Gojirra99

New U.S. emissions standards lead to decision on the Beetle, Jetta and Golf

May 28, 2006


The 2006 diesel Volkswagen Jetta. (Volkswagen)

Volkswagen of America will lose hot-selling diesel models of several of its most popular cars as the automaker catches up to new federal emissions standards that take effect this fall.

VW will drop the diesel versions of its Jetta, Golf and Beetle models for the 2007 model year, which begins this fall. The new U.S. limits for nitrogen oxide emissions are among the most stringent in the world.

VW has promoted its fuel-efficient diesel engines heavily this year as a way to beat high gasoline prices. The frugal engines can boost a car or truck's mileage as much as 35% compared with a similar gasoline engine.

VW's diesel sales have boomed in 2006, helping propel the German brand to a 20.4% increase in U.S. sales. Diesels accounted for 22.7% of VW's U.S. sales for the first four months of 2006, nearly twice their traditional 12%, VW spokesman Steve Keyes said.

"They are becoming a significant part of our business, so it's disappointing," Keyes said. "If diesels continue to contribute 20%-22% of our sales, this has some significant impact on us."

VW has credited its surging U.S. sales to diesels and the addition of new models like the Passat midsize sedan and Jetta compact sedan.

VW will offer a diesel version of its Touareg SUV in '07, and the company plans to build extra '06 diesel Jettas, which it hopes to sell well into next year.

A new diesel Jetta that meets emissions standards in all 50 states should be available for the 2008 model year.

source : freep.com

XeroK00L

So, when is the new-generation, "clean" diesel fuel gonna be on sale in the U.S? I thought this year is the year, is it not? What a shame...

spwolf

its 2007... but that wont make diesels as clean as petrol cars, which is what new EPA regulations will require...

LexFather

Another very overlooked factor with hybrids, they run clean.

Lexmex

Might still get these models down in Mexico where diesel has always been a cheap alternative for people down here, so will keep an eye out for them.

TheRupp

I've kinda seen this coming for a long time now... just always wondered how they evaded emissions. I know in California you aren't supposed to have a diesel vehicle

mmarshall

Well, we still don't have the low-sulfur diesel fuel here yet.....it is supposed to be here by the end of the year, according to the EPA, unless a recent waiver or postponement was granted that I am not aware of. ( LexArazzo and 1SICKLEX....there's a good subject to research )
The new VW diesels next year supposedly are designed not only for the new diesel fuels coming here ( the Europeans have already had them for years ) but may also have the long-promised urea injection system that will help them run even cleaner yet, especially with the new low-sulfur fuel.
In the meantime, I disagree with VW's decision to drop the present diesels. There is still a good market for these products here in the U.S. right as we speak, in spite of VW's well-known record of unreliability and poor customer service. One of my colleagues at work is on his second Jetta Diesel...a black 2006 exactly like the one LexArazzo posted. ....he LOVES them. Gets 60 MPG on long trips on the Interstate at moderate speeds...without the Hybrid's complexities or price-gouging on the sale. And emissions? It runs clean enough to easily meet Maryland and EPA requirements, and the East Coast requirements here from Northern VA all the way up to Maine are almost as strict now as California's. The new diesels next year, with new fuel as well, should run even cleaner yet.

Last, the article mentioned the NOX standards as being the main culprit for dropping the present diesels. Yes and No. Diesels, traditionally, have not had many problems with hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and NOX. The main diesel problem, traditionally, though it has been much better with recent models and car-based diesels, has been the visible particulates, better known as " soot ". That is what produces the sometimes visible black cloud you see out of the pipes of large diesel-burning vehicles such as dump trucks, semis, and diesel locomotives.

spwolf

how do you mean you disagree? Maybe you didnt get - they wont be allowed to sell 2007 models because they wont be able to meet EPA emission laws. It is not really their decision, they simply wont be able to do it.

No production diesel in the world can currently meet 2007 EPA emissions laws that make petrol and diesel car emissions requirements completly equal.

EPA has not approved urea yet, and it is unclear if it will do so.

HKGS300

It is a shame ... shame that the education on Diesel in the US is still behind that of Europe.

For high mileage cars .... no hybrid/ petrol car will come close to the Diesel in terms of running cost or reliability.

Also, in Europe Diesel cars are THE STANDARD in the luxury market, at least 60 - 75% of all BMW 5 /7-series, Mercedes E/S-class, Audi A8, are diesel powered.

mmarshall

The point is that EPA was supposed to allow ( or, rather, mandate ) low-sulphur diesel fuel here by the end of 2006 that WOULD allow the VW diesels to meet 2007 U.S. Emissions. If the VW diesels can meet the 2007 requirements on the low-sulfur fuel coming, there is no need to drop them.
Which brings us to another point....maybe the EPA emission rules have become simply too stringent and are getting to the point to where they are simpy overkill. I agree with you that EPA shares as much of the blame for this as VW does.

Gojirra99

Volkswagen, more than any other automaker selling cars in the U.S., will take a sales hit as diesel regulations and fuel formulations change at the end of the 2006 model year. The company will be forced to drop all its passenger-car diesel models for one model year as it comes up with ways to meet more stringent emissions requirements, which VW car chief Wolfgang Bernhard says will add about $1000 to the cost of diesel models his company will bring to the U.S. in the 2008 calendar year.

The additional complexity and cost of the new regulations is forcing VW to look at other technologies that maintain performance and boost fuel efficiency, such as the "Twincharger" or "TSI" four-cylinder engine it now offers in the European Golf and is studying for a future U.S. Rabbit model. The Twincharger uses both a supercharger and a turbocharger to boost the output of a 1.4-liter four-cylinder to 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque - nearly the equal of the company's 2.0-liter turbo four.

The Twincharger system could be a feasible alternative to hybrids, Bernhard agrees: the technology is "much more efficient than hybrids," since all the necessary components exist in the VW parts bin. Still, the company is working on a true gas-electric hybrid, a version of the Touareg SUV, due out in the next couple of years.

Above all of these, Bernhard insists that the new generation of clean turbodiesels still holds a five-percent fuel economy advantage over hybrids or TSI models. -Marty Padgett

source : thecarconnection

spwolf

I dont think you understand EPA regulations - what EPA did is simply make MINIMUM regulations the same for petrol and diesel engines. Even the poorest performing petrol engines can pass those regulations now, while no diesel in the world can.

As I said million times before, clean diesels cost a lot more - $1k for VW (plus additional $ since they will use new engines and not old diesels), while Ford said premium will be around $3k for their pickup diesels....