2014 VW Golf blue-e-motion

VW has unveiled full details for the upcoming Golf blue-e-motion, which is scheduled for launch in 2014.

The e-Golf’s 30 battery modules – consisting of 180 lithium-ion cells (energy capacity: 26.5 kWh) – are installed in spaces adapted to the vehicle architecture. They can be found in the floor of the bootspace (fully usable cargo capacity: 275 liters), under the rear bench seat and in the centre tunnel of the underbody (between the front seats). A separate air cooling system ensures a constant thermal environment in the battery compartment. The battery modules weigh a total of 315 kilograms.

More noticeably than on petrol or diesel engines, the maximum range of an electric car is dramatically reduced when its maximum power is demanded frequently. Engineers at Volkswagen enhanced the Golf's aerodynamic profile so that friction causes the least amount of energy loss when traveling at a higher speeds. The car makes use of its kinetic energy to recharge the battery when not accelerating. The car's dynamic qualities are underlined by its short 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 11.8 seconds.

Drivers can also select three different modes: maximum range, maximum comfort and maximum dynamics. This will then set how much power the electric engine will output plus control energy going to air conditioning systems.

The electric Golf also features regenerative braking, with three brake settings: D through to D3, adjusting the braking feel during coasting and altering the amount of energy recovered from the brakes.

While market plans have not been finalized yet, a world-wide test-fleet of 500 vehicles due to launch in 2011 will enable VW to fine-tune the car before bringing it to market in 2013. VW has set itself an ambitious task of becoming the world's leader in electric vehicles by 2020, no mean feat for a company which does not plan to produce an all-electric vehicle until 2013. We can only hope that world domination plan includes a U.S. version of this car.

Source: VW




Press Release

Golf blue-e-motion – Timeline in the framework of the Electro-Mobility Workshop
Key Aspects

Extreme torque, zero emissions: the Golf blue-e-motion

Zero-emissions Golf blue-e-motion to arrive on the market in 2014
Golf blue-e-motion to be driven by E-motor with maximum power of 85 kW

Wolfsburg, November 2010. With the Golf blue-e-motion - the purely electrically powered version of the most successful European car ever built - Volkswagen is forging new ties to the era of electric mobility. The five-door and five-seat version of the concept car is silently driven by an electric motor integrated in the front engine compartment with a maximum power of 85 kW / 115 PS and a continuous power output of 50 kW / 69 PS. Like all electric motors, the one in the Golf also delivers a very high maximum torque from a stop (270 Newton-metres). The result: more fun in zero-emissions driving. The electricity for powering the electric motor is stored in a lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 26.5 kilowatt-hours.

Today, using a lithium-ion battery, driving ranges of up to 150 kilometres can be realised in the front-wheel drive Golf blue-e-motion; the specific range depends on driving style and other factors (such as use of the air conditioning and heating system). At the car’s production launch, Volkswagen will announce final driving range data of the production version, which is expected to be significantly improved with the battery technology used then. In many locales, the needs of commuters are already met by a distance of 150 kilometres. Take Germany for example: According to the German Federal Statistical Office, 6 of every 10 people in the workforce commute by car – on average 45.8 percent drive less than 10 kilometres (one-way commute), another 28.1 percent between 10 and 25 kilometres and 16.2 percent over 25 kilometres. The Golf blue-e-motion can also handle the driving ranges typically covered by many service providers. In short-distance driving, the zero-emissions Golf represents a sustainable solution for private users as well.

Energy-conscious driving with impressive performance

More noticeably than on today’s modern petrol or diesel engines, the maximum range of an electric car is severely reduced when its maximum power is demanded frequently. Therefore, the 135 km/h fast and very aerodynamic Golf blue-e-motion (Cd value: 0.295) provides ample power reserves to move the car swiftly while consuming less energy, and it can even coast or "sail" as it is called in the professional jargon. "Sailing" occurs whenever the driver – adopting an anticipatory style of driving - releases the gas pedal, or rather the electric pedal. The motor is then controlled to the zero-torque curve so that the car can coast with the least possible drag. In this mode of driving, the Golf blue-e-motion even recovers kinetically generated energy by battery regeneration. The end result is that the zero-emissions Golf has enough performance potential to quickly execute manoeuvres such as passing. An index of the car’s very good dynamic qualities is its time for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h: 11.8 seconds.

