RE: VW confirms XL1 production
Discussion
Strawman said:
I can understand why the Prius sold in the US and Japan where the markets for car diesels are tiny, Europe less so.
I'd tend to agree with the early cars, but that's pretty much always the case with early examples of a technology. I'd rather have a current Prius than any of the diesel competition. VW are now chasing hybrids on smaller cars due to the cost of EU6 compliant after treatment on diesels. Much harder to hide the costs on the smaller cars compared to premium executive cars. Toyota have a large advantage here, and a supply chain geared and tooled to produce HV drivetrains.
JonnyVTEC said:
VW are now chasing hybrids on smaller cars due to the cost of EU6 compliant after treatment on diesels. Much harder to hide the costs on the smaller cars compared to premium executive cars. Toyota have a large advantage here, and a supply chain geared and tooled to produce HV drivetrains.
But wouldn't this have to meet the same particulate requirements as a "normal" diesel drive-train? Oh this VW thing, material cost on that wont matter!
The fact its a plugin hybrid rather conventional hybrid means the NOx for the bulk of the drivecycle isnt an issue as the engine isnt running, hence there is not a urea tank or SCR packaged. Mazda of course have seem to have managed EU6 with Skyactive and no urea.
When i said small cars I meant ones that are sold to people and to try making VW money. Like the Golf, A3, the Jetta. The initial VW hybrid range has started top end : Tiguan, Q5, the Tourag, the A8 hybrid, the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne. All those series production hybrids/cars approaching lauch have petrol engines.
The fact its a plugin hybrid rather conventional hybrid means the NOx for the bulk of the drivecycle isnt an issue as the engine isnt running, hence there is not a urea tank or SCR packaged. Mazda of course have seem to have managed EU6 with Skyactive and no urea.
When i said small cars I meant ones that are sold to people and to try making VW money. Like the Golf, A3, the Jetta. The initial VW hybrid range has started top end : Tiguan, Q5, the Tourag, the A8 hybrid, the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne. All those series production hybrids/cars approaching lauch have petrol engines.
Edited by JonnyVTEC on Monday 25th February 14:47
I think it looks cool.
I will be interested to see how many real world mpg it achieves though. still if it gets half of the claimed 300 mpg it will still be pretty impressive.
150 mpg would be £42 per 1000 miles which is very cheap.
The savings for anyone/companies doing high milages, especially given the mpg will no doubt be better on the motorway, is going to be huge.
I will be interested to see how many real world mpg it achieves though. still if it gets half of the claimed 300 mpg it will still be pretty impressive.
150 mpg would be £42 per 1000 miles which is very cheap.
The savings for anyone/companies doing high milages, especially given the mpg will no doubt be better on the motorway, is going to be huge.
GroundEffect said:
emicen said:
I disagree.
I believe electric motors powering the wheels, small diesel engine operating a peak efficiency connected to a generator and smaller battery packs are the best solution available at present.
Essentially a diesel Prius with lower transmission losses.
So a Chevy Volt/Vauxhall Ampera?I believe electric motors powering the wheels, small diesel engine operating a peak efficiency connected to a generator and smaller battery packs are the best solution available at present.
Essentially a diesel Prius with lower transmission losses.
I am talking about something thats primary mode is diesel electric like a train with battery power in reserve for when you need to hoof it for an overtake and the ability to go all electric around town.
Diesels are not a popular choice for Prius style hybrids as they dont appreciate all the stop start stuff, but with stop start technology becoming more advanced they can handle it better. You'll still never see one on a Prius though as the primary markets, Japan and the USA, dont like diesel.
Devil2575 said:
I think it looks cool.
I will be interested to see how many real world mpg it achieves though. still if it gets half of the claimed 300 mpg it will still be pretty impressive.
150 mpg would be £42 per 1000 miles which is very cheap.
The savings for anyone/companies doing high milages, especially given the mpg will no doubt be better on the motorway, is going to be huge.
This seems like a no brainer from vw. They have invented an entirely new market sector. The eco commuter. Having a low frontal area and drag means it will be a lot more efficient at 99mph than pretty much any other car out there. On the motorway being low down is less of a problem than being in town. If it can cruise using 8bhp at 62mph thats a propperly impressive 450+ miles per gallon. if you sat lazilly in the slow lane with the cruise control on i would not be surprised if you got over 200 mpgI will be interested to see how many real world mpg it achieves though. still if it gets half of the claimed 300 mpg it will still be pretty impressive.
150 mpg would be £42 per 1000 miles which is very cheap.
The savings for anyone/companies doing high milages, especially given the mpg will no doubt be better on the motorway, is going to be huge.
Given this market. Why carbon fibre? Being light is great for acceleration and being efficient round town but it makes little difference on the motorway. Whats wrong with aluminium?
I'm assuming this will also have the coasting function as found some Passat DSG's, I had one last month & it was mightily impressive just how eco it could be once you'd learnt the knack of freewheeling around. The US spec ones actually kill the engine in this mode but the euro ones don't. 76mpg I managed out of it without too much bother on a cross country run of 80m.
I'd love to see a first gen Insight with this engine in it, I bet the figures would be impressive.
I'd love to see a first gen Insight with this engine in it, I bet the figures would be impressive.
kambites said:
It might be an entirely new market segment if Honda hadn't done it in the 90s with the Insight.
While the insight is a good car in terms of efficeincy on a motorway the insight isnt in the same league. The low roofline keeps the frontal area of the xl1 much lower (nearly half the CdA). Focussing utterly on this and ignoring the features and practicalities of the city car "Should" allow it to be much more efficeing at high speeds. Something which the insight and prius perform only slightly better than regular cars.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff