Showing posts with label diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diesel. Show all posts

New VW Touareg sheds 200kg

Following in the Polo's footsteps, Volkswagen has revealed that the next version of their Touareg will shed as much as 208kg in the base model and offer up to 20% improvements in economy.

The weight saving amounts to as much as 10% removed from the kerb weight of the previous Touareg, and coupled with improved aerodynamics and updated engines, including a new hybrid motor, the new Touareg promises to be one of the most efficient large SUVs on the market.

According to Volkswagen's press release (available on ABG), the new Touareg also offers more space, more equipment (including stop/start technology) and more off-road biased options packages. Visually, the new car shares Volkswagen's family face first seen on the Scirocco, and it works well with the slightly more chiselled body, making the car look much smaller and more dynamic.

Of course, the weight savings on the Touareg will be reflected in the upcoming Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, which share the same platform. Perhaps Volkswagen's step onto the treadmill will encourage other manufactures to do the same with their larger vehicles - the biggest gains can be found from improving the efficiency of the biggest vehicles.

(Image: Volkswagen)

Most frugal car in the real world? Autocar finds out with a race...

Manufacturers make big claims about their fuel economy figures. Occasionally, even these claims can be bettered, as Toyota's now closed blog for the iQ managed back in January, extracting 72mpg when Toyota themselves only claimed 65mpg. Often though, real-world driving prevents us from extracting the optimum economy from our cars.

Autocar's test then perhaps sheds a little more relevance on achieving high miles to the gallon. Armed with a Ford Fiesta Econetic, a Vauxhall Corsa Ecoflex, an Insight, a Prius, a BMW 116d and a Smart ForTwo CDi, they each hit the track at Bruntingthorpe with a single litre of fuel and a driver trying to achieve as many miles in the hour as possible. By working to distance rather than outright economy, it avoided the whole race becoming a slow eco-trundle.

The most efficient at the end of the hour? Ford's Fiesta Econetic. It achieved almost sixty miles at the hands of Matt Prior, equivalent - unsurprisingly - to roughly 60mpg. A little way short of Ford's 76mpg combined figure perhaps, but much more representative of what drivers can expect in their daily grind, and a long way from shabby.

The other cars in the test all managed to average around 55mpg, including the diminutive Smart despite being driven pedal-to-the-metal until it spluttered to a halt after 53 minutes.

The full story can be found in the 30th September issue of Autocar, out now. Alternatively, you can watch the video:



(Picture credits: Tarmac)

Volkswagen 1-litre concept one step closer

News arrives via AutoBlogGreen that Volkswagen's 1-litre concept is still under development and nearing production reality.
The concept, now being named the L1, will be on display at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show and Volkswagen have released more details about the car and the engine that will be powering it in a press release that you can read in full on ABG's page.

The 1L has a 0.8 litre TDI developed from Volkswagen's new 1.6 TDI that makes its debut in the new Golf and Passat BlueMotion. Along with automatic stop-start, a 0.195 coefficient of drag and thanks to an all-in weight of only 380kg, the 1L is claimed to sip one US gallon of fuel every 170 miles, or 204mpg imperial (and only 36 grammes per kilometer of CO2). This works out at a little over the original 1l/100km that Volkswagen claimed, though I'm sure owners wouldn't complain as the eventual figure is still only 1.38 litres per 100km. Thanks to the light weight and slippery shape, the 1L also manages 100mph.
Volkswagen are now giving the car a tentative 2013 release date. Should give you time to save up...
(Image credits: Volkswagen)

80mpg from diesel-powered first-gen Insight

Yes, you read that correctly. AutoBlogGreen has released news that a company called Red Light Racing has installed Volkswagen's 1.2 litre, 3-cylinder Pumpe Düse TDI in a first-generation Honda Insight and the net result is 80mpg in US gallons - a staggering 96mpg imperial.

The engine has been taken from Volkswagen's Lupo 3L, a model that was only available in mainland Europe and itself made 94mpg imperial, equivalent to 3 litres/100km. The Lupo however was solely diesel-powered - and Red Light Racing state that they haven't even hooked up the Insight's hybrid motor to the diesel unit yet and once they do there could be another 15-20% improvement.

The Lupo 3L was highly modified from the standard Lupo TDI - like the Insight, it used aluminium in much of its construction, and also in common with the Insight it used low rolling-resistance tyres and a stop-start function to save fuel when stopped in traffic. The engine produces 61bhp and makes 140Nm of torque, which is 9bhp less than the Insight's 1.0 litre petrol IMA unit but a useful 27Nm more torque. Coincidentally, both Lupo 3L and Insight weigh in the region of 850kg, so the engine seems ideal for use in the Insight, though according to Red Light Racing the installation naturally wasn't too straightforward.

Diesel clatter aside, the new engine should provide very pleasant driving characteristics too. The final quote goes to Red Light Racing, clearly a company after Tarmac's heart: "The main idea was to take existing hardware, hack it, and make a vehicle that could be produced by major manufacturers or individuals that would deliver tremendous fuel economy without a tremendous leap in technology. I believe we succeeded."