Lithium-ion battery

The concept car’s 30 battery modules - consisting of 180 lithium-ion cells (energy capacity: 26.5 kWh) - were installed in spaces adapted to the vehicle architecture. They can be found in the floor of the bootspace (fully usable cargo capacity: 275 litres), under the rear bench seat and in the centre tunnel of the underbody (between the front seats). A separate air cooling system ensures a constant thermal environment in the battery compartment. The battery modules weigh a total of 315 kilograms.

Instruments tailored to electric driving

The driver can see how much energy is being demanded by the "electric pedal" at any given moment on the kW gauge (replaces the classic tachometer); drivers strive to keep the kW reading as low as possible practically intuitively. A range indicator is also integrated in this round instrument. The speedometer, located on the right side as usual, integrates another small gauge that provides information on the battery charge state.

Individual choices in battery regeneration

A new feature is the display of regeneration intensity in the multifunction display between the kW instrument and the speedometer. In battery regeneration, the driver has the option of pre-setting the braking energy recovery strategy over four stages (D to D3) via the automatic gearshift lever or gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. In the lowest stage (D), the car "sails" as soon as the driver’s foot leaves the "electric pedal" – now the Golf blue-e-motion moves with very low drag; it is only "slowed" by the rolling resistance of the tyres and air resistance. In the D3 stage, or B for braking, on the other hand, the maximum amount of kinetic energy is recovered and fed to the battery. In addition, the electrical energy consumption of the automatic climate control unit and its blower can be called up in the multifunction display.

Three driving profiles control comfort, dynamics and range

In addition, an active driving profile can be set; this lets the driver select priorities in advance: between maximum range, maximum comfort and maximum dynamics. The selected profile then pre-configures the power of the electric motor, air conditioning control, maximum speed and battery regeneration strategy.

The Golf blue-e-motion offers the three profiles "Normal," "Comfort+" and "Range+." In the "Comfort+" profile, the full 85 kW of power is available; in this mode the Golf blue-e-motion can attain the specified top speed of 135 km/h. When the driver activates the "Normal" mode, power is reduced to 65 kW and top speed is lowered to 115 km/h. In the "Range+" mode the engine controller limits power to 50 kW; in this case, the car can reach a maximum speed of 105 km/h. At the same time, the air conditioning system is completely deactivated. The selected profile is shown in the multifunction display.

Full charging via the VW logo

The Golf blue-e-motion is charged via a plug connector behind the folding VW logo on the radiator grille. A pictogram of a plug connector in the multifunction display indicates that the charging cable is correctly inserted and locked. During active charging an LED also flashes in the charge state indicator, and the charge level shown in the indicator is continually updated.

Packaging of the drive system

All key primary and secondary drive components were integrated in the front engine compartment. In arriving at this design, developers applied experience they had gained in numerous design studies. As in the Up! blue-e-motion concept car, for example, an integral form of electric drive is used in the Golf blue-e-motion. Core components of the integral drive are the lightweight 80 kg electric motor together with a transmission and differential. Energy management is handled by a high-voltage pulse-controlled inverter that is integrated in the compact integral drive - along with the 12 Volt electrical system’s DC/DC converter and charging module. The entire unit is relatively light and compact; the five-door and five-seat Golf blue-e-motion weighs just 205 kg more than a comparable Golf BlueMotion TDI with DSG – despite the fact that electric car batteries are known to be heavy and weigh 1,545 kg in the concept car. Yet, the car’s safety properties are identical.

Golf blue-e-motion Concept Car – Technical Data
Dimensions
Length	4,199 mm
Width	1,786 mm
Height	1,480 mm
Wheelbase	2,575 mm
Motor
Motor type	Electric motor
Power (max. / continuous)	85 kW / 50 kW
Max. torque	270 Nm
Gearbox / Tyres
Gearbox	EQ 210 (1-speed transmission)
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Tyre size	205/55 R16
Driving performance
0-100 km/h	11.8 s
Top speed (Comfort+ mode)	135 km/h
CO2 emissions with electricity generated from renewable resources

Winston Churchill’s Daimler DB18 Drophead to be auctioned

Historics at Brooklands auction house will be offering a truly historic car at its third sale this December. Churchill's Daimler DB18 put on auction was used by the British Prime Minister during 1944 and 1949 election campaigns and is expected to go for up to 250,000 GBP. Churchill's Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe is one of eight built in 1939. four of them were destroyed in the Blitz, a fifth is severely damaged and two of them have disappeared from the radar.

