Porsche 2009 Annual Report Download - page 84

will remain the innovation leader in the field of diesel
engine development. The clean diesel TDI common
rail engines already comply with the Euro 6 emission
standard due to come into effect in 2014. These en-
gines have enjoyed considerable success in the North
American market in particular, which tends to have a
low take-up of diesel. Excellent fuel economy coupled
with outstanding driving characteristics and low emis-
sions won Volkswagen the 2009 Green Car of the Year
award at the LA Auto Show. However, Volkswagen has
again demonstrated the exceptional characteristics of
state-of-the-art diesel engines in the European market
as well by building the common rail engine into the
Polo, Golf and Multivan/Transporter models and the
three-cylinder TDI engine into the new Polo BlueMo-
tion*.
The group also successfully continues its de-
velopment activities in the area of alternative fuels. By
introducing the new TSI EcoFuel engines in the Passat
and Touran models, Volkswagen is attracting an in-
creasingly broad range of buyers who prefer alterna-
tive fuels for both ecological and economic reasons.
The combination of the TSI twin charger and natural
gas (CNG) was rewarded with five stars in the ADAC’s
Eco Test for the Passat EcoFuel. Until then, no other
vehicle had achieved the highest score. The group’s
engine range was also expanded to include a bi-fuel
engine for the Golf that can be run on attractively
priced liquid petroleum gas, as well as an Audi flexible
fuel engine for the Audi A4.
In the past fiscal year, Volkswagen drove for-
ward the electrification of the drives in its vehicles. By
rolling out the Golf and the Tiguan as well as the Audi
A3, A4 and A5, the Volkswagen group launched mod-
els with a large market volume that come with both
start-stop technology and energy recovery functions.
Braking energy recovery technology, which increases
engine efficiency, has thus been integrated into
Volkswagen’s product portfolio. Volkswagen supple-
mented these hybrid concepts by developing the
Touareg Hybrid. The combination of a TSI engine and
a 38 kW electric motor promises fuel consumption of
8.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 193g/km – top
figures in the sport utility vehicle segment. By adding
the Touareg Hybrid to its engine range, the group is
moving closer to a time when the entire drive train will
be electric.
Volkswagen showed what full electrification of
the drive train will look like when it unveiled the E-UP!
at the IAA in Frankfurt. Its 60 kW electric motor and
lithium ion battery pack give the E-UP! a range of up
to 140 km and maximum speeds of 135 km/h, fig-
ures that impressed regular and industry visitors alike.
Nevertheless, battery technology still faces huge chal-
lenges that will make it difficult to develop electric
cars for mass production. Volkswagen will meet these
challenges in cooperation with its development part-
ners. The group believes that, in the coming years,
vehicles with a pure electric drive will remain a niche
market for the time being and first have to prove
themselves in urban use.
84 Group management report