(Image credits:
AutoBlogGreen and Wikipedia)

New Line of Remanufactured Automotive & Diesel Components Now Available Through Syd's Eastside & DRP

JASPER Remanufactured (Reman) Engines, Transmissions, Differentials, Marine & Electric Motors are Now Availabile at Syd's Eastside Auto and Diesel Rebuild Parts

Syd's Eastside Auto Parts is pleased to announce that we have acquired the sales rights for the nation's largest remanufacturer of gas and diesel engines, transmissions, differentials, marine products, performance products, alternate fuel engines and electric motors; JASPER Engines & Transmissions®. As JASPER covers both passenger automotive and heavy truck drivetrain applications as well as marine and electric motors, JASPER remanufactured (reman) engines, transmissions and differentials will be available through both of our websites at SydsAutoParts.com and DieselRebuildParts.com. We are currently updating the content on these two websites to reflect our new capabilities to offer the JASPER remanufactured parts line which was finalized last December, 2007.

JASPER offers remanufactured products that provide quality second to none. Their product line includes remanufactured gas engines, diesel engines, transmissions, differentials, marine components, electric motors and more. JASPER has even taken the lead in alternative fuels as an aggressive remanufactured engines converter for LP, CNG and Flex Fuel. JASPER has been an industry leader delivering superior quality remanufactured (reman) automotive products since 1942.

The following is an incomplete list of products in the JASPER Engines & Transmissions remanufactured product line:
    LIGHT DUTY
  • Gasoline Engines for passenger cars, light duty trucks, harsh duty trucks, industrial (non-automotive) applications, marine and high performance.
  • Alternate Fuel Applications (LP, CNG & Flex Fuel) installation kits.
  • Radiators
  • Commercial Duty Engines such as for fire trucks, ambulance, recreational vehicles, towing, limousines and passenger cars.
  • Marine Components include gas engines, stern drives, outboard motor units and velvet drives.
  • Transmissions - front & rear wheel drive, domestic or asian, and automatic, standard or performance. And transfer cases, too.
  • Commercial Duty Transmissions for recreational vehicles, towing and passenger cars.
  • Differentials - Front & Rear in cars and trucks, Dana/Spicer, for Chrysler, Dodge, Ford and GM.
    HEAVY DUTY
  • Diesel Engines, both domestic and import, from midrange truck to industrial applications.
  • Transmissions for transit or industrial/non-automotive applications as well as Highway Allisons.
  • Differentials for trucks as well as industrial/non-automotive applications.
    ELECTRIC MOTORS
  • New Motors in Stock (AC & DC) fractional to 400 hp: Baldor, Marathon, Weg.
  • Generators (Bus)
  • Submersible Pumps
    ALTERNATE FUEL
  • Engines - LP, CNG and Flex Fuel.
  • Parts
  • Small Gas Engine Conversion Kits
    PERFORMANCE ENGINES
  • Through JASPER's Close Association with Penske:
  • Class II Street rods, restored muscle cars & trucks, four wheel drive vehicles, recreational vehicles, towing & marine applications.
  • Class III Racing
    PERFORMANCE TRANSMISSIONS
  • Class II Street rods, restored muscle cars & trucks, four wheel drive vehicles, recreational vehicles, towing & marine applications.
  • Class III Racing
    JASPER Authentic Custom Drivetrains
  • Custom-built drivetrains
  • Restored muscle cars and trucks
  • Performance upgrades.
...and this is only a partial list.
Please call us for your individual needs.
1-800-505-5119


JASPER remanufactured products are built to industry specifications that are equal to or more exact than those used by the original equipment manufacturer. Every JASPER remanufactured product is thoroughly tested and/or inspected for quality assurance. And JASPER remanufactured products are backed by nationwide warranties - up to 3 years or 10,000 miles.

Why Reman?
The Remanufactured Difference Is...

The terms rebuilt and remanufactured are technically different:
Rebuilt
To rebuild is to recondition by cleaning, inspecting and replacing severely worn or broken parts. Serviceable parts which are found to be within the manufacturer's acceptable wear limits are reused.

Remanufactured
To remanufacture is to make as close to new as possible. The restoration of a component to the manufacturer's original performance and dimensional specifications, with updates as applicable. Most wearable parts are automatically replaced without regard to condition. All core material is closely inspected and checked against original equipment specifications for correct dimensional tolerances. Replacement parts are new and made in the same production process as the original equipment. Testing is performed to manufacturer specifications and original production standards.

Remanufactured products from JASPER provide a better value for your money, cost less and offer a substantial alternative to purchasing used vehicles of unknown performance or a new vehicle at great cost which depreciates immediately.

The bottom line is value, and JASPER remanufactured products provide more bang per buck in terms of longevity, durability and performance... what else is there? Give us a call for your best prices on JASPER remanufactured automotive products! 1-800-505-5119

Links:
Syd's Eastside Auto Parts
Diesel Rebuild Parts

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