The car in question is a stunning Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe with a body built by the British coachworks Carlton Carriage, and is expected to sell for in between £200,000 and £250,000 ($320,000 to $403,000) when it hits the auctioneer's block on December 4th. In our eyes, we must admit this seams very cheap, as the car is one of eight DB18 Drophead Coupes built.

The Daimler Motor Company had chassis allocation to build 23 DB18 Drophead Coupés, but only eight were made owing to the Second World War. Of the eight coupes built, four were confirmed destroyed in the bombing and a fifth was sold for scrap. As of today, the only known car is the Chassis Number 49531.

The silver over black paintwork contrasts with a three-position chocolate-coloured folding roof and green leather interior, formed of a bench seat in the front and a sideways seat in the rear.

Car Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe is equipped with six-cylinder inline engine capacity of 2.5 liters and output of 70 horsepower. The engine is mounted with a quad-speed manual gearbox. Its top speed is 122 km / h, acceleration to 80 miles per hour and takes him 17.9 seconds.




Press Release

A car used by the greatest Briton* – Sir Winston Churchill – is set for auction at arguably the greatest British auction venue – Brooklands – when Historics hosts its third sale at its permanent home on Saturday, December 4th.

Featuring the finest coachwork by the Carlton Carriage Co., the Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupé was used by the British Prime Minister during 1944 and 1949 election campaigns and is expected to fetch offers in the region of £200,000 to £250,000.

Owing to the second world war, only eight of the proposed 23 DB18 Drophead Coupés due for 1939 were built, with four completely destroyed during the Blitz, a fifth so badly damaged it was scrapped and the whereabouts of two unknown, Chassis 49531 remains the only discovered surviving 1939 model.

Rolling off the production line in the same year motor racing ceased at Brooklands, the DB18 was capable of a top speed of 76 mph and a 0 – 50 mph acceleration time of a none-too-shabby 17.9 seconds.

Although technically speaking the DB18 utilises manual transmission, the car actually makes use of a 4 speed Wilson Pre-selector gearbox in tandem with the Daimler Fluid Flywheel, which allows the driver to select the next available gear by hand before using the ‘change pedal’ to enact the shift.

With its extensive history well documented, including ownership in the U.S.A, Germany, UK and even by an Iranian Prince, this eminently intriguing motorcar has benefited from a painstaking c €140,000 top-to-bottom restoration by the revered restorer, E. Thiesen of Hamburg, Germany.

Finished in stately silver over black coachwork with a contrasting three-position cabriolet hood, the striking exterior is complimented by a luxurious green leather bench seat in the front and sideways seat in the rear, whilst an elegant wooden dashboard houses period black Jaeger instruments.

The car will be on display at the Brooklands Museum until the sale on Saturday December 4th, and for more information, or to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the afternoon of December 4th, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk.. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the day of the auction.

Porsche Exclusive Celebrates 25 Years

Porsche Exclusive, the German sports car manufacturer's personalization division, is turning 25 years old this month. To celebrate this occasion, Porsche has released a brief history of the brand, featuring the milestone models of the range. Porsche Exclusive offers hand-crafted personalization factory options and takes care of everything from development to sales.

Porsche Exclusive has a team of 100 specialists that cover all the operations from a custom vehicle’s development to its sale process. Based in Weissach, the division creates items like performance parts or top interior equipment, integrating them in the production process of a new vehicle.

The same team also takes care of sales, offering customers refined interior equipment or performance enhancements, which, in many cases, have been integrated in the production process of stock Porsches as well.

The Exclusive team also has been the driving force behind several of Porsche's limited-edition cars, including the 250-vehicle 911 Sport Classic, mating the best of Porsche's design history with today's technology.





Press Release

25th Anniversary of Porsche Exclusive

For the past 25 years, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has been offering the option – under the term “Exclusive” – of individually tailoring a Porsche to create an unmistakable, unique vehicle immediately on ordering it. Porsche Exclusive offers hand-crafted refinement ex-works to provide a highly personalised touch in terms of design and performance. Virtually any customer desire can be fulfilled by Porsche Exclusive following a personal dialogue.

