Volkswagen to Deliver All-Electric Vehicles in 2013

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480-imievGerman auto maker Volkswagen is planning to introduce its first all-electric car in 2013.

VW head Martin Winterkorn said the auto maker wants to offer a large number of all-electric vehicles at affordable prices, and is aiming for 1.0-1.5 percent of the global all-electric vehicle market by 2020.

Earlier in the year, Volkswagen AG signed an agreement with Toshiba Corp. to develop an electric car and a high-density battery system for electric vehicles.

In March, two other German car makers announced their foray into the electric-vehicle market. Daimler AG announced a partnership with Aabar Investments PJSC to work on joint projects focused on electric vehicles and the reduction of CO2 emissions, and BMW, announced its first project, the MINI E electric vehicle, which is being tested by 500 customers in California.

German companies until now have mainly focused on diesel engines and, as a result, hybrids represented only 0.2 percent of the market last year, with the sale of 6,500 Toyota, Lexus or Honda models.

Other auto makers moving into the electric-vehicle market include CT&T Co. Ltd., a South Korea-based manufacturer of low-speed electric vehicles. CT&T United, a U.S. subsidiary of CT&T, plans to build electric vehicles in the U.S. beginning with the e-Zone and c-Zone vehicles, reports Green Congress. The company will establish a U.S. headquarters, research & development and manufacturing plants. Potential sites include South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and California, according to Green Congress.

In the Chinese market, ECOtality is establishing a joint venture with Shenzhen Goch International Ltd. to manufacture and distribute electric-vehicle charging systems in China, reports Green Congress. In exchange for exclusive sales and distribution rights for the ECOtality charging system in China, Shenzhen is investing $10 million in the manufacturing joint venture and $5 million into the sales and distribution joint venture.

Volkswagen May Build ‘One-Liter’ Eco Car by 2010

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vw-1l-car

Nearly six years have passed since we first saw Ferdinand Piech’s pet project, the Volkswagen One-Liter (also known as the 1L) eco car, emerge as a concept.
Car magazine reports that VW may be set to launch the microcar – capable of 282 mpg – as early as 2010.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle VW engineers have to overcome is the car’s structure.  The 1L concept made use of a lightweight monocoque fabricated from carbon fiber.  At the time, the estimated cost to build such a body was nearly $55,000.  For series production, VW needs to drop that price to $8000.
The production car is expected to keep the tandem seating position of the concept, although Car expects a few changes to the 1L’s engine.  The 299-cc one-cylinder diesel of the original prototype may be scrapped in favor of a two-cylinder mill, reportedly to offer drivers more torque and refinement.
The 1L is slated for production in VW’s own prototype shops in Germany, which have an annual output of nearly 1000 units.  The car is expected to sticker for between €20,000 and €30,000 ($31,739 to $47,608).  Although the 1L was designed to withstand substantial front and side impacts, there’s little known about its chances of arriving stateside.

Nearly six years have passed since we first saw Ferdinand Piech’s pet project, the Volkswagen One-Liter (also known as the 1L) eco car, emerge as a concept.

Car magazine reports that VW may be set to launch the microcar – capable of 282 mpg – as early as 2010.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle VW engineers have to overcome is the car’s structure.  The 1L concept made use of a lightweight monocoque fabricated from carbon fiber.  At the time, the estimated cost to build such a body was nearly $55,000.  For series production, VW needs to drop that price to $8000.

The production car is expected to keep the tandem seating position of the concept, although Car expects a few changes to the 1L’s engine.  The 299-cc one-cylinder diesel of the original prototype may be scrapped in favor of a two-cylinder mill, reportedly to offer drivers more torque and refinement.

The 1L is slated for production in VW’s own prototype shops in Germany, which have an annual output of nearly 1000 units.  The car is expected to sticker for between €20,000 and €30,000 ($31,739 to $47,608).  Although the 1L was designed to withstand substantial front and side impacts, there’s little known about its chances of arriving stateside.

