Volkswagen previews Golf BlueMotion before Frankfurt Show

Volkswagen is giving us a preview of one of the six BlueMotion intros that will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month will be a Golf BlueMotion. Not really ground-breaking, really. In fact, it was just a matter of time.

What is ground-breaking, however, are the numbers. The Golf BlueMotion sips fuel at a rate of 52.3 mpg and expells just 119 g/km of CO2, besting a regular Golf TDI's 46.1 mpg and 135 g/km. Distances of more than 745 miles are now possible on just one tank of diesel.

Those numbers were achieved by modifying engine management systems to reduce speed at idle, use of particulate filters for emissions, longer gear ratios at third, fourth, and fifth, and a modified exterior along the lines of the Polo BlueMotion's, where every effort was made to make the vehicle as slippery as possible.

The new Golf BlueMotion's engine will be a 105 hp TDI engine and should start at €20,615 when it goes on sale in Germany by the end of this year.

Press release after the jump.

Source: Volkswagen



- 4.5 liter fuel consumption and 119 g/km CO2: New Golf BlueMotion sets environmentally-friendly benchmarks in the compact class

- BlueMotion fireworks: Besides the Golf, Volkswagen will be presenting five other BlueMotion models at the IAA

Wolfsburg, Germany – Volkswagen will be firing off the next salvo of its BlueMotion offensive at the Internatio­nal Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. In total, six new models with technology that is as economical as it is environmentally friendly, will debut at the world’s largest car show. One of the high­lights there: The new Golf BlueMotion. At just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers, its fuel consumption has been reduced by a full 0.6 liters compared to the original model. Similarly, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 135 g/km to 119 g/km. Actions taken on the BlueMotion make it so efficient that now distances of more than 1,200 kilometers are possible on just one Golf tank of fuel (55 liter). Market introduction of the Golf BlueMotion is scheduled for the end of this year in Germany.

Details of the new Golf BlueMotion: After the Polo, Passat and Passat Variant, the Golf is now the fourth Volkswagen to wear the new BlueMotion environmental badge on its radiator grille and rear hatch that identifies it as the most economical model of the car series. The Golf BlueMotion is driven by a TDI with 77 kW / 105 PS and a hefty 250 Newton-meter of torque that has already achieved recognition as an efficient engine.

A software intervention in engine management reduces the idling speed of this diesel combined with a particulate filter and simultaneously improves its emission behavior. With longer gear ratios in third, fourth and fifth gears, engine speed levels are also lower while driving. These actions alone reduce consumption by about 0.2 liter.

Less apparent but no less necessary for a plus in economy are the thoroughly trimmed and thereby flow-optimized underbody as well as the nearly enclosed radiator grille. To ensure that the TDI engine still gets enough cooling air, the Golf Blue­Motion has an effective dual fan. Thanks to aerodynamic design measures, including lowering of the chassis, the cW value of 0.32, which in itself is a good value, was further improved to 0.30.

In the hunt for every gram of CO2 Volkswagen is also relying on light-running tires, size 195 / 65 R 15, optimized for rolling resistance; they are driven at higher air pressure, elevated by 0.3 bar. When all of the modifications come together in the end product, the top speed of the Golf rises from 187 km/h to an electronically limited 190 km/h.

When it comes to equipment options, the Golf BlueMotion customer can choose between the Trendline and Comfortline. In addition to basic equipment, equipment of the BlueMotion specification is also on-board. The base price of the Golf BlueMotion Trendline is 20,615 euro and this makes it just 315 euro more than the base price of a Golf 1.9 TDI Trendline. When adjustments are made for equipment options, the BlueMotion is even more economical than previous TDI versions with 105 PS and soot particulate filter. Besides the aerodynamic modifications already mentioned, standard equipment includes the Multifunctional Display Plus (MFA Plus) with gear recommendation arrow and a sports chassis. Thanks to its attractive price positioning, the purchase of a Golf BlueMotion already pays off from the first kilometer – and not just for the environment, but also for customers’ budgets.