Volkswagen to reveal new diesel variant of Cross Coupé Concept PHEV; 131 mpg US
04 March 2012
Volkswagen will bring to Geneva a new diesel-engined variant of its Cross Coupé Concept plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, first introduced with a gasoline engine at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011 (earlier post). The new Cross Coupé Concept is powered by a combination of a turbodiesel direct-injection engine (TDI) and two electric motors; combined fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is 1.8 l/100 km (131 mpg US), equivalent to CO2 emissions of 46 g/km.
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| Cross Coupé Concept. Click to enlarge. |
The concept SUV features a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph); 225 kW / 302 hp of power (system power) and a curb weight of 1,858 kg. Volkswagen is presenting the concept with a TDI plug-in hybrid in a world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show.
The Cross Coupé Concept is based on Volkswagen’s new modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform.
Here we go again: yet another hybrid that the 99% can't afford.
Posted by: ejj | 04 March 2012 at 08:58 AM
Comparable affordable (under or about $30K) mid-size plug-in hybrids may have to be built in China or India because they would cost $50+K if built in EU or USA.
Too bad, because it could be a valuable step to reduce crude oil imports (for personal vehicles) by 75% or so.
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 March 2012 at 10:16 AM
@ejj: Indeed. I thought our next car would be a plug-in hybrid, but the it appears affordable models won't be forthcoming for a few years. Once a pure ICE car or regular hybrid (Prii, etc.) get above about 45mpg, the law of diminishing returns kicks in with a vengeance, and paying a huge premium for additional gas savings just doesn't pencil out.
Posted by: Nick Lyons | 04 March 2012 at 10:16 AM
Problems with the Volt aren't helping either....
Chevy Volt - Building A Better Tomorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=avLKiWi71cE
Posted by: ejj | 04 March 2012 at 10:37 AM
http://www.obamavolt2012.com/Site/Obama_Volt_2012.html
Posted by: ejj | 04 March 2012 at 10:39 AM
Funny how the first car to meet the PNGV goal isn't from the US.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 04 March 2012 at 12:43 PM
PNGV cars all got 70 mpg and they were not even plug in. Toyota saw this, created the Prius and the U.S. car makers went back to making large pickups and SUVs.
You can lead a U.S. car executive to a solution, but you can not make them think. I guess it is better late than never for this, Camry hybrid, Fusion hybrid and others.
Posted by: SJC | 04 March 2012 at 01:04 PM
SJC....after spending $$$$M in Ads to convince the majority that bigger, heavier vehicles are/were safer and better, it was and still is difficult for the Big-3 to do an about face.
Yes, until 2018/2020 or so, improved HEVs may be the best buys.
By 2018/2020, PHEVs with smaller gensets and improved batteries may be the best buys.
Sometime after 2020, BEVs with improved lower cost batteries and lighter bodies will become the best buys.
It seems that we have time to wear a good HEV before affordable longer range BEVs are available.
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 March 2012 at 01:40 PM
Do we all remember how expensive the early computers were? or cell phones, or anything else that was a game changer? This early technology is going to be expensive.
Posted by: citizen | 04 March 2012 at 01:51 PM
I'm waiting for a concept that features a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph); 75 hp of power (system power) and a curb weight of 858 kg. It will cost less than $15,000 and get 200 eMPG.
Of course, it will have AWD and stability control.
Posted by: Lucas | 04 March 2012 at 02:11 PM
I am all for HEV/PHEV/EV ASAP, but projections are that we will not have a significant percentage of cars on the roads in the U.S. of this type in the next 10 years.
A LOT can happen in 10 years, oil went from $20 per barrel in 2000 to $147 per barrel in 2008. If this is any indicator we will need synthetic fuels much sooner to run the cars we have and will have the next ten years. Reality is what it is and pretending otherwise is not wise.
Posted by: SJC | 04 March 2012 at 02:18 PM
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 04 March 2012 at 02:43 PM
Closing the tag.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 04 March 2012 at 02:44 PM
No sense discussing this with you, you have nothing good to say about anything that is not your idea. NIH...not invented here.
Posted by: SJC | 04 March 2012 at 02:49 PM
ejj, BUSH stole elections, launched the Hydrogen Initiative, created the WMD war, established the subsequent global financial meltdown, and started the $700 billion dollar TARP bailout - including GM.
..yet you seem to figure a black man and car did it..
Posted by: kelly | 04 March 2012 at 05:08 PM
Hahahahahahaha! Finally someone watched the clip!
Posted by: ejj | 04 March 2012 at 05:33 PM
SJC continues to confuse physics with ideology.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 05 March 2012 at 04:47 AM
EP,
Where did you get your degree in Engineering, it is about time you show your credentials.
Posted by: SJC | 05 March 2012 at 10:24 AM
The University of Michigan, followed by employment in the auto industry in a variety of roles.
Now you tell us where you get your qualification to critique.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 05 March 2012 at 02:41 PM
I have degrees in economics and business, but I try to find merit in others ideas rather than find something wrong with them.
Posted by: SJC | 07 March 2012 at 07:42 AM
SJC....one of the main reason keeping electrified vehicles off our roads is the very low price ($3.76/US gal versus and avg of $7+ in EU) we pay for liquid fuel.
We are very $$$ minded and more efficient but more expensive electrified vehicles will not sell much better until the pay back period is less than 3 years and e-range is 2x to 3x today's.
For that to happen we need:
1. Much higher liquid fuel price, preferably via progressively increased fuel taxes to take avg gas price from $3.76/gal to $7+/gal over 100 months or so..
2. Much improved batteries, from 140 Wh/Kg to 280 Wh/Kg and 420+ Wh/Kg. At the current development rate, it may become a reality by 2020/2025.
3. Short term (10 years minimum) improved subsidies to cover 50% to 75% of high cost batteries with a $15K ceiling per car and proportionally more for utility e-vehicles.
However, it is very doubtful if the majority of us are ready to support the changes required. The majority prefers the status quo with low cost polluting fossil fuel vehicles, 12+ million barrels of imported crude every day, the dream of using locally produced NG and ethanol, the dream to drive 7+ seats vehicles etc.
Posted by: HarveyD | 07 March 2012 at 08:36 AM
Response to SJC's tirade is here, I won't polllute this thread with it further.
Harvey, if Envia's batteries really do deliver 400 Wh/kg today, that could be 2015. The two big details are lifespan and charging rate. If the batteries have short lives or cannot be fast-charged it means something like the Better Place model of swappable battery packs will be needed.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 07 March 2012 at 04:12 PM
OMG but it's a diesel. Don't forget to subtract 12% mileage to be CO2 comparable to a gas version. LOL
Posted by: jeffa | 14 March 2012 at 09:07 PM