VW forecasts 30% of 2010 Golf sales in US will be for TDI
VW Golf VI - Click for a high-res image gallery
Volkswagen has a major success on its hands in the form of the latest Jetta TDI. Not only has the fuel efficient machine managed to take home nearly every green car award known to man, it's also been selling in numbers well over its initial sales goals. When the German automaker launched the diesel sedan, it had estimated that about 20 percent of all units sold would be equipped with an oil-burning engine. In reality, about half of all wagons sold have the TDI engine and about 30 percent of sedans are so equipped.
For this reason, VW is now expecting that 30 percent of all 2010 Golf hatchbacks will be sold with the automaker's 2.0L turbocharged diesel engine when it goes on sale in the US later this year. Interestingly, fellow German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have not seen this kind of success with their latest diesel engines. We imagine that the low price of the Jetta TDI, in comparison to its gasoline-powered siblings, may have plenty to do with its strong sales numbers.
Gallery: Volkswagen Golf VI
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam 4:18PM (4/13/2009)
Interestingly in canada 80% of the sport wagons are sold in TDI. If they were smart they'd bring the TDI Tiguan. They'd have a hit on their hands here in north america.
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ale 5:05PM (4/13/2009)
ye, that tiguan tdi should have made it here, no, they had to go up and cancel that... imagine a 50mpg diesel SUV okay more like 42, that would wipe that smirk off Ford... 29 mpg... psh..
Kumar 4:30PM (4/13/2009)
If the GTD is included in that estimate, then they may be correct.
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Sasparilla 4:33PM (4/13/2009)
They'd be able to sell alot more if they went with a smaller more fuel efficient TDI engine instead of that oversized 2.0 liter engine.
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Andy 4:35PM (4/13/2009)
It doesn't suprise me that Mercedes and BMW aren't seeing similar success. They are still using the big engine model. While those large diesels do beat out their gas equivalents, I expect consumers aren't as awed by seeing 25 mpg as when they see the Jetta's 40. Perhaps if the US were instead measuring in gallons per mile, it would better highlight the scale of improvement that comes with switching large machines to diesel.
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Kumar 4:46PM (4/13/2009)
I agree, but why give up that model if one expensive diesel gets the same profit as 10 golf diesels combined? It didn't work for the big-hybrid model, so I'm guessing it won't be a huge success for the big-diesel model. No doubt other companies will use the failure of high end diesels as a reason not to enter the market.
VW caved a bit by going for the 2.0 engine, but I think that's a pretty good compromise for now, especially if a Polo Tdi is on the way.
It will be interesting to see if the Audi A3 gets some more buyers with it's tdi. I'm guessing no, as it won't be available with quattro, so people will just get the 2.0 gas with quattro. It's like Audi is setting the A3 up in fail mode again.
ale 5:03PM (4/13/2009)
also, who in the hell has the money right now to go out and buy a brand new 335d, almost 500 benjamins for it...
jetta tdi less than 25G... more accessible...
Andy 5:12PM (4/13/2009)
Sam, they -are- selling the Audi Q7 in TDI for starters, just FYI.
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DP 4:40PM (4/13/2009)
How about a TDI Passat CC? That would get my attention!
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PeterG 5:06PM (4/13/2009)
The only reason a lot of folks buy a VW is because it is the only way to get an affordable Diesel so this isn't a surprise. These are still niche sized sales numbers.
Too bad VW doesn't actually bring over some of it's efficient gas engines as well. The 1.4 TSI gets great economy and performance.
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PeterG 5:06PM (4/13/2009)
"It's the MPG, stupid"
While people run around proclaiming people buy the Prius because its look proclaims green-ness and the Hybrid Accord failed because it didn't, I always thought they were ignoring the obvious. Prius 46MPG, Accord Hybrid 27MPG.
It is the same thing here with VW getting close to 40MPG it sells relatively well. A Luxo Diesel getting 28MPG is no big deal.
Build a regular gas powered car that cracks 40 MPG and it will sell very well also (go Mazda 2??).
Bottom line: It's the MPG, Stupid.
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Jake 5:24PM (4/13/2009)
I'm happy to hear VW is doing well with the TDI. Maybe it will encourage them to expand its' use - maybe into an awd model. MB and BMW will not be too succesful with their's for one simple reason: those gawd awful run flat tires. I haven't driven a BMW with them but have an MB and it makes the normal "firm" ride absolutely bone jarring (IMHO). At least here in the NE where where winter damaged roads are prevalent. Instead of reducing the size of the gas tank to accomodate an adblue tank, they got rid of the regular tires and put the little tank in the wheel well. Big mistake. Actually, lazy engineering. Now, if Honda and Subaru would only bring their diesels to the US, I might think more seriously about trading my 10 year old Forester.
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contact 5:43PM (4/13/2009)
Went to my local VW dealer to have the Beetle TDi serviced and to check out the new Jetta TDi's. They had 9 on the lot (between wagons and sedans). Then they had the balls to offer me 50% less than book value for my trade as well as a PREMIUM over sticker for the new jetta.
I tried to ask the salesman if he had turned on the tv since September of last year. I also asked him to call me when a customer was stupid enough to pay over INVOICE for a new car. I doubt I'll get a call anytime soon.
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Andy 1:03AM (4/14/2009)
I ordered a Sportwagon TDI around August and it's still a month or more away. So unfortunately, they don't seem to be cutting special deals on those. They just aren't on the lots. At least it's not -over- invoice. The sedans might be a different story. They're around.
contact 1:40PM (4/14/2009)
I don't know how far you're willing to go to get your new wagon but my dealer has 4 sport wagon TDi's right NOW. If you want I'll go get you a list of what's on the lot and a reputable salesman contact info if you're interested.
usbseawolf2000 10:47PM (4/15/2009)
If Prius gets 48 MPG on the highway with the good old cheap 87 Oct gasoline, why would anyone pick TDI? No car can touch Prius City 51 MPG!
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vento97 11:17AM (4/20/2009)
usbseawolf2000:
If Prius gets 48 MPG on the highway with the good old cheap 87 Oct gasoline, why would anyone pick TDI? No car can touch Prius City 51 MPG!
Good point - for those who prefer to drive appliances.
I'll take the TDI (car) over the Prius (appliance)
usbseawolf2000 11:51AM (4/20/2009)
vento97,
Define appliance! Prius feels more connected to the road because of the instantaneous response (both acceleration and braking) from the electric motor.
More and more cars are using drive-by-wire and Prius is probably not the first to use it either.
Dan 9:16AM (4/16/2009)
"If they were smart they'd bring the TDI Tiguan. They'd have a hit on their hands here in north america."
i'd be the first in line....
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Hary 10:57AM (6/29/2009)
I'm sort of happy with my MB E320 Bluetech. I do get between 33-38 mpg highway and 24-29 mpg city, but I would be happier if the Passat line for 2010 came with a diesel engine, I assume it would get better mileage.
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