Volkswagen has unveiled a new Passat Bluemotion II. Claimed mileage is 57.4 mpg US. This makes possible a range on one tank of fuel of a stunning 1,700 Km or 1,056 miles. It has a new version of the 2.0L 16 valve common rail diesel engine. The Bluemotion version of this motor has decreased torque to 250 Nm and decreased power to 110 hp compared to 340 Nm and 140 hp for the high power version. The reduced power and torque makes it possible to increase the compression ratio of the engine without damaging pressures arising in the sylinder and thus increasing the efficiency of the engine above the efficiency the same engine has in the normal high power version.

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Wow, great post Stein.

I will have to check that out once the $5000-$10000 dealer markup goes bye-bye!

The EPA lists the 2009 Jetta with the same diesel engine at 29/40 with the DSG-auto and 31/40 for the manual.

So far, I've not heard anyone claiming 60+ (weighs less than the Passat) with the new Jetta, but, frankly, I haven't been looking all that closely at it. Interesting, though.

***EDIT*** - I see this is the tuned-down version of the Jetta engine. Sorry for not reading this through.

Other characteristics of the Bluemotion models is narrover tires, more panels under the car making it's underside slicker decreasing the drag, higher gears decreasing the engine rpm, a gear change indicator telling when to change gears (telling to gear up very early), slightly decreased ground clearance and no automatic version available.

Perhaps it is finally starting to sink in...too bad we can't melt down all the Silverado's, Tahoe, Suburban, F150's, Explorer's and Expedition's and pour them into Bluemotion's...

You are not taking my Tahoe.

joeltrout

Pretty much all I see on the road.

Them and Cadie's for the 80+ Gen.....

Ever been to a scrap yard? Most of 'em will get there eventually.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD-- Don't ever buy a VW!!

I literally just walked back into my house, back from the VW dealership. I had gone there to get a headlight replaced. On the phone they told me it would take a half hour and cost $35. When I got there they said it would take 3 hours and cost nearly $450!

450 Farking dollars for a headlight?!!??

I looked at the service counter guy right in the eyes and told him to Fark himself....then turned and walked out......

They must be trying to pay off their research and development costs on this new technology by Farking all their existing customers.....

You get raped on service for them imports.......

Neat. Thanks!

I imagine how much more mileage it would get without the weigh of the bells and whistles, like we say. For example, 10-CD changer, power windows, power locks, etc, etc.

I got my first ride in a modern diesel passenger car(a Mercedes) this week via a coworker and wow, they really have come a long way. You'd never know it was a diesel. It wasn't noisy or smokey or anything.

Unfortunately, longterm we've got a problem with diesel (at least petrodiesel) because diesel is what powers trucks. Trucks will compete with passenger cars on the road and in the end the trucks MUST keep running for america to survive. That's why the price of diesel spiked way higher than gasoline. Demand destruction doesn't happen that well with truckers. So unless you're talking about making biodiesel and SVO work in a big way, diesel is not the answer.

You make a great point. But we can combat that problem with new investments (like trillions of dollars) in a massive freight rail system which is electrified, thus boosting efficiency even greater.

Also, I wonder if there are ways to convert gasoline to diesel. The number of carbons in gasoline ranges from 5 to 12 but for diesel it's an average of 12 with a range of 10-15, approximately. I know there are different molecular structures as well, but it seems possible that it could be more efficient to convert gasoline to diesel. Anyone know about this?

When destilling crude oil only a small fraction is gasoline and a larger fraction is diesel and an even larger fraction is heavier molecules than diesel. To make the current needed amount of gasoline it is necessarry do "crack" the higher molecular weight molecules into smaller as in gasoline. As the available crude oil is getting ever more heavy more cracking is necessarry to produce the same amount of gasoline. So in order to make more diesel it is not necessarry to make gasoline in the first place, just to reconfigure the crackers to crack the heavy crude oil into a bit less light molecules like diesel instead of the very light gasoline molecules.

Why did you take it to the dealer?

I change my own headlights all the time and the oil. If I need more done than I take it to the local shop that specialized in imports. It hasn't been to the dealer since the warranty expired.

2002 VW Golf: 265k miles without a problem.

Don't blame the car if it meets your needs.

Blame the person who took it to the dealer.