VW will bring five new low-CO2 BlueMotion models to Frankfurt
By the time all the official announcements are made at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), will there be any surprises for us? I'm sure there will be, but considering all of the pre-show releases we're getting from Ford, GM, Ford again, and others, that list will be a short one. Now, it's a little bit shorter.
VW is letting us know about additions to its low-CO2 model lineup that are coming to the show, including BlueMotion versions of the Touran, the Jetta, the Golf Variant wagon, the Golf Plus and the Caddy/Life, according to Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), These new BlueMotion vehicles will be on the market early next year, except for the Touran BlueMotion, which is coming in April.
[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 4:55PM (8/27/2007)
VW, along with its competitors, must have planned this avalanche of MY08 high-MPG models a number of years ago. Sadly, it seems unlikely that they will sell in high enough numbers to actually bring ACEA fleet average CO2 emissions below the voluntary commitment target of 140g/km. Car makers will try to use modest sales as evidence that consumers simply don't want all this ueber-greenness.
They may have a point, but only because consumers actually want regular models with mildly improved mileage rather than a few anaemic super-economy options. Unlike Silicon Valley and Hollywood types, most Europeans actually don't really want to be in the vanguard of the next paradigm shift (or whatever evangelist types call it this week). They just want something moderately fun that they can actually afford to drive. Also, Europeans tend to think curbing CO2 emissions as a collective responsibility, so they want to see their neighbors doing their bit as well.
Ironically, a strategy of slow-selling super-eco models could backfire for the car makers. Their very existence confirms the EU Commission's hunch that they can still pull rabbits out of their engineeering hats when they have to, without losing their shirts in the process.
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66coronet 1:32PM (8/28/2007)
Caddy Life, Wow (I thought) they are bring back the caddy pickup. Then I did a search and saw that it's a compact van. http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/volkswagen-caddy-life-range-1004783.html
Another view of the BlueMotion outlook. http://www.auto-power-girl.com/cars-2008/volkswagen-specifications/volkswagen_golf_v_bluemotion-2065
Looks like BlueMotion is: lower chasis to cut drag, reduce radiator grill and increase radiator fan, software that lowers Idle RPM and longer 3rd & 4th gears for lower RPM, small skinny tires which all give you better fuel mileage.
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