian 8:51AM (5/03/2007)
There hybrids, by their very nature have extra working mechanicals like regenerative braking systems and more electronics than a normal car. Has anyone worked out the exra cost of ownership that will be faced over say 60K miles of usage? i.e. does the owner actually save money?
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Tim 11:43AM (5/03/2007)
No plug, no sale.
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Mulad 11:44AM (5/03/2007)
Yes, hybrids save money over time. You probably break even around 60k, then have lower costs past that point. Of course, down the line is the big hit from replacing the battery pack. Do hybrids save enough money to cover the few thousand it takes to pay for that after ten years or so? Most folks balk at the idea of putting such a chunk of change into a car of that vintage. I think that the total cost of ownership is lower, even with the battery cost. Unfortunately, it's a cost that comes in a big lump and scares some people.
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Karkus 12:14PM (5/03/2007)
It's great to see VW working on hybrids for small cars after all. Besides, last year VW announced that a Jetta hybrid would be more fuel efficient than a TDI. But hopefully they'll combine those to make a really great diesel hybrid. I believe Citreon is already planning to make some of those.
And for #1, yes those studies have been done, and both recent Consumer Reports and Intellichoice studies have found that the Prius and Civic Hybrids do indeed save money.
As for the added complexity myth of hybrids...let's see, adding regenerative braking to a car isn't very hard, and it saves lots of brake wear (and fuel). It's going to be many years before I have to get new brakes, saving me hundreds of dollars over the life of the car.
Also, with the mechanically very simple Prius power split device (the size of a grapefruit), I don't ever have to worry about my transmission or clutch having to be replaced - there are none. That saves thousands of dollars.
And for those people who think the battery is just going to die every 100000 miles....maybe you should go check out the 250000 mile Prius taxis that were still doing just fine.
BTW, hybrids consistently rank near the top in reliability and consumer satisfaction surveys.
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Ron Fischer 2:55PM (5/03/2007)
You've got the German content more or less correct Sam. The main point is that its not clear whether a microhybrid or full hybrid (heavier) system will be offered. At the end the article mentions the Toureg hybrid system potentially providing a "green SUV".
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Don 5:52PM (5/03/2007)
I'm sure the quality of VW's will go up after they install MORE advanced electrics. Pfft.
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mikeinBuilding7 12:44PM (5/06/2007)
I want my Plug too.
We should have some goals here, like 20% Plugin Hybrids in 5 years.
And across the board fuel econ improvements of at least 5mpg in 5 years.
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tony altomare 7:44AM (5/04/2007)
As for #6 Since the introduction of the new Jetta and the new Passat the quality and the reliability has gone up tremendously. I'm a US VW dealer and I can testify to that. I'm happy to finally read articles about VW working on hybrid cars. I'm sure VW will do whatever possible to compete in this segment and have some surprises up their sleeve.
These new cars are also good looking sporty and yes! "different".
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Daniel 7:03PM (5/05/2007)
More cost of ownership? Do you know how hybrids work?
I have a Ford Escape Hybrid. Because it uses regenerative braking first and only uses the disc brakes when that's not enough, the disc brakes get less wear and have to be replaced less often. Because it uses a large durable electric motor to start the gas engine instead of the typical tiny starter motors that can burn out easily in a regular car, I don't have to worry about ever replacing the starter. Since during city driving the gas engine can be turned off for up to even half my driving time, the gas engine faces less wear.
And no, starting the engine repeatedly doesn't wear the engine. The high-powered electric motor spins the engine up to 1000RPM right away, and after the initial start, oil is circulated through the whole engine (the wear and tear on an engine from starting is starting it dry, with the oil all drained down into the pan).
If there are any additional costs for replacing the electric components, they will come well into the vehicle's lifespan. Any defects are covered by the 8-year, 100,000-mile warranties that Ford and Toyota both put on their hybrid's electric drivetrains. The 18 FEH taxis in service in NYC have an average mileage of 175,000 miles, and they're still going strong. There are Prius taxis in Japan that have seen well over 200,000 miles and are still on their original batteries. By the time the battery dies or the electric components fail, the vehicle will be practically worthless anyway, as any 10-year-old, 250,000-mile vehicle would be.
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paula 6:51PM (5/30/2007)
please help me
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