Car News TV coverage of VW at IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2009

Geneva 2009: Touran TSI Ecofuel

New Touran TSI EcoFuel: Drive 100 kilometers for 4.60 Euros

Natural gas van with 150 PS delivers top performance with cleanest emissions
Touran TSI EcoFuel is powered by dual-charged Twincharger

Wolfsburg / Geneva, 03 March 2009
The multi-purpose Touran EcoFuel is one of the most successful natural gas cars in Europe. Now Volkswagen is presenting an entirely new natural gas version of this van as a world premiere: the Touran TSI EcoFuel. Its key technical feature is dual charging via turbocharger and supercharger ("Twincharger"). This combination generates more dynamic performance than in the case of any other natural gas production vehicle before it. Excellent performance combines with high fuel efficiency: the new Touran TSI EcoFuel is so economical that 100 kilometers in this van delivering 110 kW / 150 PS of power only costs about 4.60 Euros (based on average price of natural gas in Germany, February 2009).

The Touran Ecofuel closely follows the introduction of the Passat TSI EcoFuel which is now being sold in initial markets and features the same innovative, fuel-efficient drivetrain. Although the Touran TSI EcoFuel goes to work with a passion thanks to its "Twincharger", when fitted with a standard 6-speed transmission the van consumes just 4.8 kilograms of natural gas per 100 kilometers, and that corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 129 g/km.

When the Touran TSI EcoFuel is equipped with the optional DSG 7-speed dual clutch transmission – as in the version being shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show – fuel consumption and CO2 emissions drop to 4.7 kilograms and 126 g/km, respectively. In this case, fuel costs per 100 kilometers are reduced to 4.50 Euros.

Maximum power, maximum economy
The TSI EcoFuel engine of the Touran is designed for mono-fuel operation; it has four natural gas tanks and an auxiliary gasoline tank. However, there are no plans for manual switching from natural gas to gasoline operation. Primarily, the Touran TSI EcoFuel is powered by natural gas. It does not automatically switch to gasoline mode until the natural gas tanks are empty. At a low 1,500 rpm the engine already develops 220 Newton-meters of torque and maintains this value up to 4,500 rpm. Its driving characteristics are just as sporty. The Touran accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10.1 seconds. Its top speed is 205 km/h. Naturally, the Touran TSI EcoFuel fulfills limits of the Euro-5 emissions standard.

The natural gas tanks of the Touran are housed in the underfloor of the multi-purpose van for safe and space-saving storage. They hold a total of 18 kilograms natural gas. With its natural gas supply, plus 11 liters of gasoline (as a reserve fuel supply), the Touran TSI EcoFuel can be driven more than 520 kilometers. The natural gas supply alone can provide a range of around 370 kilometers.

UnitedPicturesTV at the BlueMotion Technologies Workshop

BlueMotionTechnologies – Volkswagen presents a new world of efficiency

Wolfsburg, 02 February 2009 - BlueMotionTechnologies bundles Volkswagen’s best environmental technologies of today to fulfill the automotive aspirations of tomorrow. These are developments such as the new start-stop system and energy recovery by regenerative braking, electric drives and hybrid systems as well as clever drive systems like the one in the new TSI EcoFuel. To the point: its aim is no less than to bring the cleanest and most economical cars to the streets.

Today, BlueMotionTechnologies are already being launched on the market in three extremely fuel efficient and clean Passat versions: Blue­Motion with fuel consumption under 5 liters, EU-6 conformance in the BlueTDI, and the TSI EcoFuel that emits just 119 g/km CO2. Consider these examples:


Passat BlueMotion II

Passat BlueMotion: Here a common rail TDI (81 kW/110 PS) provides for 4.9 liter fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of just 128 g/km. The Passat BlueMotion (starting at 26,750 €) has a Start-Stop system and conforms to limits of the Euro-5 emissions standard. Its range of over 1,400 kilometers on one tank of fuel is a minor sensation – travelers starting out in Berlin will not be looking for a gas station until shortly before Rome. Naturally, the Passat BlueMotion will also be available as a wagon (starting at € 27,900).


Passat BlueTDI

Passat BlueTDI: Its 105-kW diesel is ahead of its times; that is because Volkswagen is introducing the first TDI to conform to limits of the Euro-6 emissions standard that does not take effect until 2014. Aboard the Passat BlueTDI (starting at € 29,225), a SCR catalytic converter reduces nitrogen oxides to less than 80 mg/km. Fuel economy of the sedan shifted by a 6-speed gearbox: 5.2 liter/100-km (CO2 emissions: 137 g/km). Further options: the “BlueTDI” will also be available as a wagon (starting at € 30,375), and it will be available with a 6-speed DSG.

Passat TSI EcoFuel: The Passat TSI EcoFuel is ushering in a new era of cars powered by natural gas. Until now, one of the drawbacks of cars powered by natural gas is that their performance can be rather unexciting. Thanks to its 110 kW strong high-tech engine, the Passat TSI EcoFuel combines a maximum speed of 210 km/h with excellent fuel economy and finally puts an end to these limitations. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in just 9.7 seconds. Despite its great agility, the world’s first turbocharged and supercharged direct-injection engine configured for natural gas operation is satisfied with just 4.4 kilograms of natural gas, which is about € 4.25 per 100 kilometers. With a 7-speed DSG, the Passat breaks the magic CO2 limit of 120 g/km in this class (6-speed transmission: 4.5 kg/100-km and 123 g/km CO2). If the natural gas on board should run low before the next fill-up station, the engine controller switches over to gasoline mode. The car has a total range of more than 900 kilometers. The Passat TSI EcoFuel will be offered at a starting price of € 29,975; on the Wagon it is € 31,125.


Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid

Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid. Because the future of the automobile – and Blue­MotionTechnologies as well – offers more than just one answer, in parallel Volkswagen is presenting a prototype of the future Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid (333 PS / under 9.0 l/100 km). This car will enter production in 2010 as the world’s first hybrid SUV to have 3.5 metric ton towing capacity. Volkswagen is introducing one of the highest performance parallel hybrid systems in the world in this SUV. The German carmaker is utilizing a high-tech alliance of a V6 TSI (245 kW) boosted by supercharger and an electric motor (38 kW). Up to a speed of 50 km/h, the Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid can be driven by just the electric motor. In this case, no emissions are generated.