2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Concept

Polo BlueMotion Concept Car - World Premiere at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

• 3.3 liter fuel consumption makes this Polo one of the most economical cars in the world

• New 1.2 liter TDI engine reduces Polo's CO2 emissions to just 87 g/km

• Market launch of the most fuel efficient Polo of all times expected in 2010

It is still a concept – the most fuel efficient five-seater in the world. Its name: Polo BlueMotion. Fuel consumption: 3.3 liters CO2 emissions: just 87 g/km! Likelihood of going into production: extremely high! However, before a potential production launch, development must be completed on the brand new 1.2 liter TDI with common rail injection. And that is precisely what the team led by Development Chief Dr. Úlrich Hackenberg is working on with great emphasis. 'I anticipate,' says Dr. Hackenberg, 'that we will be able to go into production in February 2010. Meeting this schedule will be extremely demanding. Yet the engine and other systems of the Polo BlueMotion are already operating with such promising performance that we are on course to meet our goal.'

The 'other systems' to which he refers include an automatic start-stop system and regenerative braking. These two technologies alone reduce fuel consumption of the 55 kW / 75 PS three-cylinder direct-injection diesel by up to 0.2 liters per 100 kilometers.

But that is not all that is being done. On the Polo BlueMotion concept car, which weighs in at just 1,080 kilograms, Volkswagen is calling upon an entire array of efficiency measures, including an aerodynamic package for the body that is lowered by 10 millimeters (including modified front end), an aerodynamically optimized underbody and low rolling resistance tires on 15-inch alloy wheels. Altogether, these modifications yield fuel savings totaling 0.8 liters. This has lowered CO2 emissions by about 20 percent.

Other features being presented on the Polo BlueMotion concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show include a custom interior with 'Power On' trim, and a display for indicating upshifting and tire pressure. The design study is painted in the new exterior color 'Emotion blue'.

Start-stop system in detail

Especially worthwhile is a look at the fully intuitive operation of the start-stop system. As the driver approaches a red stop light in the Polo BlueMotion concept car, he or she applies the brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop, shifts into neutral (which should be standard practice with a conventional car) and takes his or her foot off the clutch. This shuts off the engine momentarily. A 'Start Stop' message now appears in the multifunctional display. As soon as the traffic light turns green again, the driver fully depresses the clutch, the engine starts, the 'Start Stop' message disappears, and the driver puts the car back in gear and resumes driving.

Regenerative braking in detail

Regenerative braking helps to recover energy that would otherwise be lost in driving in as efficient a way as possible. During deceleration and braking phases of the Polo BlueMotion concept car – i.e. whenever the driver simply releases the accelerator pedal or intentionally brakes – the alternator's charging voltage is elevated, which converts the car's kinetic energy into electrical energy to charge the battery.

Thanks to alternator control – which regulates the alternator as a function of engine efficiency for optimal battery charging – it is possible to lower alternator voltage at other times, e.g. during acceleration or driving at a constant speed. It is even possible to switch off the alternator entirely. This reduces engine load and improves fuel economy. Special software for energy management and modified engine controller software are needed to utilize regeneration.

The new umbrella brand BlueMotionTechnologies

2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Concept

Volkswagen is presenting the Polo concept car in Geneva under the new umbrella brand 'BlueMotionTechnologies'. This label covers all production-mature or near-production technologies and products that significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. These are developments such as the new start-stop system and regenerative braking implemented on the Polo BlueMotion concept, as well as the highly innovative SCR catalytic converter on the Passat CC BlueTDI that is also appearing for the first time in Geneva. However, they also include the NOx storage catalytic converter that has already been successfully introduced in the ÚSA, electric and hybrid drive systems, and innovative engine systems like those in the Touran TSI EcoFuel which are debuting at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. A launching point for these extremely fuel efficient and low-emission products was the Polo BlueMotion, which in 2006 was the first five-seater to bring fuel consumption down to 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers. The Polo BlueMotion concept car now surpasses this record value by 0.5 liters.

The range of BlueMotion models already available today includes the Golf series, Jetta, Caddy, Touran, Sharan, and the Passat and Passat Wagon. A recent survey by the organization 'Deutsche Automobil Treuhand DAT', the renowned and world's oldest institution for automotive market research, demonstrates just how successful the BlueMotion label has become today. In a representative survey, the highly regarded DAT found that 85 percent of German car drivers are familiar with the BlueMotion label. The next best competitor only attained a recognition level of 36 percent. This makes BlueMotion the number 1 among automotive environmental labels.

Source - Volkswagen

To the Point: BlueMotionTechnologies – Geneva Motor Show 2009

• Five World Premieres in the Name of Sustainability

• Polo BlueMotion Concept Car: World's most fuel efficient five-seater consumes just 3.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers

Golf BlueMotion: At 3.8 liters the most fuel efficient in its class
• Golf Plus BlueMotion: At 4.3 liters the most fuel efficient high-roof compact

• Passat CC BlueTDI: World's cleanest diesel sedan with SCR catalytic converter

• Touran TSI EcoFuel: Dynamic Twincharger driving for just 4.60* €/100 km

Volkswagen is expanding its range of extremely fuel efficient, clean and economical models with great vigor. Making world premieres at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 (March 5 to 15) are the Polo BlueMotion concept car, the new Golf BlueMotion, the next Golf Plus BlueMotion, the exclusive Passat CC BlueTDI Individual and the natural gas powered Touran TSI EcoFuel.

