Volkswagen At The Los Angeles Auto Show 2008

Volkswagen is presenting an innovative lineup of extremely economical and low-emissions drive technologies at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It extends from the most advanced internal combustion engines of the present to the fuel cells of the future. Take the Clean Diesels, for example: the TDI engines from Volkswagen. Many experts consider these diesel engines to be the most advanced of our times. The reasons could not be clearer: high fuel efficiency and extremely low emissions combined with maximum performance. It is precisely this formula that has already won over millions of car drivers in Europe and a growing number of people in America.

It is in this context that the new Touareg V6 TDI is debuting as a world premiere in Los Angeles with its powerful 165 kW / 225 PS Clean Diesel. The high-tech engine is taking the stage with a city fuel economy of 18 mpg. On the highway it even attains 25 mpg. The Touareg V6 TDI is defining a completely new generation of extremely economical and low emissions SUVs. Since the Touareg V6 TDI is equipped with the most advanced catalytic converter system in the world, it impressively fulfills the BIN5 emissions standard, and with it the legal requirements of all fifty states in the USA. In parallel, the V6 TDI will satisfy the highest expectations in dynamic response and comfort: the turbocharged V6 TDI is just about as quiet as a gasoline engine, but it is far more powerful. Starting at a low 1,750 rpm – the ‘cellar' of engine speed – it already develops its empowering maximum torque of 550 Newton-meters.

The magnitude of the potential of TDI engines from Volkswagen is also reflected in "Clean Diesel Racing". In the US Cup by the same name, it is the racing version of the 125 kW / 170 PS strong Jetta TDI that is exciting car racing fans. Also legendary is the Baja 1000 – possibly the most spectacular rally race in the world. Volkswagen is presenting the new Baja Touareg TDI for this classic race as a world premiere in Los Angeles. Competing for fame and honor in the king's class of "Trophy Trucks" on November 21, this is a powerful 550 PS yet fuel efficient turbo-diesel off-roader of superlatives.

Since August, the Jetta TDI and Jetta SportWagen TDI have been marketed as Clean Diesels in the USA. They too are taking the stage at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Their 103 kW / 140 PS strong four-cylinder turbo-diesel is so fuel efficient (30 mpg city / 41 mpg highway / manual transmission) and clean that a 1,300 dollar tax credit is being offered on these models. That is because from the very first day they are driven, cars like the Jetta TDI make a contribution toward drastically reducing emissions. Compared to gasoline engines of similar power, the fuel efficiency of the Jetta TDI and Jetta SportWagen TDI is up to 35 percent better! That helps the environment. Immediately. All across America.

The Clean Diesel Offensive of the third-largest carmaker in the world is part of a powertrain and fuel strategy that starts in the present and extends far into the future. This much is certain: The paths that tomorrow's mobility will take are being set in our times. It is also certain that today's technologies such as Clean Diesel TDIs, the gasoline engines from Volkswagen that are just as successful and extremely fuel efficient and the world's most efficient automatic transmission, the DSG dual clutch transmission, will remain dominant for a long time. It is also clear that internal combustion engines, hybrid systems, pure electric drives and vehicles with fuel cells will exist side-by-side in the future. Volkswagen is working toward attaining a balanced mix of these systems.

At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen is taking a hands-on approach in showing just how the future will "drive". This is being accomplished with no less than three fuel cell prototypes: the Tiguan – a compact, sporty SUV; the Touran – a minivan that is similarly compact, and the Passat Lingyu – a sedan customized for use in China. In Germany, the Tiguan and Touran are by far the most successful cars in their class. The same is true of the Passat Lingyu in China. All three zero emissions vehicles can be test driven by journalists at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Tiguan and Touran with on-board fuel cells were developed in Germany. They are driven by an electric motor with 100 kW (Tiguan) or 80 kW (Touran) of power. The fuel cell supplies the energy. Both vehicles are currently being tested in a durability study conducted as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership. In parallel, other prototypes are running in Germany. For test purposes, an infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations is being built between the large metropolises of Berlin and Hamburg. The 87 mph (140 km/h) fast prototypes are capable of ranges of up to 125 miles (approx. 200 kilometers) on a tank of fuel, without emitting even one gram of CO2 or any other noxious emissions. All that comes out of the tailpipe is some water and oxygen.

Also ahead of its time is the zero emissions version of the Passat Lingyu. The prototype, developed in China together with scientists at the Tongji University, clearly reflects Volkswagen's long-standing practice of working together with the most creative minds of all the world's continents to develop new solutions for a clean future. And it has begun with technologies like Clean Diesel.