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Volkswagen predicting diesel growth spurt for U.S.

 
4 3,983 views April 13, 2009

volkswagen golf mark vi 4motion awd 001

A Golf that weighs about 30% less than the current model is believed to be in development

A Golf that weighs about 30% less than the current model is believed to be in development

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For years carmakers considered diesel models as strictly Europe's domain, with low demand and a poor reputation in the U.S. doing little to help the cause. This attitude, however, is set to change according to Volkswagen, which is predicting more diesel sales this year with the release of the new MkVI Golf.

In fact, VW is banking on about 30% of sales for its new Golf to be a diesel based on high demand seen for current Jetta diesel. Currently, VW is selling around half of its wagon Jettas as diesel models, while around 30% of the sedan variants sold are diesels - far greater than initial expectations for the U.S. market.

But not all diesels are equal, according to market statistics. While VW isn't strictly an economy car brand, its vehicles are certainly placed below major luxury carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi. It is these luxury brands that are failing to convince the market to swap their petrol engines for diesel engines, reports Automotive News.

BMW diesels are struggling to shine in the market, mostly from a combination of lack of advertising and an unreceptive market. Mercedes Benz is facing similar problems, with sales for its diesel E-class sedan and diesel SUVs struggling to reach double-figures.

Audi, meanwhile, is expecting around 25% of sales for its new Q7 to be diesel models, but whether or not this statistic turns out to be too optimistic remains to be seen. It will be on the back of the diesel Q7 sales that Audi will decide on whether to bring more diesels to the U.S. market or not.
VW Golf Mark VI official photos

HI-RES GALLERY: volkswagen golf mark vi 4motion awd 001




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Comments (4)

  1. ma_rsteck avatar rsteck Posted: 4/13/2009 6:50am PDT

    I wonder how much of the success will be based on whether they bring the 108hp or 138hp version of the Golf to the states (and if the GTD will arrive on US shores).
     
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  2. ma_saabfan avatar saabfan Posted: 4/13/2009 12:34pm PDT

    $50,000 for a small car like BMW 335d is no small change. The price of diesel has gone up also. Thus I don't see the economic benefit of owning a diesel car from a purely financial standpoint. On the other hand, I love the torque of a diesel engine. Make it affordable here then you'll get my business.
     
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  3. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 4/13/2009 6:45pm PDT

    $50,000 for a small car like BMW 335d is no small change. The price of diesel has gone up also. Thus I don't see the economic benefit of owning a diesel car from a purely financial standpoint. On the other hand, I love the torque of a diesel engine. Make it affordable here then you'll get my business.

    Actually the price of diesel has gone down in many areas
     
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  4. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 4/14/2009 6:17am PDT

    As NoNameDenton has said, diesel prices have fallen rapidly in my area. I've had a VW TDI since 2002. The normal pattern for the price of diesel vs. gasoline has been for diesel to be more than premium in the winter and less than 87 in the summer. The last two years this pattern changed and diesel was more than gasoline all year and sometime as much as 25% more. However, during my ownership of a diesel vehicle the national average for diesel fuel has been $0.05 / gallon more than regular gasoline. Considering my TDI is EPA rated for 50% better fuel economy than the gasoline version it makes sense (and cents) to own the diesel vehicle. My lifetime fuel economy average is 46.2 mpg for my Jetta TDI wagon, easily beating EPA numbers.

    Another thing to watch out for when considering a diesel vehicle is that the price of diesel varies widely from one station to another. Diesel is least expensive along interstates at stations that serve tractor trailers. Most of these now have an "auto" diesel pump along with all the other pumps so you don't have to drive around back and pump with the trucks. In town prices vary dramatically. There are stations in my area that have diesel that I would never purchase from because they charge a very inflated price for diesel fuel. Once you own a diesel vehicle you will learn which stations to purchase fuel from. For example I filled up yesterday for $2.059 at my regular station. However, diesel prices were as high as $2.499 at other stations less than 1 mile away.
     
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