World premiere I: Polo BlueMotion Concept Car

The new Number 1 when it comes to economy is the Polo BlueMotion Concept Car. The world's most fuel efficient five-seater is still a concept. Fuel consumption: 3.3 liter! CO2 emissions: just 87 g/km! Likelihood of going into production: extremely high! High tech on board: a new 1.2 liter common rail TDI producing 55 kW / 75 PS, automatic start-stop and a system for regenerative braking – recovery of braking energy. (For more on the new Polo BlueMotion Concept Car see separate press text.)

World premiere II: Golf BlueMotion

In the vehicle class above, Volkswagen is showing the fuel efficient car of today in the form of the new Golf BlueMotion. Based on the sixth generation of the bestseller, this is a talented car that should appeal both to those who drive high business mileages as well as private users with an average fuel consumption of 3.8 liters (99 g/km CO2). Like the Polo, the Golf also has an automatic start-stop system and makes use of regenerative braking. Despite all of its economizing, the 77 kW / 105 PS strong Golf BlueMotion is anything but lacking in performance. Just the opposite is true thanks to its 250 Newton-meter of torque.

World premiere III: Golf Plus BlueMotion

2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Concept

No less is true of the new Golf Plus BlueMotion, which uses the same new 1.6 TDI with common rail injection and identical systems such as regenerative braking and a start-stop system. Fuel consumption for the versatile high-roofed Golf is an average of 4.3 liters (114 g/km CO2) per 100 kilometers, depending on vehicle configuration. That is the best value in a competitive field, and it represents an additional 0.5 liter reduction in fuel consumption compared to the first Golf Plus BlueMotion. This Golf can easily handle 1,100 kilometers on one fill of its 55 liter fuel tank.

World premiere IV: Passat CC BlueTDI

2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Concept

The new Passat CC BlueTDI takes you even further with a range of over 1,300 kilometers. Admittedly, the fuel tank is a bit larger and so is fuel consumption. Yet this car is a genuine sensation, since its engine – the 105 kW / 143 PS BlueTDI with downstream SCR catalytic converter that significantly reduces nitrogen oxides – is considerably more powerful and is simultaneously the cleanest diesel in the world! This 214 km/h fast cruising sedan needs just 5.2 liters (!) of diesel to cover 100 kilometers. CO2: 139 g/km. Even today, this Volkswagen already meets the emission limits of the Euro-6 standard planned for 2014. Úpon request, the Passat CC BlueTDI can be ordered with an automatic 6-speed dual clutch transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) This much is certain: In the everyday business world this car answers practically all of the questions posed by our times. Simply put: it is sustainable. By the way, the BlueTDI version of the touring sedan being shown in Geneva is based on the brand new Passat CC Individual. Identifying feature: the finest of materials and most exclusive equipment. This Volkswagen is ideal as an alternative for all those car drivers who want to drive a high performance touring sedan while simultaneously making a statement about sustainability. Because the Passat CC BlueTDI Individual unites both of these: high exclusivity and extremely low emissions.

World premiere V: Touran TSI EcoFuel

That is what the Touran TSI EcoFuel does well too – possibly better than any other van in the world. That is because the 'normal' Touran EcoFuel (80 kW / 109 PS) is one of the most successful natural gas cars in Europe. Now, however, Volkswagen is presenting the world premiere of an entirely new natural gas version of the van: the Touran TSI EcoFuel. Its key technical trademark: dual charging via turbocharger and supercharger ('Twincharger'). Its dynamic performance is unlike that of any other natural gas vehicle previously seen. Excellent performance contrasts with a high level of efficiency here: the new Touran TSI EcoFuel is so economical that 100 kilometers in this van, with its 110 kW / 150 PS of power, only costs about 4.60 Euros (based on average price of natural gas in Germany, February 2009). Although the Touran TSI EcoFuel goes to work with a passion thanks to its 'Twincharger', the van consumes just 4.8 kilograms of natural gas per 100 kilometers when paired with a standard 6-speed transmission (129 g/km CO2; 7-speed-DSG: 4.7 kilograms and 126 g/km CO2).

BlueMotionTechnologies – New umbrella brand for a world of efficiency

Each of these five new Volkswagens represents an individual solution tailored to meet the challenges of our times. Volkswagen is presenting all of these vehicles together under a new umbrella brand: BlueMotionTechnologies. This label covers all production-mature or near-production technologies and products that significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. These are developments such as the start-stop system, energy recovery by regenerative braking and the highly innovative SCR catalytic converter. They also include the NOx storage catalytic converter already successfully introduced in the ÚSA, electric and hybrid drive systems and innovative drive systems like the one on the new TSI EcoFuel.

Source - Volkswagen