Volkswagen Shows Pickup Concept

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volkswagen-pickup-concept

Fear not – this isn’t a prop from an upcoming revival of Baywatch.  Instead, Volkswagen simply chose to preview its upcoming truck with this beach-flavored Pickup Concept.
Though the lifeguard-themed accessories can be chalked up to German imaginations run amok, much of what you see here is production intent.  The corporate grille is here in full force, looking more macho than the Touareg.  We’d say the same for the pickup’s beltline and fenders, which are square and chiseled, unlike the rounded forms of the SUV.
Designers stuffed more concept goodies (including walkie-talkies, an altimeter and a nifty touch-screen HVAC system) into the truck, but much of the grey-on-grey interior is ready for production.
So too is the powertrain.  Volkswagen’s not talking specifics as of yet, but they do mention a new common-rail turbo-diesel engine lurks underhood.  The concept uses a six-speed manual transmission, and we’re betting a form of Volkswagen’s 4Motion drivetrain sends power to all four wheels.
We’ll know for sure in 2009, when the Pickup enters production in Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia – but not the U.S.  Regardless of the market, life jackets, rescue buoys, and fire extinguishers will be aftermarket accessories.

Fear not – this isn’t a prop from an upcoming revival of Baywatch.  Instead, Volkswagen simply chose to preview its upcoming truck with this beach-flavored Pickup Concept.

Though the lifeguard-themed accessories can be chalked up to German imaginations run amok, much of what you see here is production intent.  The corporate grille is here in full force, looking more macho than the Touareg.  We’d say the same for the pickup’s beltline and fenders, which are square and chiseled, unlike the rounded forms of the SUV.

Designers stuffed more concept goodies (including walkie-talkies, an altimeter and a nifty touch-screen HVAC system) into the truck, but much of the grey-on-grey interior is ready for production.

So too is the powertrain.  Volkswagen’s not talking specifics as of yet, but they do mention a new common-rail turbo-diesel engine lurks underhood.  The concept uses a six-speed manual transmission, and we’re betting a form of Volkswagen’s 4Motion drivetrain sends power to all four wheels.

We’ll know for sure in 2009, when the Pickup enters production in Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia – but not the U.S.  Regardless of the market, life jackets, rescue buoys, and fire extinguishers will be aftermarket accessories.

Diesel Enthusiasts Used To Promote 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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2009-volkswagen-jetta-tdi

With the arrival of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the first diesel car that meets the 2009 diesel emission standards in all fifty states, VW is enlisting diesel enthusiasts to spread the word for its new vehicle.
Despite the prevalence of diesel cars in Europe, the American market has remained skeptical of the use of clean diesel fuels. To most Americans, the word “diesel” conjures up images of smelly and dirty buses and trucks – a mindset that Volkswagen is working hard to overcome.
For the past eighteen months, Volkswagen’s monitored the Jetta TDI’s status on a number of forums and blogs, and has actively volunteered information on the oil-burning compact in order to spread the word.  The idea appears to be working – over 25,000 visitors to VW’s webpage have expressed an interest in the diesel Jetta, which will be offered as both a sedan and a station wagon.
Using diesel advocates to spread the word of diesel is the first stage of VW’s marketing campaign. The company then plans to use the Jetta as a “jump-off” point for other clean diesel vehicles.
“We also need to establish that diesel is a viable option for anyone looking at alternative-fuel vehicles, said Jennifer Jacoby, a VW spokeswoman. “Hybrid is not the only answer.”

With the arrival of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the first diesel car that meets the 2009 diesel emission standards in all fifty states, VW is enlisting diesel enthusiasts to spread the word for its new vehicle.

Despite the prevalence of diesel cars in Europe, the American market has remained skeptical of the use of clean diesel fuels. To most Americans, the word “diesel” conjures up images of smelly and dirty buses and trucks – a mindset that Volkswagen is working hard to overcome.

For the past eighteen months, Volkswagen’s monitored the Jetta TDI’s status on a number of forums and blogs, and has actively volunteered information on the oil-burning compact in order to spread the word.  The idea appears to be working – over 25,000 visitors to VW’s webpage have expressed an interest in the diesel Jetta, which will be offered as both a sedan and a station wagon.

Using diesel advocates to spread the word of diesel is the first stage of VW’s marketing campaign. The company then plans to use the Jetta as a “jump-off” point for other clean diesel vehicles.

“We also need to establish that diesel is a viable option for anyone looking at alternative-fuel vehicles, said Jennifer Jacoby, a VW spokeswoman. “Hybrid is not the only answer.”