The sole prerequisite is technical and qualitative feasibility. Implemented with the finest craftsmanship and using selected materials, the skilful hands of the Exclusive specialists create components and complete vehicles in which personal care and dedication can be seen and felt down to the very last detail. Bespoke, manual work – also with needle and thread wherever appropriate – is the most important principle of Porsche Exclusive. Because no machine handles material with as much finesse as human hands.

A team of about 100 specialists at Porsche Exclusive takes care of everything from development to sales. Whether it be refined interior equipment or performance enhancements, all options from the Exclusive range and the vehicles themselves are not only developed in Weissach, but are also to a large extent integrated in the production process of a new Porsche.

A separate, extensive Exclusive catalogue, which also shows examples of completely individualised vehicles besides the range of options, is of course also available for each Porsche model. The customer discusses further special wishes directly with the Porsche dealership or the Exclusive customer advisors in the Zuffenhausen or Leipzig factories. Selected “flagship dealers” also offer this high-quality service abroad. Porsche Exclusive is additionally represented world-wide at a number of events and trade fairs.

In 2009 Porsche Exclusive added a further gem to its portfolio in the form of the 911 Sport Classic. Limited to 250 vehicles, this was a 911 which perfectly combined tradition and modernity. Designed with Porsche’s discerning customers in mind, the Porsche 911 Sport Classic with fixed rear wing in the “ducktail” shape first exhibited by 1973′s legendary Carrera RS 2.7 was a quite special highlight.

25 years of success are a good reason to celebrate. Porsche Exclusive will be doing this in a manner which reflects the high standards of the company within the company: with a strictly limited edition of a new 911 Speedster. In homage to the first Porsche model that bore the name Speedster – the 356 Speedster – the production run for the new model is limited to 356 cars. In the best tradition as a puristic, open-topped two-seater with low windscreen and double bubble on the convertible-top compartment lid.

With the 911 Speedster Porsche Exclusive will herald in a year chock-a-block with activities. With a new book on the Porsche Exclusive history, which will be available in the Porsche Museum shop from March 2011, a special Museum exhibition to run from March to May 2011 or a special Porsche Travel Club trip in June, for instance. Amongst other venues, Porsche Exclusive can be experienced live at the vintage vehicle grand prix at the Nürburgring in August 2011.

Toyota iQ Recall

Toyota have announced that it would recall a number of Toyota iQ models in the UK to carry out a modification to the software used to manage the vehicles Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Toyota's service shops need to modify the software used to manage the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system of the Toyota iQ units sold here. The Japanese carmaker says it's working with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to announce the owners of the new Toyota iQ recall. They will send a letter that advises the Toyota iQ owners affected by the recall about the procedure for taking their vehicle to an authorized Toyota repairer.

Approximately 12,000 UK registered vehicles are affected by this recall and the repair involved will take approximately two hours to complete at no cost to the customer. Jon Williams, Managing Director of Toyota GB PLC, said, “We are committed to putting the customer first and have a total focus on the quality of all our products. We will liaise with our customers to carry out the repair procedures as efficiently as possible, with minimal disruption.”




Press Release

TOYOTA ANNOUNCES VOLUNTARY RECALL OF iQ IN THE UK

Toyota GB today announced it would recall a number of its iQ models in the UK to carry out a modification to the software used to manage the vehicle’s Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

It is working with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to contact registered owners and keepers by letter to advise them of the procedure for taking their vehicle to an authorised Toyota repairer for the necessary repair work to be done.

The issue affects certain iQ vehicles, produced between 11 September 2008 and 22 October 2010. When driving on certain roadside safety side strips or 'rumble strips', signals received by the EPS sensors may be incorrectly interpreted by the EPS control unit, triggering the EPS warning light. Should this happen, the driver would need to apply extra effort to steer the vehicle.

This issue has only been observed in very specific circumstances in Japan. No cases have been reported in Europe. No accidents related to this issue have been reported.

The repair involves the update or replacement of the EPS control unit software. The job will take approximately two hours to complete, at no cost to the customer. Approximately 12,000 UK registered vehicles are affected by this recall.

Toyota will ensure that vehicles produced before 22 October 2010, but not yet delivered to customers, will be checked and the necessary repair undertaken before delivery.

Jon Williams, Managing Director of Toyota GB PLC, said, “We are committed to putting the customer first and have a total focus on the quality of all our products. We will liaise with our customers to carry out the repair procedures as efficiently as possible, with minimal disruption.”